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Friday, January 24, 2025

The Bitter Reality: Why Transparency and Accountability Lost in the Last Election


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"Last election, someone offered transparency and accountability as among her platforms but the 31 million people chose P20 pesos per kilo of rice instead."

In the recent national elections, one candidate promised transparency and accountability, values that resonate deeply with democratic ideals and long-term governance. However, 31 million Filipinos made a different choice—a promise of affordable rice, with a mere P20 per kilo, one that provided immediate relief rather than addressing the complex issues of governance. The results were clear: Filipinos, struggling with poverty, hunger, and a lack of basic necessities, opted for promises that seemed to hold tangible, immediate benefits, even if those promises lacked the depth and long-term sustainability that transparency and accountability could offer.


The Gap Between Idealism and Reality

The electorate’s choice highlights a stark reality about the Filipino voter base. For many, especially the most disadvantaged, concepts like transparency and accountability are far removed from their daily struggles. As one writer poignantly pointed out, “Malayo kasi sa bituka ang transparency at accountability,” meaning these ideals are distant from the immediate concerns of the stomach—hunger, job insecurity, and rising living costs. For a population where many are deficient in iodine, malnourished, and living paycheck to paycheck, long-term promises ring hollow when they cannot address immediate pain points.


The brutal truth is that the country’s most vulnerable—those who can’t even afford the basics—are not going to prioritize transparency or accountability when they’re more concerned with feeding their families. As one observer noted, “The good guys need to start winning in elections by playing the same game as the bad guys.” This is not about compromising morals, but about understanding the language of the voters, who see short-term benefits as their primary concern.


The Disconnection from Reality

It's easy for those who live in relative comfort to champion ideals like transparency and accountability. But for the majority, struggling with rising prices, poor infrastructure, and widespread poverty, these terms don’t have any tangible meaning. Instead, they are drawn to promises that appear to solve more immediate needs. This is the gap that political candidates need to bridge if they are serious about winning and enacting real change.


Transparency and accountability, while essential for good governance, are abstract concepts that often fail to capture the immediate attention of voters who are facing daily hardships. This disconnect is a significant factor in why the candidates who emphasized these values did not fare well in the elections.


The Influence of Social Media and Short-Term Solutions

Another critical element to consider is the growing influence of social media in shaping public perception. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube have become the primary sources of information for many, particularly the younger demographic. These platforms focus on delivering bite-sized, easily digestible content, and often sensationalize or oversimplify complex issues. As a result, voters are more likely to absorb content that appeals to their emotions and promises instant gratification, rather than long-winded discussions on governance and accountability.


The election results suggest that many voters were more influenced by viral content than by deep discussions on governance. While one candidate promised change rooted in long-term strategies like transparency and accountability, others leveraged more direct promises—like the iconic P20 rice—that speak to the immediate needs of the people.


The Dangers of Short-Term Thinking

The reality is that while the promise of P20 per kilo of rice may have swayed millions, it is not a sustainable or realistic solution. Cheap rice may alleviate hunger in the short term, but it does not address the root causes of poverty, inequality, or systemic corruption. Transparency and accountability, on the other hand, are long-term solutions that can help build trust in institutions, create better governance, and eventually lead to the prosperity that many voters hope for.


But how do we bring these issues to the forefront when voters, many of whom are struggling to survive day-to-day, fail to see the long-term benefits? The challenge for political leaders is clear: they need to find a way to make transparency and accountability feel relevant, relatable, and tangible to the everyday Filipino.


A Call for Change in Campaign Strategy

As pointed out by some, if the “good guys” in politics want to start winning, they must understand that they cannot simply play by the old rules. The campaign strategies that worked in the past—focused on integrity, ideals, and governance—may no longer be effective. Instead, campaigns must adapt to the realities of the modern electorate, one that is bombarded with short, catchy slogans and quick fixes. If political candidates are to reclaim trust and credibility, they must find a way to communicate the value of transparency and accountability in terms that speak directly to the needs and concerns of the people.


The Way Forward: Aspiration or Empty Promises?

Ultimately, transparency and accountability are not just aspirations, as some candidates have framed them—they are critical pillars for the future of any democratic society. However, for the majority of the population, these ideas are not just abstract ideals; they must be understood and felt in the context of their daily lives. Without the proper messaging, political leaders risk being drowned out by those offering more immediate solutions, even if those solutions are far from feasible or sustainable.


In the end, it is up to the Filipino electorate to realize that while immediate fixes like P20 rice may seem appealing, true progress requires leaders who can not only make promises but who also have the integrity and accountability to follow through on them. The road to better governance begins with education, awareness, and a more informed electorate that understands the importance of transparency—not just as an ideal but as the cornerstone of long-term national prosperity.

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