In her State of the Nation Address last July 24, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, painted a rosy economic picture of our economy.

She outlined her "field dreams" such as the creation of "super regions" and the construction of airports, ports, railways, bridges and highways across the country.

She cited five strategies for global competitiveness: make food plentiful, reduce cost of electricity, modernize infrastructure, technology dissemination, reduce red tape in all agencies.

The President cited the need for constitutional changes, saying that the most prohibitive red tape is in our outmoded Constitution.

She praised Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, but at the same time condemned the killings of leftists and militants and encouraged witnesses to come forward to stop extrajudicial executions.

She offered reconciliation, saying "For those who want to pick up old fights, we're game … but what a waste of time. Why not join hands instead?"

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But Bishop Antonio Tobias said that a country could have growth without development. He said that much of the so-called development was due to "more beers, cigarettes, casinos, lotto, "jueteng," drugs, smuggling, golf clubs, high-rise condos, real estate, tourist resorts, memorial parks and columbaria, logging and extracting more minerals - depleting our natural resources at a rate faster than nature can regenerate.

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IBON Foundation, Inc. has a different picture of our country's economy. For instance, the country is still on the debt trap. According to IBON Foundation Inc., public sector debt (outstanding debt of the national government plus debt of the government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, local government units, and the old Central Bank) totals P5.1 trillion and constitutes 94% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as of February 2006.

On the unemployment problem, there were 2.9 million unemployed Filipinos in April, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). But if the old definition is used, there were actually 4.4 million jobless Filipinos during the month or an unemployment rate of 11.4 per cent. The Arroyo government thus, better known as having the worst, sustained, double-digit, unemployment rates in history, manages to reduce unemployment rate not by job creation but simply changing the definition of joblessness, according to IBON Foundation, Inc.

Unemployment rate improved slightly to 8.2% in April but only after the Arroyo government adopted a new definition by the International Labor Organization (ILO), where the unemployed are only those without work, seeking work and available for work. Therefore those who have become discouraged from looking for work for various reasons including the lack of job opportunities are excluded from the labor force, according to the IBON Foundation Inc.

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Political killings have continued. Last Monday, three persons including two militants were killed in the same day.

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On the need for Charter Change, could Cha-cha provide food, jobs, and justice to the people? The President had called the Philippine Constitution which provides for a presidential system of government as outmoded. But if you look at the parliamentary system in England, it is older than the presidential system in United States.

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Administration congressmen are fast-tracking Charter Change. If they could not proceed to Charter change as early as possible, the people especially the politicians will forget Cha-cha and will be busy preparing for the 2007 elections.

Yes, the political pot is now boiling. Unknown to many, there are now several personalities who are willing to challenge incumbent Gov. Erico B. Aumentado. This early, Panglao Municipal Development Council Vice Chair Ado Cloribel and former Board Member Felix Rengel have been floated to run for governor and vice governor respectively. They would be presenting the anti-Panglao Airport platform of some people.

If ever Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera would run for governor, Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. would be compelled to run for vice governor to support Gov. Aumentado.

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In the First District of Bohol, probable candidates for board member have cropped up. Some of them are realtor Purita Soliven, Mayor Yul Lopez of Loon, and Ae Damalerio of Rep. Edgar Chatto's staff. There are still two incumbent board members who want to seek reelection, namely: Felix Uy and Jose "Dodong" Veloso.

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In the Third District of Bohol, there are more vacancies in the Provincial Board. But the most thrilling aspect is the election for congressman. This early, several names have cropped as probable candidates. To name a few, these are businessman Angelo Balili, former Gov. Rene Relampagos, Board Member Dionisio Balite, Board Member Brigido Imboy, and Vicvic Abrenilla of NEDA.

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In the City of Tagbilaran, three personalities are reported to be interested to challenge incumbent Mayor Dan Lim. The probable challengers are former Mayor Jose Torralba, Gen. Alberto Olario, and former Vice Mayor Jorge Cabalit. There are indications that Gen. Olario might team up with Cabalit. But will Torralba give up his political ambition to reclaim the city mayorship? But where are the allies of Torralba? Is Torralba losing Vice Mayor Nuevas Montes? Torralba has lost his political ally, former Vice Mayor Cabalit after Torralba reneged on his promise to support Cabalit after Torralba's third successive term as mayor. Montes might follow suit. How about the other allies like Councilors Dandan Bantugan, Oscar Glovasa and Edi Borja? Would they still support Torralba?

The interesting part in the city election would be: if Mayor Lim would jump to Lakas, what would happen to the mayoralty bids of Ex-Mayor Torralba and Gen. Olario who are interested to be anointed as Lakas official bets? Let us wait and see.

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For comments and reactions, send mail to Atty. Jorge D. Cabalit, Cabalit Law Office, 74 Belderol Street, Tagbilaran City or send e-mail to: viewpoints@boholchronicle.com