Drilon: Team PNoy to sustain PH’s growth momentum

I respect the editorial position of the Inquirer. But I take strong exception to the views expressed in the Feb. 11 editorial, “Underwhelming,” which asserted that given the composition of Team PNoy, it will be “business as usual” during this campaign.

President Aquino took a direct hand in the selection of the senatorial candidates on the firm belief that they must carry the anticorruption and the development agenda of this administration. The main criterion was not winnability but the ability and willingness to pursue honest-to-goodness reforms within the next three years.

You are correct in pointing out that the reforms initiated by the President have yet to take firm root after nearly three years. But please understand that we are undoing many years of misrule and we cannot change things overnight. We have made significant headway in economic construction, as reflected in the better-than-expected 6.6-percent economic growth last year, and Team PNoy will play a big role in sustaining the momentum of growth if given an overwhelming mandate by our people in May.

The issues are not muddled, as the editorial said. The key issues are crystal clear: whether to pursue genuine reforms or to stick to the same traditional politics that has kept the nation from making rapid progress in the economic, social and political spheres.

Team PNoy stands squarely on the side of genuine change. I cannot say the same about our political adversaries.

—SEN. FRANKLIN M. DRILON