building the good society

8/3/2019 Building the Good Society

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BUILDING THE GOOD SOCIETY ANDIDEAL DEMOCRACY ENVISIONEDIN OUR 1987 CONSTITUTION

The Constitutional Mandate to BuildA Just and Humane Society and An Ideal

Democracy

By Dr. Jose V. AbuevaKalayaan College and the Universityof the Philippines


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4/22/2012

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OUR NATIONAL VISION AS A NATION-STATE:THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Preamble of our 1987 Constitution says: We, the SovereignFilipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God. ordain andpromulgate this Constitution in order to achieve two broad, continuinggoals in our NationalVision:I. to build a just and humane society; andII. to establish a Government that shall embody our ideals andaspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop ourpatrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings ofindependence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime oftruth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.

YES, WE HAVE A VISION FOR OUR COUNTRY !


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I. BUILDING A JUST AND HUMANE SOCIETYOR THE GOOD SOCIETY

I.A. Transforming Filipino Society into A Just and HumaneSociety.Changing our existing society to one that is just and humane(Preamble) or a just and dynamic social order (Art. II.9). This GoodSociety shall protect and/or promote:[1] the sanctity of family life (Art. II.12),[2] the fundamental equality of women and men (Art.II.14),social progress and total human liberation and development(Art.II.17),[3] social justice in all phases of national development (Art.II.10).[4] the peoplesright to health (Art. II.15),[5] to a balanced and healthful ecology (Art. II.16),[6] to information on matters of public concern, and[7] to quality education at all levels (Art. XIV.1).


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A JUST AND DYNAMIC SOCIAL ORDERIS INTENDED

[1] To ensure the prosperity and independence of the nationand free the people from poverty through policies that providesocial services, promote full employment, a rising standard ofliving, and an improved quality of life for all (Art.II.9).[2] In regard to the family, the State shall strengthen itssolidarity and actively promote its development (Art.XV.1).


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The Good Society (Economy-1)I.B. Transforming the Filipino EconomyEconomically, the goal of the State is to develop a self-reliant andindependent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos (Art.II.19). This goal implicitly recognizes the historic and continuingdependency of the Philippine economy on foreign capital, investments,technology and assistance, and the influence and control over oureconomy by certain foreign governments, multinational corporations,and international financial institutions.

The Constitution favors and encourages private enterprise subject togovernmental intervention for the common good and to promotedistributive justice (II.20; XII.6).Because the use of property bears a social function all economicagents shall contribute to the common good (XII.6). The Philippineeconomy is in fact integrated into the world capitalist system andglobal division of labor.


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The Good Society (Economy-2)Thus the constitutional goals of the nationaleconomy and patrimony are:[1] a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth;

[2] a sustained increase in the amount of goods and servicesproduced by the nation for the benefit of the people;[3] and an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality oflife for all, especially the underprivileged(Art. XII.1).[4] promote industrialization and full employment based on soundagricultural development and agrarian reform.[5] protect Filipino enterprises against unfair foreign competition andtrade practices. (Art. XII.2 )


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The Good Society (Culture-1)I.C. Transforming Filipino CultureTo transform our culture the State is mandated to:[1] foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of aFilipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in aclimate of free artistic and intellectual expression (Art. XIV.14).[2] protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education atall levels and take appropriate steps to make such education accessibleto all (Art. XIV.1).[3] ensure that all educational institutions shall inculcate patriotism andnationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights,appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical developmentof the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthenethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personaldiscipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientificand technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency. (Art.XIV.3(2)).


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[1] We are to take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino (thenational language of the Philippines) as a medium of officialcommunication and as language of instruction in the educational system(Art. XIV.6). As well, we are to learn, use, and promote as well our variouslanguages as a multi-lingual and multi-cultural nation.[2] recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous culturalcommunities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, andinstitutions (Art. XIV.17). (This would include their own languages.)[3] give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, andtheir utilization; and to science, and technology, education, training andservices (Art. XIV.10).[4] ensure that academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions ofhigher learning (Art. XIV.5(2)).

The Good Society (Culture-2)And how are we to transform and enrich Filipinoculture on the Principle of Unity in Diversity?


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II. BUILDING OUR IDEAL DEMOCRACYTransforming the Filipino Political Systeminto what we might call our Ideal Democracy.

[1] Politically, the Philippines is defined as a democratic andrepublican State in which Sovereignty resides in the people andall government authority emanates from them (Art. II.1).[2] Further to the States role in promoting social justice andhuman rights, Congress shall give highest priority to theenactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of allthe people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and politicalinequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusingwealth and political power for the common good. (Art. XIII.1)[3] It is the prime duty of the Government to serve and protectthe people (Art. II.4).


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[4] Inasmuch as civilian authority is, at all times, supreme overthe military the military is the protector of the people and theState (Art. II.3).[5] Recognizing the importance of people power and citizenparticipation in the democratic process, various provisions protectand encourage individual and organized activities by citizens.[6] Thus the State shall: afford full protection to labor, local andoverseas, organized and unorganized, and promote fullemployment and equality of employment opportunities for all(Art. XIII.3).[7] guarantee the rights of all workers to self-organization,collective bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concertedactivities, including the right to strike in accordance with law. Theyshall be entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of work,and a living wage. They shall also participate in policy anddecision-making processes affecting their rights and benefits asmay be provided by law (Art. XIII.3).


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[8] recognize the right of farmers, farm-workers, and landowners, as well as cooperatives, and other independent farmersorganizations, to participate in the planning, organization, andmanagement of the (agrarian reform) program (Art. XIII.5).[9] protect the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of localcommunities, to the preferential use of the communal marine andfishing resources, both inland and offshore. (Art. XIII.7).[10] respect the role of independent peoples organizations toenable the people to pursue and protect, within the democraticframework, their legitimate and collective interests and aspirationsthrough peaceful and lawful means (Art. XIII.15).[11] not abridge the right of the people and their organizations toeffective and reasonable participation at all levels of social,political and economic decision-making (Art. XIII.16).


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[12]encourage non-governmental, community-based, orsectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation(Art. II.23).[13] guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service,and prohibit political dynastiesas may be defined by law (Art.II.26).[14] through Congress provide for a system of initiative andreferendum whereby the people can directly propose andenact laws or approve or reject any act or law or part thereofpassed by the Congress or local legislative body. (Art.XVI.32).[15] encourage the involvement (of the youth) in public andcivic affairs(Art. I.13).


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[16] The State also recognizes the role of women (Art. II.14) andthe youth (Art. II.13) in nation-building.[17] The State shall ensure local autonomy and the creation ofautonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.(Art. ?)[18] The tyranny of the State or the Government is prevented notonly by the checks and balances of institutional pluralism (TheExecutive Power, The Legislative Power, and the Judicial Power,Human Rights, Civil authority over the Military.)[19] But also by the centrifugal forces of social pluralism(Government, Civil Society, Business, Labor, Media, Religious,Ethnic Communities, etc.)


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The Goals of Social Transformation:Building The Good Society and

Ideal DemocracyPopular Sovereignty The Common GoodParticipatory Democracy The National InterestGood Governance Peoples Empowerment &WelfareHuman Rights (Civil, Political, Social JusticeSocial, Economic, Environmental, Preferential Option for thePoor Indigenous Peoples) and Disadvantaged


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The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy.It appears that social transformation in the Philippines internationalrelations, again ideally, should be in the direction of asserting morevigorously and effectively its national sovereignty, independence,

self-determination, and territorial integrity in pursuit of the nationalinterest in a world of increasing interaction and interdependenceamong nations, states, international organizations, and multinationalcorporations.

We call this Globalization and this puts constraints and limits onour national sovereignty.


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We Have to Learn and Pursue SocialTransformation Toward Our Vision of The Good

Society and An Ideal Democracy.Our democratic institutions are still, fragile and subject toconstant challenges and failures.In this first decade of the 21st century, the GoodSocietyand IdealDemocracy envisioned in the 1987 Constitutionare distant and elusive.Unless the leaders and the people together enable socialtransformation to take place significantly improving thepeoples lives, there could well be greater social tensionsand conflicts, more violence, frustration, anger and despair.


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Two aggravating conditions are rapid population growth andenvironmental decay.When elitist democracy and greedy capitalism fail, a form ofdemocratic socialism could become an alternative.Otherwise, by default, an authoritarian solution fromeitherextreme of the political spectrum might just look attractive andnecessary.


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Indeed, we face many dilemmas andcontradictions.

Our political and economic elite cannot seem to rise above theirprivileged positions and share their power and wealth with the people.The people cannot seem to compel this redistribution of power andwealth.The Constitution mandates the State and the Government to do somuch for the people through free and open political competition,economic bargaining, social pressure, and compromise.And yet the State and Government are often weak, slow, ineffective,wasteful, corrupt and partial to the wealthy and powerful.


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Although labor and NGOs are organized and activist, most citizens arenot.Rebellion and lawlessness are signs that the State does not have amonopoly of force, or unquestioned legitimacy.The best efforts of the Government have had limited effect onviolations of human rights being committed by the military and thepolice, as well as by the rebel forces and plain criminals.Economic development from the center is not trickling down to theperiphery, nor is it sustainable.Filipinos are again fragmented after the EDSA Revolt that ousted thedictator.It seems hard for many people to subordinate their personal interest tothe common good or the national interest, to obey the spirit andsubstance of impersonal policies and rules, to effectively support thenational leadership.


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Most Filipinos speak in their native tongue but more and more peoplecan now speak in Filipino, our Tagalog-based national language. Thishas spread around the country through the media and cinema, itsteaching in the schools, and the peoples greater mobility.In contrast, the language of government, business, education and theprint media continues to be English, thus dividing the nation into thosewho communicate in a foreign language and those who habituallythink and speak in their own languages.While serving increasingly as a national lingua franca, along withEnglish as both national and global lingua franca, Filipino is alsoresented among non-Tagalog speaking Filipinos whose own languagesare becoming marginalized.In fact, some linguists predict the demise of some indigenous Filipinolanguages. In response there are movements to encourage speaking andwriting in the mother language and appreciation of regional cultures.


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How is the Philippines to break out of its customary externaldependence for its economic development and security, given itscrushing foreign debt and the condition laid down by its foreigncreditors and donors?How can we meet the threats of fragmentation, lawlessness, violence,rebellion and secession?How can we overcome our myriad other problems and constraints?There are many such questions begging to be answered.


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Learning for Social Transformationand Political Development

Clearly, a great deal of effective and sustained individual and sociallearning by us, Filipinos, is required for us to understand andinternalize the egalitarian, just and humane values and behavior, andto evolve the democratic structures and processes indicated in theConstitution.Such Civic Learning and Political Development are possiblethrough:

[1] Formal and informal education,[2] Reflection, discussion, and debate;

[3] Peoples participation in decision-making and reform,[4] Progressive policies,[5] Practical experience in the operation of institutions andvoluntary organizations,[6] Transforming leaders,

[7] Comparison with the institutions and practices of othercountries,


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Certainly, very much is expected of ourleaders and our citizens in managing andtransforming our society, polity, economy,and culturein search of a peaceful, just,humane, prosperous, and truly democraticPhilippines our constitutional vision ofThe Good Society and Ideal Democracy.

building the good society

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