Scholastic Atoy Salazar, SJ

With barely a month and a half before the national elections, national politicians who are (and are not) focusing on environmental concerns are once again promising us their actions and commitments to us, the electorate. It seems that they only do so when they need to get as many votes as possible to get them a seat or position in the government. 

There are actually many issues politicians can choose to anchor their platforms on, but political analysts and strategists employed by those in the running would always advise that they factor in into their agendas something about the environment. Arguably, what a would-be politician has to say about the environment is one of the key issues voters are looking for in candidates they will eventually elect. It is easy enough to raise their voices during campaign rallies and their miting de avance (the final campaign rally) and present an ideal and romanticized notion of what they plan to do once they are in office regarding the environment.

Sadly, the actions of previous and present elected officials lend very little credibility as to the sincerity of the platforms they present. Our environment is still in dire need of attention and care, much more so now that the resources continue to be depleted. There has yet to be a government official or politician who can say with all integrity that he/she has done what was promised regarding the environment.

What is a good solution to this predicament? It is not an entirely new situation that we find ourselves in after all. Every time there is a local or national election held, we hear much of the same thing being promised regarding how best to deal with the environmental concerns that plague our country. This is especially critical since we have one of the last remaining patches on earth that can still boast of a decent amount of natural resources, even though it continues to dwindle almost to the point of exhaustion.

Probably as voters we can be more critical and demanding of those seeking power during elections: what their concrete plans are, step by step, to address the issues regarding the environment. Perhaps our vigilance can extend after the elections and all throughout the term of the official we elected if the elected candidate is fulfilling the promises made during the campaigns.

The answers will not be in the periodicals or news bulletins. I believe the answers to our own queries will be within ourselves and our vigilant fortitude.

Atoy Salazar, SJ is a Jesuit scholastic finishing his second year of Regency formation in Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines.