Ban seminars before national elections

Ban seminars before national elections

A Barangay Captain told me that he regretted attending recently a convention of all Barangay Captains in Manila. He said that they were billeted in exquisite hotels. It was supposed to be a 3-day convention but it was incised into just one day. This only means that they paid their 3-day stay in the hotels but had actually lodged only for a day. Worse, he claimed that during their assembly they did nothing except to listen to the presidentiables who talked about their plans to run for the 2010 elections and to adopt a measure extending their term as barangay officials to 5 years.

The money and time spent on such convention should have been used to activities that are more productive. Even seminars and workshops nowadays are useless. Some participants like local officials register during the first day then unceremoniously flee without attending the seminar. It is even sad to note that only a miniscule fraction of the lessons presented during the seminars is ever put into practice and the hoped-for benefits. The participants who break away from the convention or seminar are usually seen herding themselves in videoke bars and ill-repute clubs.

I suspect that many and varied seminars and workshops are organized this year prior to the 2010 elections. These become vehicles for the presidentiables to ego-shine themselves. These seminars would not cure our social ills. If the attendees would just honestly do their work, improve their work ethics then there is no need for these seminars or conferences.

The Comelec should request the national government to ban the conduct of seminars and conferences a year before the national elections. The moneys spent for this are people’s money. Let us not mess with people’s money with the conduct of these useless seminars and conferences. Let us rather use them for activities that are more constructive and beneficial to our people.