A GLOBAL political strategist said Filipino politicians are in “crisis mode,” following the series of scandals and mounting public dissatisfaction.
Speaking at The Manila Times Newsroom, Aron Shaviv, chief executive officer of the political consultancy company Vantage Influence, emphasized that the government’s inability to fulfill its most basic responsibility — protecting its citizens — has created a crisis of confidence, prompting officials to divert the public’s attention to other issues.
“You see a lot of politicians turning into other issues; others have turned to TikTok. The one thing you don’t see many politicians doing, in response to the crisis, is actually taking responsibility for it,” he said, citing how many politicians reacted to the anomalous flood control scandal.
In the face of these challenges, many politicians have turned to social media as a tool to manage public perception. Shaviv observed that platforms like TikTok and Facebook are being used to shift attention away from local issues and onto broader, often global, concerns. While this strategy may provide short-term relief, he warned that this approach risks alienating voters who are more concerned with immediate, tangible problems in their daily lives.
“To the individual voter in a constituency anywhere in the building, the consequences of global events or regional events in the South China Sea, they don’t really impact their days of their lifetime,” he said.
He argued that voters are eager for leaders who will own up to their mistakes and take decisive action to prevent future crises.
Shaviv also shed light on the challenges facing the country’s political leaders, the role of social media in shaping public perception, and the urgent need for accountability and solutions to pressing issues like food security and the flood control scandal.
He described food security as a “unique” concern that transcends other political priorities, calling it crucial even from an “electoral point of view.”
“Food security is really unique in the way that if you’re going to sleep every single night thinking about how I’m going to feed my children tomorrow morning, and you wake up every morning asking yourself the same question without a clear answer, there’s no second issue,” he said.
Shaviv said addressing food security is not only a moral imperative but also a political necessity. Politicians who fail to tackle this issue risk losing the trust and support of their constituents.
He further noted that while the Philippines’ political landscape is unique it is not singular.
He noted that dynasties transitioning from father to daughter or brother to sister are common globally, drawing on his experiences in Thailand, where political dynasties and familial successions mirror familiar scenarios in the Philippines.
“The idea of political dynasties is not unique to the Philippines. It’s a global phenomenon, and the key is how leaders respond to crises and adapt to changing circumstances,” Shaviv said.
Looking ahead to the 2028 elections, Shaviv stressed the importance of balancing short-term crisis management with long-term planning. He urged politicians to focus on delivering tangible results, particularly in areas like disaster preparedness and food security, to rebuild public trust.
“Elections are not about the past; they’re about the future. Voters want to know what’s being done today to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated and that their basic needs are met,” Shaviv said.
Shaviv also highlighted the benefits of bringing in international consultants to provide an objective perspective and data-driven strategies.
“Sometimes, it helps to have someone from the outside to come and take a fresh look at it,” he said.
