BY: DONALD SEVILLA
PUBLIC OFFICE IS BEYOND ELECTION
In our current system and practice, getting elected is not difficult when one has the right mix of money, patronage and influence.
Without need of any stringent qualification, one can get elected into office with the necessary resources. But getting the job done and being able to do so is a different ball game.
Many assume public office without the least
know-how to do the job effectively. They grope in the dark, learning by trial and error while in the process toying with our lives.
A classic example is the case of communities gravely affected by the E-NIPAS ACT that governs the Chocolate Hills geological monument and its surrounding areas.
Long before environmental consciousness was brought to our attention and laws were passed to “protect” our environment
the people in the area have lived peacefully and engaged in their livelihood in the normal conduct of business.
But when laws were passed, sometimes in knee-jerk reaction to current environmental issues, without an indepth research and study, it disturbs the delicate balance of things that have long existed.
While we need to evolve and adapt to the present times, it is worthy to note that there are no hard and fast rules.Nothing is etched in stone.
” Dura lex sed lex” means that while the law may be harsh and we have to follow it, it doesn’t mean that it is well-thought of and crafted.
In the case in point, it just shows how the consequences of a not-well- thought-of piece of legislation can have disastrous and disruptive effects on the general public.
We cannot blame the people of Batuan, we sympathize with them.We cannot blame the DENR for enforcing the law.
But who can we turn to? We cannot say the same of lawmakers who did so without further research and study into the subject.
Bills are not filed just for grandstanding and showing the people that our officials are working. They should be crafted to ensure that people’s lives are made comfortable and their livelihoods more sustainable, not overburden the public to make lives difficult and complicated.
Who’s to blame? Not I barked the dog, nor me, meowed the cat.
All the while the little boy who had his hands in the cooking jar, stood mischievously smiling in the corner scratching his head.
Next time we must not elect fools for leaders and kids to do a man’s job. The late Sen. Miriam Santiago was right.We have to put more qualifications not simply knowing how to read and write on those wanting to lead us!
#governanceisnottrialanderror
#publicserviceisknowingwhattodoforthepublicgood
#researchandstudyiskey