Aquino’s ‘straight path’ a work in progress

By NJ Viehland, Manila

MEDIA attention has largely concentrated on President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s detailed allegations in his first State of the Nation Address of extravagance and profligacy in Gloria Arroyo’s administration.

The “expose” has been the subject of many column inches since the speech to the 15th Congress on Monday and little is to be gained by devoting more cyber space to issue.

Less attention-grabbing but more significant has been criticism of Aquino for his “lack of vision.”

Bishop Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran for one has called for a clear articulation of how the new president sees Philippine society and how his administration will work towards those goals.

It is a fair question. A statement of vision anchors an institution’s decisions on the principles and values it chooses to uphold. It gives focus and basis for tracking progress, success and failure.

“When you become very specific and stuck on actions, whether of past officials or your own government, there is the danger of becoming myopic,” Bishop Medroso warns.

Just before the address, the bishop told me that he would like the president “to define what the Philippines will be” when his term is finished. Following the speech, the bishop, who represents Eastern Visayas bishops in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Permanent Council, said Aquino’s speech had failed to do that.

Read full article at ucanews.com