Cayetano: PH cannot afford to ‘surrender’ next 3 years until 2028
Photo: The Manila Times · Original story
MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines cannot afford to waste the next three years on political bickering while ordinary Filipinos struggle with rising costs and economic uncertainty, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano warned Wednesday, urging government leaders and opposing political camps to forge a common national vision instead of waiting for the 2028 elections.Cayetano made the appeal amid ongoing controversies surrounding the national budget, the flood control scandal and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano cautioned that putting off efforts to address the country's problems until the next administration would only prolong the suffering of Filipinos.“If we say, ‘Let's just wait for 2028,’ it is as if we are surrendering the next three years and allowing everyone to suffer,” he said.Cayetano said the country was facing a difficult economic outlook, with concerns over stagflation, weakening business confidence and declining public trust in government and public officials.“Find a vision that we can all follow and build a national consensus. Let's agree to disagree on everything we disagree about. But let's not make ordinary Filipinos suffer because we, as leaders in government, business, media, the Church and education, cannot agree,” he said.The senator acknowledged that opposition leaders were looking forward to a change in administration but stressed that political affiliation should not determine whether government initiatives deserve support.“We cannot say that just because something comes from the administration, it is automatically wrong. We cannot afford to think that way because too many lives are at stake,” he said.Cayetano identified declining public confidence in government and public officials as one of the country's biggest challenges, warning that the erosion of trust could further weaken business sentiment and economic activity.He said public confidence also suffers when professionals and officials entrusted with upholding the law are perceived to be manipulating legal processes or compromising their responsibilities.The senator called for greater integrity, transparency and honesty across all sectors, stressing that corruption was not confined to government.He pointed out that corrupt practices could involve politicians, businesses and government agencies, as well as other institutions.“Sometimes politicians corrupt businesses, sometimes businesses corrupt politicians, and sometimes government agencies are corrupted or become involved in corruption,” he said.Cayetano also warned against a culture that tolerates dishonesty by dismissing minor violations as insignificant, saying lasting reform requires confronting practices that have become normalized in society.The senator stressed that political differences should not prevent leaders from working together, emphasizing that winning an election does not give the victorious camp exclusive ownership of governance.“Politics is not winner-take-all. Elections are winner-take-all. But governance is not,” Cayetano said.
Read the full story at The Manila Times.
