Opinion: Crumble the Silence
Silence
is the fundamental factor that impels the authority
to violate the essential right of every citizen to know all the details
relevant to their welfare. In the democratic society, the interests of
the
general public should be utterly recognized without any hint of
bureaucratic
superiority. As the authority, thus mandated by their respective
constituents to
uphold the basic necessity for their well-being, leaders should abide
to
quintessential leadership giving premium to participatory consultation
and
collective action. However, the present situation is characterized by
obligatory and restrained implementation of policies clouted with the
lack of
consultation among the sectors directly affected.
The transport strike conducted by
the Los
Baños-Calamba
Transport Federation (LBCTF) last February 23 is an apparent struggle
for
consultation frequently discounted by the authorities. The jeepney
drivers
suffered P200-300 shortfall due to jeepney rerouting implemented late
last year
without prior consultation. This was again exacerbated by the ID policy
and
threats of P4-jeepney fare that fall back grimly to the
drivers’ expense. With
the unabated increase in petroleum products and prime commodities,
drivers and
passengers alike bear the magnitude of the crisis. Such lack of
initiative to resolve
problems by the authority manifests conclusively its inability to
strike
immediate order with its constituents.
Unfortunately, this is not an
isolated case. In the
macro
picture, our society typical of unparalleled controversies and
undoubted leadership
instability haunt our socio-political situation. The same trend of lack
of consultation
concerns no other than higher positions supposed to safeguard the
dignity and
lead with moral ascendancy. The issues of the present administration
stretch
from controversies concerning betrayal of public trust to corruption of
public
funds. The point of argumentation lies not only to the ouster or
impeachment of
any personage, it also rests ultimately on the idea of upholding the
truth and
accountability. These issues haunting the present government noticeably
have a
common point - that is the lack of consultation and public
accountability. And
it is only with our militant struggle; through democratic deeds that we
can
avail knowledge to all matters pertinent to our public welfare and
interest.
It is only through the consolidated
effort and
consultative
action that the large population within the community benefits from any
local
or national programs and initiatives. The democratic ideals from which
we are
governed with should not be clouted with authoritarian and bureaucratic
schemes. The people and authority should then be contemplative that
participation
and consultation are but essential to the community and the country at
large. The
pursuit for participatory consultation and collective action starts
with
combined effort to maintain our democratic rights. Submitting to any
authoritarian or bureaucratic maneuvering is equal to outright
contempt.
Crumble thus, the culture of silence.■
