NATIONAL ELECTION 2016:

THE BATTLE BEGINS

Introduction

Corruption, poverty, lack of education, lack of transportation system, health,

crimes, terrorist attacks and many more. These things are the problems that the
Philippines is facing over and over again. Filipinos cant see any changes to these
society problems. Leaders and prominent are still on top but unable to empower poor
and every Filipino to stand up. May 2016 National Elections is fast approaching. Do we
know very well the candidates? Do their platforms hook us to change all of these
problems? Are we ready to face another reigning leader who will lead us break the
progressive streak that the incumbent administration has started?

The Philippine elections are scheduled for May 9, 2016. Filipinos will vote for a
new president, vice president, 12 senators, one district representative, one party list
representative, and provincial/city/municipal officials. The winning president has six
years to lead the country but he or she cannot run again for reelection since the
constitution forbids it.

The five major contenders in the presidential race are Mar Roxas, Jejomar Binay,
Grace Poe, Miriam Santiago, and Rodrigo Duterte. (1) Roxas, the administration bet,
topped the senate race in 2004 although he lost as a vice presidential candidate in 2010.
He was subsequently appointed by incumbent President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to
various executive positions in the past six years. (2) Binay was mayor of Makati City, the
countrys financial center, before becoming vice president in 2010. (3) Poe dominated
the senatorial election in 2013. She is also the daughter of a famous actor who ran but
lost in the 2004 presidential elections. (4) Santiago is a senator who placed second in

National Election 2016: The Battle BeginsPage 1

the 1992 presidential elections. (5) Duterte is mayor of Davao City, located in the
southern island of Mindanao. He became popular for making Davao a safe city through
his tough methods in suppressing criminality. He is called the Dirty Harry of the
Philippines because of his anti-crime agenda.

The presidential election will also determine whether several major programs
and policies of the Aquino government will be continued, amended or revoked,
conditional cash transfer for the poorest of the poor, the stalled peace negotiations with
communists, and the commitments made by the Philippines in the 2015 Paris climate
talks.

This is the third time that the Philippines will use automated voting technology,
which many experts credited for the faster and more credible election results in 2010
and 2013. However, some are worried about the reliability of the digital software and the
prospect of vote manipulation based on previous results.

Statement of the Problem

How presidential candidates will serve Filipinos before and after national
elections?

Objectives

To know very well the platforms of presidential candidates

To determine what kind of leaders that Filipino needs
To identify if presidential candidates are quality leaders to serve every Filipinos

Discussion

Presidential Candidates Platforms

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 Roxas hopes to win by emphasizing the need for continuity. But rivals question
his competence and the supposed accomplishments of the Aquino administration by
highlighting the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila, the continuing suffering of
Typhoon Haiyan survivors, and the implementation of unconstitutional presidential
pork. Binay seeks the support of the poor even though his family is hounded by
corruption and plunder charges. Poe was the early favorite because of her stellar
performance in the Senate but her popularity suffered when her previous American
citizenship was questioned in the courts. Santiago, who is known for her intellectual
prowess, has a large following among the youth but many are worried that
her health problems could affect her candidacy. Dutertes phenomenal rise from mayor
to presidential contender could be attributed to the peoples frustration with an unequal
and inefficient political system. He is seen by some analysts and an increasing number
of citizens as this years alternative candidate who will solve the countrys problems
which traditional mainstream politicians have failed to do.

Quality and Excellent Leaders

The first agenda of the next president is to review the Constitution. Is he or she
willing to dissect it and possibly reform it to make it work for the country? We need to
amend the Constitution to address political inequality; the right to education, health and
other basic socio-economic needs; to make clear the demarcation line between the three
branches of government to avoid the misuse of power; to have a Judiciary that is free
from partisan politics; to address the violations of human rights, corruption, and
bureaucracy in government systems and we need to address our insurgency problems.
The new president must also think of the best system of government for the Philippines.
The decision must be based on our origins our history, geography and culture.

Conclusion

Politicians are too engrossed with the 2016 electoral races. They probably forgot
that they have a country to run. We have gazillions of problems in this archipelago and

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yet they continue to think first of themselves. The next president and leaders of our
country should have the capability of solving our problems; to act firmly and not to
break every piece of promises. It is vital for the new president to have a paradigm shift
of governance. Public servants must reach the core of true leadership. It is the duty of
the new president to make sure that all those working in government will serve the
country. Those incompetent should be terminated. The president should make things
happen for every Filipinos.

The most important task for the new president is to think and serve the welfare of
our countrymen. He or she must make sure that the welfare of the workforce is
protected in all aspects; security, transportation, traffic system, communication,
technology, education, electricity, fuel and water rates, health services and a lot more.

National Elections 2016 is crucial to the country. The new president and leaders
must have their arms and eyes wide open to face issues and problems of the country. He
or she must ready to save and serve the Philippines!

Bibliography

Online sources:

Can any of the presidential candidates save the Philippines?

Sara Soliven de Guzman of The Philippine Star
http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/07/20/1478883/can-any-presidential-
candidates-save-philippines

2016 Election: Next President of the Philippines, Who Will Lead?

Janet Grace Ortigas of Liberty Voice
http://guardianlv.com/2015/05/2016-election-next-president-of-the-
philippines-who-will-lead/

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 7 Things to Know About the 2016 Philippine Elections
Mong Palatino of The Diplomat
http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/7-things-to-know-about-the-2016-philippine-
elections/

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