Platforms, not personalities

Not surprisingly, President Aquino has endorsed the presidential bid of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in the May 2016 elections.

With Roxas now officially the LP standard-bearer, the presidential race is now between him and Vice President Jejomar Binay, who had earlier been proclaimed by the United Nationalist Alliance as its presidential bet.

If we're talking of popularity based on the latest survey results, Binay still has the upper hand over Roxas despite allegations of corruption against him. But that could change as the LP-led coalition ramps up efforts to project Roxas as a viable presidential candidate who can best sustain the reforms already made under the Aquino administration. 

In terms of experience in public office, Binay had lorded over Makati City as its Mayor almost continuously since 1986 until 2010. Roxas's experience covers both lawmaking in the House of Representatives and in the Senate and hands-on stints in the executive departments, among them the DTI, DOTC and now DILG.

Meanwhile, we have yet to hear whether Sen. Grace Poe, who topped the senatorial election in 2013 and is leading in popularity surveys, has made up her mind to run for the highest elective post. If she decides to throw her hat in the presidential ring, then she must hurdle two things: one, that she is inexperienced in public office; and two, that she is qualified to run amid questions about her citizenship and residency that her opponents are likely to raise against her.

As the political pot starts to sizzle, what both declared as well as presumptive presidential bets should do is to begin to flesh out what they can offer the electorate as the key elements in a coherent political platform.

Beyond survey results, catchy slogans and song-and-dance routines in the campaign trail, what voters really want to know is what the presidential candidates will do to solve the nation's pressing problems, such as poverty and corruption.

Platforms, not personalities, should be the defining characteristic of the coming elections. Or is that too much to ask given the nature of Philippine politics? –End-

Image by: politics.com.ph