MGG Presentation on Assessment of Aquino Administration July 22, 2011

Movement for Good Governance

Assessment of President Aquino’s First Year in Office

July 22, 2011Ateneo Professional SchoolsRockwell Center, Makati City

Basis

Standards set by the president himself vs. actual accomplishments

Sources: Campaign platforms “Social Contract with the Filipino People” Philippine Development Plan (PDP)

Rating System

Score Assessment

0 The President has broken his promise.

2.5 There has been very slow or little progress.

5 Something has been accomplished but is lower than expected.

7.5The administration is on track and is expected to achieve the target as scheduled.

10 The target has been achieved as scheduled.

Rating System

Qualified by indicatorsMakes reference to qualities of a

transformational leader: effective, empowering, and ethical

Lighter weights given to items requiring simple actions

Equal weights given to equally important and difficult items

Corruption

Weight

Score

W Score

1. Performance-based appointments 1.5 5 7.5

2. Public availability of SALN 0.5 5 2.5

3. Citizens’ participation in policy formulation 0.5 8 4

4. Freedom of Information Bill 1.5 0 0

5. Public information on government’s budget 0.5 8 4

6. Citizens’ monitoring and feedback system 1.0 5 5

7. Strengthening DOJ 1.5 2.5 3.75

8. Independent Ombudsman 1.5 6 9

9. Zero-based budgeting 1.0 10 10

10. Agency budget based on performance & COA audits

0.5 5 2.5

TOTAL 10 48.25

AVERAGE 4.8

Corruption

Mixed record on appointmentsDifficulties in accessing SALNsMeans for citizen participation (other

than the usual hearings) not yet developed

FOI not a priority billDBM and DILG lead in providing

information on government's budgetDILG performance incentive fund

Corruption

No reports showing benefits from citizens’ feedback

Resources for witness protection doubled

More than a thousand positions in prosecutorial service created

Selection process for Ombudsman unclear

Zero-based budgeting system for year 2011

Public Finance

Score

1. Raising the targeted revenues 5

2. Expenditure control 5

3. Bringing down debt to GDP ratio 5

4. Zero-based budgeting 10

5. Empowerment of stakeholders 5

6. Ethical governance 5

TOTAL 35

AVERAGE 5.8

Public Finance

“No new taxes” policy not consistent with goal to provide universal health care, adequate housing, universal pre-schooling, etc.

Tax effort in 2010 barely inched upwards to 12.1%; government missed its target of 13%

Increase in tax collection due to economic growth, not due to improvement in tax effort

Smuggling continues to stymie tax collection

Public Finance

Deficit reduced through expenditure control

Budget deficit has pressured the government to continuously borrow

Weakening of the dollar has improved debt-to-GDP ratio

Zero-based budgeting a big step in the right direction towards transparency and efficiency

Public Finance

PPPs can harness resources and expertise of the private sector, but without a strategic and comprehensive approach, it may lead to greater control of the nation’s wealth by the elite

LEDAC does not meet regularlyNo information on the budget and

spending programs of major Finance agencies

Governance

Score

1. Coherent system of appointment 5

2. Ensuring the rule of law 5

3. Institutionalization of a performance incentive system 6

4. Publication of all fund releases to government agencies & LGUs 4

5. Take all actions on irregularities in the COA report 2.5

6. Ensure that ARMM election is clean, orderly , and peaceful NA

TOTAL 22.5

AVERAGE 4.5

Governance

Mixed record on appointmentsDILG pursuing transparency and

accountability in local governanceDBM pursuing budget utilization

based on sound performanceDBM and DILG websites fine

examples of availability of information

Governance

Challenge to other agencies and LGUs: make information on funds and budget management transparent and accessible

Observations and reports of COA are picked up very slowly

DOJ ranks first among agencies in terms of credibility and performance

Governance

President should let Mindanao and ARMM choose its leaders.

Let ARMM proceed with the election, and make the election as independent and peaceful and orderly as possible through an effective performance by Comelec and civil society.

Education

Weight

Score

Total

1. Twelve-year basic education 2.0 7.5 15

2. Universal pre-schooling 2.0 5.0 10

3. Madaris education 1.0 2.5 2.5

4. Technical-vocational education 1.0 2.5 2.5

5. Every child a reader by Grade I 1.0 5.0 5.0

6. Science and math proficiency 1.0 2.5 2.5

7. Assistance to private schools 1.0 10 10

8. Medium of instruction 1.0 10 10

9. Quality textbooks 0.5 5 2.5

10. Covenant with LGUs to build more schools 0.5 5 2.5

AVERAGE 5.68

Education

Plans for the 12-year basic education cycle are reasonable. Government budget reflects the administration’s commitment.

Adding two years at the high school level rather than distributing them equally among elementary and high school will result in overcrowded classrooms

Education

Emphasis on universal kindergarten is a step in the right direction, but this is being rolled out too quickly. There are not enough trained teachers for pre-school.

DepEd has made much progress in Madaris education. A kindergarten program for rolled out in 2010 is now being tested in 212 schools.

Education

However, the dedicated office to develop and test the Madrasah curriculum was dismantled. It is not clear how prepared school divisions are to implement the curriculum.

The DepED is working on existing programs for technical vocational education and has no roadmap to expand this significantly.

Education

Assistance to private schools has been substantially increased.

DepEd’s focus on pursuing mother-tongue based multilingual education is very strong.

Bureaucratic processes in DepEd have yet to be streamlined to support the administration’s commitment to work with LGUs to build more schools.

Environment

Score

1. Caring for the environment 5

2. Sustainable resources 6

3. Strict enforcement of environmental laws 2.5

4. Safer sources of renewable energy 7.5

5. Population management via responsible parenthood 2.5

TOTAL 23.5

AVERAGE 4.7

Environment

National Climate Change Action Plan to be finalized this year

6 environmental activists killedEnvironmental targets not yet

reflected in MTPDP for 2011-2016National Greening Program (NGP)

targeted at greening some 1.5 million hectares of degraded forest lands in 6 years

Environment

DENR cancelled approximately 500 mining claims, has been reviewing 500 more

Mining investments increased by 65% in 2010 from 2009, $17.35 billion worth of more mining investments are projected by 2016

Vocal support for mining liberalization

Will law enforcement mitigate ecological footprint from increased mining activities?

Environment

Coal dependence and extraction has risen to 3.6 M metric tons, 40% more than in 2009

Executive Order 23 imposed nationwide restriction on logging but has been criticized for loopholes

Mixed record in enforcing Philippine Clean Air Act

DENR yet to implement Ecological Solid Waste Management Act

Environment

DOE launched National Renewable Energy program that aims to promote increased share of renewables in country’s energy mix

President Aquino has pronounced a bias and need for moratorium against the revival of nuclear power in the country

Environment

President Aquino has verbally affirmed his support for state provision of modern and natural family planning methods, recognizing the role of large family sizes and increasing population in sustainable development.

However, he has stopped short of certifying any of the related bills as a priority measure.

The country’s ecological state continues to worsen

Health

Score

1. Universal health care roadmap through a refocused PhilHealth program

4

2. Improved access to quality hospitals and health care facilities

2.5

3. Attainment of MDGs 4, 5, 6 2.5

TOTAL 9

AVERAGE 3

Health

Aquino Health Agenda (AHA) geared towards providing Universal Health Care to achieve better health outcomes, more responsive health system, and equitable health financing

DOH continues to implement the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan or Universal Health Care (UHC) program

Health insurance provided to additional 2M Filipinos

Health

Majority still outside health insurance system, only 42% of Filipinos covered

Despite repeated efforts of increasing health insurance enrolment, not one LGU can claim 100 % coverage

Limitations in health financing have resulted to out-of-pocket expenses

Not all healthcare facilities PhilHealth accredited

Health

The poor do not go to healthcare facilities for fear of incurring large medical debt

Costs of medicines and medical care beyond reach of the poor

Logistical problems remain a major challenge

Many health facilities have suffered neglect due to inadequate financial resources and the fragmentation of health services as a consequence of devolution

Health

Nutrition status of children below 12 years old has worsened over the last five years

200 women for every 100,000 births die

Maternal and RH indicators in the Philippines are still one of the worst in Asia Pacific region

No definitive and concerted action, particularly in helping achieve MDGs 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health)

Economy

Score

Weight

1. Inclusive economic growth GDP growth (6.2); investment ratio (8); employment

(7.2); average 7.1 Poverty alleviation 7.5

7.3 5.0

2. Infrastructure on transportation and housing Infrastructure (2.5); housing (2.5)

2.5 1.0

3. No new taxes 7.5 -1.0

4. Plug revenue leakages BIR (6.6); BOC (0)

4.95 1.0

5. DBM review and plan to reduce overhead costs 0 0.2

6. Modernize the agricultural sector 2.5 0.3

AVERAGE 4.4

Economy

Actual government consumption and investment expenditures have been reined in to keep deficit on target

CCT is on track in reducing povertyNeeds to prove that governance/

anti-corruption / efficiency promises will be met to sustain business confidence

45,000 housing units should have been completed by end-June

Economy

Commitment not to impose new taxes is populist and is not consistent with President Aquino’s social contract

It is not clear what the government is doing to reduce overhead costs

There is no record of any review of programs in the Department of Agriculture

For more information

http://mggphilippines.com

Summary of Scores

Score

1. Corruption 4.8

2. Public Finance 5.8

3. Governance 4.5

4. Environment 4.7

5. Education 5.68

6. Health 3

7. Economy 4.4

AVERAGE 4.69