Straight path parsed

Cebu Daily News

To speak to a crowd always carries the risk of not quenching the hearts of all. Such was the case with the philosopher Socrates, whose erudite speech to an Athenian court failed to secure his acquittal on charges including corrupting the minds of the youth.

Many who listened to President Benigno Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona) were his political foes, but the Sona was Mr. Aquino’s report to the millions of his constituents — 85 percent of whom trust and thus want to believe in him, based on the recent Pulse Asia survey results.

As expected, Mr. Aquino riled many in the camp of his predecessor, now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga’s 2nd district, when he presented to the nation a list of anomalies allegedly committed by her and uncovered by his Cabinet secretaries.

The President’s 30-minute speech didn’t tackle the Freedom of Information Act, nor did he give specifics on his plans to propel the economy.

Still, exposing the ills of the previous administration bodes well for the advocates of transparent governance and should inspire other local officials to practice transparency.

Mr. Aquino offered to reopen peace talks with the communist and Moro rebels and also vowed to bring to justice the perpetrators of extra-judicial killings.

This was a signal that this government will not abet the impunity with which crime witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists and political activists were slaughtered.

Mr. Aquino excoriated the brazenness with which Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) directors gifted themselves with costly privileges while their pensioners waited in vain for their keep.

This brought to mind the hefty severance benefits given to members of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority who have just retired while airport workers were denied a raise.

That expose should move public and private sector leaders, for justice’s sake, to redistribute the nation’s wealth.

The Chief Executive also said that before long, a government project may not be provided with a budget if there is no exhaustive explanation of its costs.

That should goad the members of the Lower House (at least nine of them Cebuanos), to start examining themselves.

“Pork barrel” spending accounts posted in the House’s official website remain in want of a believable breakdown.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama himself ought to pause and rethink his plan to start a P2-million city band, or his flaunting of street beautification as an apparent pet project in the wake of graver concerns like the water shortage, power crisis and youth crime.

The President’s first Sona may not have left all hearers pleased.

But what is certain is that Mr. Aquino enjoined the nation to traverse the daunting, exacting “daang matuwid” that is the only route to prosperity and peace.

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