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In 1971, before the onset of martial law, bishops and businessmen established the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development (BBC) committed to fight against the exploitation of the many by man. This was exemplified by the existing economic, social and cultural inequalities that even worsened during martial law.
In 1984, the BBC organized NAMFREL which fielded 500,000 volunteers in the 1986 snap elections to protect the ballot which eventually led to the historic people power revolt of EDSA. It felt like the dawn of a new day with the writing of a new Constitution whose heart was social justice, with the poor at the center of our development
Today, we must admit that we have not done well by our country and by our poor. While we restored certain features of democracy, we remain the laggard among our neighbors in economic growth, human development and in addressing inequality. The children of our poor have no future without quality education and quality health care, and even more so when they live in the middle of wars.
Studies throughout the world and of our country show that corrupt politicians and political dynasties are mainly responsible for the lack of the countrys human development. Corruption is strongly linked to development outcomes (lower GDP per capita) and social indicators (income inequality, infant mortality, education), retards the emergence of strong institutions and discourages investments.
Our country has a long history of failed development because we have repeatedly voted corrupt politicians and political dynasties into office. And we know this must change.
The May 9 elections brings us to the crossroads of our Future. Many reforms remain to be completed to bring our poor into the mainstream of our social, economic, and political lives. The outgoing administration has achieved limited successes in bringing our performance scores up e.g.
Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International from 134th out of 178 countries in 2010 to 102nd out of 180
Real GDP average growth rate of 5.95% per year (2010-2015), higher than any of the 7 past administrations
Estimated per capita real income growth rate of 4% per year, double the average per year of 1.58% from 1960-2009;
Social Development, a successful conditional cash transfer program that all candidates promise to continue or improve further; universal health care; education, where kindergarten classes are now the norm rather than the exception.
These achievements, while limited, are real and need to be advanced further if we are to achieve sustained Inclusive Growth. That depends on how we vote in the coming May 9 elections.
Clearly, we cannot vote for anybody who is tainted with corruption or who belongs to a dynastic family. Neither can we vote for anyone who has done nothing to apprehend the perpetrators of more than 1,400 extra-judicial killings under his city administration.
We appeal to our people to think deeply about their choices and discuss these with your families, your friends, your co-workers.
We are Gods people. We want leaders who are god-fearing, decent, and able to choose the more difficult righteous path of governance, with the character, competence, courage, integrity and energy to do it. Leaders who will go against their self-interest to serve the most neglected and oppressed of our brethren. Leaders who have loved this country all their lives and will do nothing to hurt it or its peoples and will stay the course when violent short-cuts or political convenience or false promises to get votes are easier choices to achieve their ends.
May God guide and bless us all, especially on election day.
+ Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D.
National Co-Chairman
Christian S. Monsod
National Co-Chairman
+ Bishop Roberto C. Mallari, D.D.
Vice Co-Chairman
Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr.
Vice Co-Chairman
Members of the National Executive Committee
+ Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, D.D.
+ Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, D.D.
+ Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J.
+ Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, D.D
+ Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, D.D.
+ Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, D.D.
Roberto W. Ansaldo
Jose S. Concepcion, Jr.
Alejandro Teves Escano Victoria P. Garchitorena
Luvinia M. Lapid Mediatrix V. Villanueva
