Coconut levy fund

Coconut levy fund is an issue about CONTROL of Asia's biggest food and beverage company, San Miguel Corporation. For the government, these funds are likened to 750 million Damocles' swords hanging above the head of SMC Chairman Danding Cojuangco. Political Accomodation prevents government from dispensing justice.

Government has been under very tight leash because of the perceived political strength of Danding Cojuangco. He heads a big political party with a very extensive network of local politicians called NPC. It has previously aligned itself with Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former president Joseph Estrada and is now poised to field its own presidential bet come May 2010.

There is no public participation in the decision-making process. It is not surprising that environmental laws are not enforced, and local chief executives are not held accountable by the President. The politics of accommodation rears its ugly head, at the expense of the people’s welfare, ecological integrity and our fledging democracy.

The  power and influence held by a political clan is buttressed by sweet dealings with some members of the business sector, and the support of the enforcement agencies. Political survival is primordial in the decisions made.

Governor Dominguez said, “The solution to the issues in peace and security, economy, environment, and social and human development always depends on the kind of governance a region has.One way of developing economy is that the government must initiate moves so that the business sector can come in.

It must provide incentives to the private sector and must encourage entrepreneurs to invest.” Mafin Tan, who represented the business sector, said, “ The peace and order in Mindanao is very critical. The problem is more of the image perception that Mindanao is not a safe place to do business. Once a businessman will develop a certain business, the government should cooperate because investments is one of the keys to solve poverty. Businessmen should get protection and infrastructure support from the government.”

The reality of politics always sets during elections.Candidates are forced to enter into horsetrading with big businesses and big politicos, national or local in stature, for campaign funds and to muster enough votes. So much has been changed by our politics.  It started during Erap’s time when big businesses and influential individual had their say on how government is run as Erap’s payback during his campaign.  This was emulated and further improvised by Gloria Arroyo when the rich and influential clearly have their say in government.  One can clearly see the hand of these businessmen and powerful cliques in every government decision and appointents to governmental positions.  This is the kind of politics that has dominated the country for the past 12 years.  While this kind of politics is effective in catapulting one to the Philippine presidency, this always result in political accomodation and the sacrifice of good governance and public service as shown both by the Estrada and Arroyo presidencies.