Everything is political, but politics should serve the people, never a certain individual.
With the recent leadership change in the Senate, not only did it bring another political turmoil in the country but also disrupted the institution’s parliamentary procedures. It halted committee hearings as if deliberation and policymaking, duty of the chamber, were far more negligible than gaining dominance in the Senate.
When the Senate shake-up took place, all committee chairmanships were then declared vacant to reorganize with the new majority bloc in accordance with the chamber’s custom in leadership realignment. However, with no prior notice, all scheduled committee hearings on key bills were forced to be cancelled.
It took only one senate coup and 13 votes to set aside bills that could save the lives of millions of Filipinos.
Among the cancelled meetings was the scheduled committee hearing of the Committee on Agriculture. Its former chairman, Senator Francis Pangilinan, invited farmers all the way from Benguet to hear the realities of their already crushed livelihood which was further crushed by the rising fuel prices. They could somehow explain to the committee the challenges they are facing which can be ultimately resolved through policymaking.
However, the farmers were turned away because the scheduled hearing of the Committee on Agriculture, Foods, and Agrarian Reform had to be cancelled due to the sudden shake-up which vacated all positions including committee chairmanships.
With the sudden political maneuvering in the Senate, those starting to be heard were again unheard.
There was no other reason than politics.
The Committee on Basic Education was not spared either, despite its record-breaking accomplishments. Even after having the highest budget in history under its former chairman Senator Bam Aquino, which many even considered as a success for the chair, it was not regarded. The reason is simple: the former chair now belongs to the minority bloc and only those in the majority bloc can take over those chairs.
When the reconstruction of the educational system of the country was at its peak, its reforms slowed down or worse disrupted. It proves how a change of captain becomes a change of command.
Again, politics.
Progress on several healthcare and anti-political dynasty bills was also deferred and disrupted when former Senate Committees on Women, Health and Electoral Reforms chairman Risa Hontiveros lost her post following the change in the chamber’s leadership.
She has been pressing for measures that would be beneficial to us and could strengthen our healthcare system, such as the Anti-Hospital Detention bill, the Medical Assistance Program and the Healthcare Proxy Act. Bills meant to uphold our right to healthcare were only beginning to take root, only to be uprooted once again by political interests.
Once again, politics.
Although the leadership shake-up is a legitimate exercise of internal Senate rules, the constant reshuffling of leadership positions prevents long-term policies from taking root as it puts us in a cycle of political resets instead of sustained national progress.
That being said, if we let political reasons and intentions override political duties and responsibilities, we will never achieve a stable system that upholds not only our rights as Filipinos but also carries our country’s development.
So before senators orchestrate another overthrow, whatever politically motivated reason they may have, they should always be reminded of what is at stake–the lives of Filipino people and the development of our country. They could provide prior notices or even signs, so scheduled parliamentary procedures will not be disrupted suddenly.
Legislation should be their topmost priority, because every law they pass, every hearing they convene, and every strike of the gavel, our country could fall or ascend.
