Balisacan: ‘It all boils down to how we select our leaders’

MANILA, Philippines — With the 2028 national elections approaching, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the country must reflect on the way it chooses its leaders and professionalize the bureaucracy to achieve faster economic growth and catch up with its neighbors.

In a roundtable discussion with Inquirer editors and reporters on Friday, Balisacan cited a growing need to reform the country’s electoral process, noting that the current system allows virtually anyone to run for president and political dynasties to thrive.

“I am not a political scientist but it all boils down to how we select our leaders. We need to start with that. Reform our electoral processes. We need to push for institutional reforms,” Balisacan said.

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The Philippine economy has grown by an average of just over 5 percent over the past 15 years. Noting this, he said the country now needs to accelerate growth to at least 6 percent to catch up with its Southeast Asian peers.

The country’s chief economist also stressed the need for a professional and stable bureaucracy that can ensure continuity in government programs regardless of changes in political leadership.

Reforms needed

“Even if the leader is not prepared, what’s important is he is able to bring in good governance. For example, in the Department of Health, you must bring a good doctor to run it. A person is assigned to lead the railway but he came from a law firm. Can you imagine the learning curve?” Balisacan said.

“That’s one of the things we need to fix. Professionalize the bureaucracy so that even if our political system is not good, bureaucracy runs efficiently because there are technical people who know their jobs,” he added.

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Balisacan also flagged what he described as “family enterprise” in the country’s politics, wherein members of the same clan run and win positions.

He pushed for institutional reforms, particularly an antipolitical dynasty law, and stronger education curriculum that would instill a sense of patriotism among young Filipinos.

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“The sense of patriotism and that love of country … if you are a leader or elected official, that is your guide, your compass, instead of personal or family interest,” he said.

Balisacan compared the Philippines with economies, such as Thailand and Singapore, where political leaders may change but career officials and technical professionals remain in government, preserving institutional knowledge and ensuring continuity in long-term programs.

READ: Balisacan: 2028 election results crucial to PH economic growth

The call for better leaders is particularly relevant as the country heads toward the 2028 elections amid heightened political tensions, including the breakdown of the political alliance between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Duterte is now facing an impeachment trial and has recently been slapped with an arrest warrant over three counts of grave threats.

Weak economy

Compounding this is the fallout from the flood control corruption scandal, which has implicated several lawmakers and government officials.

Just this week, former Speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was arrested on plunder charges amid allegations that he and former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co received more than P7 billion in kickbacks from government projects between 2022 and 2025.

Co was likewise charged before the Sandiganbayan.

This corruption scandal is largely the reason for the country’s slow economic growth, which grew by only 2.6 percent in the first half of the year. Inflation has also remained elevated, while unemployment recently climbed to a four-year high of 6 percent.

The slowdown has left the Philippines among the region’s weaker-growing economies, with growth trailing most of its neighbors.

Balisacan, however, said Filipinos are increasingly aware of how the country compares with its neighbors, partly because of greater access to information through the internet.

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“Filipinos today are very much conscious of our position relative to our neighbors partly because of the internet. They demand so much from their leaders now. That pressure is a good force for us because that could help influence the outcome of the electoral process,” Balisacan said. — With a report from Luisa Cabato /das