Platform
Neric's Platform
There are four pillars of governance which I believe require immediate action as well as long-term attention by the next government. As policy-maker I will vigorously help an Aquino administration fulfill these mandates.
My overarching policy guideposts will be center on seeking more decentralization of power and resources to local communities and governments (with corresponding performance audits and accountability mechanisms), greater fiscal discipline in the management and utilization of resources (budget reform, bureaucratic streamlining for prioritization and improved efficiencies), and more effective delivery of basic services by agencies of government.
KALIKASAN (ENVIRONMENT)
The environment is the foundation of an economy and society. It is the only ‘social security system’ of the vast majority of the poor. No forests, no water, no water, no rice, no rice, no food. No coral reefs, no fish, no fish, no major source of food for 80 percent of our people.
My work as principal author or the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Ecological Management Act and several other environmental laws will continue, especially in pushing for their fuller enforcement and budget support. Moreover, we will pursue greater and more aligned government support for science-technology/research-development.
Targets:
• 100,000 indigenous tree species planted in 100 critical watersheds in the first 1,000 days of the next administration
• The dredging of 10 clogged esteros in the capital city in the first 100 days
• The formation of 100 Bantay Dagat community squadrons in one of the richest marine biodiversity regions on the planet, the Visayan Sea
• Support of at least 100 science scholars in the selected state universities in the first year.
• The enactment of a National Land Use Act.
KABUHAYAN (LIVELIHOOD)
This would mean jobs, livelihood, education, and health (with focus on maternal and child health). No country modernizes and is able to unleash its human potential without increased and sustained investments in basic health and primary education. Along with jobs creation, we need a parallel program that provides sustained opportunities like microfinance for disadvantaged rural and urban poor women and families.
Targets:
• 100,000 un-enrolled children to be brought into primary grades in the first school-year
• 10,000 new teachers in the first year
• A 10% decrease nationwide in malnutrition levels in the first 10 months
• 10,000 new doctors and nurses subsidized to attend to the 100 poorest rural and urban public hospitals
• 1,000 new microfinance-driven communities of women entrepreneurs
KATARUNGAN (JUSTICE)
The Philippine justice system badly needs reform to be able to serve the poor, who feel alienated from a formal system of laws and institutions. Corruption grows because of a weak enforcement of laws and accountability mechanisms, as well as an unjust system that metes out justice for the rich and privileged differently from that for the poor and disenfranchised. Democratic governance must be founded on the essential respect for human rights.
Targets:
• At least one ‘Justice on Wheels’ program to provide free legal services in all provinces in the first 1,000 days
• 1,000 new judges in the lower courts
• 10,000 pending cases resolved in the first 1,000 days
• Allow for a bail program for indigents charged for various crimes, many of whom languish in jails for the inability to have legal counsel or bail money
KAPAYAPAAN (PEACE)
As a Mindanaoan, this is my unwavering commitment to seek peaceful dialogue, even as we work to disarm those who wield unlicensed firearms and increase efforts in getting focused investments in basic health, education, resettlement/housing, and environmental protection). If we can re-imagine and rebuild a different Mindanao, we can set the tenor for reconstructing the whole country.
As a longer-term goal, we will work towards a federal system and a more equitable structure of representation for Mindanao, which contributes up to 60 percent of national output.
Targets:
• Build 100 ‘peace communities’ of Lumad, Christian and Moslem families in war-torn areas of Mindanao
• Develop a new peace deal in the first 1,000 days of the Aquino administration
• Seek the disarmament of at least a 100 armed groups and integrate them into community-based programs
