Good governance, former Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Rufo Colayco , who was once described by his admirers as intellectually superior or by his critics as intellectually arrogant, once said makes for good business and good economy. The former American military base’s impressive rise like the bird Phoenix from the Pinatubo ashes, ever since or after, may be a pleasant offshoot of that universal truism made to work.
Colayco was probably alluding to the downside of too much politics at work in Clark then as a political environment. Years after he had left Clark, he understood a basic problem. He said some local politicians wanted all things by themselves. He didn’t name names nor gave clues. The general impression now is that the situation has improved much from that standpoint.
Politics, by definition, is the art of the possible. In that sense, it may mean some cutting corners, setting aside rules or boundaries, may be even outright disregard of scrupulous ways or restrictions, to achieve certain goal. Politics, as it is known or practice hereabouts, allow creative liberties that seem to legitimize rules-bending. Former Senator Rene Saguisag had a visceral term for that: he used to lament that Filipinos appear to be a scofflaw tribe.
Years after Rufo ,the Intellectual Snob,( one general felt insulted by his comment, he secretly wanted to punch him) lawyer and logistics taipan Art Tugade became CDC’s top honcho. He was surprised to discover that the state corporation’s money was sleeping in certain account where it wasn’t earning instead of in another account where it would have earned. He also thought some officers were enjoying too much perks he decided it was time to make a hard decision. For some, it was time to go.
From the economic standpoint, Colayco’s point can be justified. The Philippine economy seems be doing well as reflected in the positive GDP growth. Good governance may have something to do with it, even if partisan politics stands in the way of such a plausible appreciation.
On the other hand, there are external signs that militate against such hopeful, even optimistic, inclination.
The controversial advertising video to promote Philippine tourism under the new administration is an example that indicate creative liberties are still alive and well, not from an artistic viewpoint, but from governance viewdeck here . Ultimately, it is hard to think that such a project that involved a kind of plagiarism would be acceptable to an top-notch agency hired to show what’s best to tell the world about the Philippines. It smelled of a rinky dink malpractice and unprofessionalism.
Give credit to the ad agency that confessed to the flagrant effort, but only after vigilant netizens cried foul about misrepresentation and much damage has been done to the Philippine image—never mind the agency’s. How the government will finally resolve the tourism-related misstep will say something to how committed it is to good governance. For a long time, costly mistakes or violations of laws and rules in this country hasn’t been really that a big deal.
The ad mess isn’t a minor offense, according to those who believe that accepting the ad agency’s apology and asking it to redo the job isn’t enough. There is a violation of its contract, they say. There is more than artistic judgment involved the ad controversy. Albay Rep. Jose Salceda has gone to suggest an investigation by the House of Representatives may be necessary because ignoring the world-famous Mayon Volcano as part of the ad video is more than a laughing matter, even on its pre-eruption or eruption stage.
In fact, Salceda’s probe in mind should look into the fitness of those in the tourism body. There are reasons enough that some appointees of the present administration are made largely on partisan basis. For instance, the appointment of lawyer Larry Gadon as a presidential adviser comes ludicrous enough after the former was disbarred by the Supreme Court for behaving unlawyer -like. It’s not just an issue of timing; it’s an issue of character and competence. The knife cuts both ways.
Whatever its reasons, the idea cannot be too far from a trenchant myth peddled here and there and everywhere that there was once a golden age in Philippine history, and that time was marked when rice was cheap at P20 a kilo. Unfortunately, that age was poorly framed during the time the country was at its darkest: martial law, when many lives were seen as cheap too.
Recently, the Office of the Vice President was flagged by the Commission on Audit for violating government rules on purchases. Surely, there can be no claim of ignorance of auditing rules given the office; besides, ignorance of the law excuses is well known dictum. The purchases were made by the OVP to fast-tract the operation of its satellite offices, apparently nationwide. Good intention is never a substitute for the right way to do it which is obeying what the law says.
Like the ad agency that put the wrong pictures in the tourism ad, the OVP has its own explanation on why the law was set side. Again, the toughness of the government in sending the message that laws cannot be simply an option for some people, regardless of their power or importance, must be made. That is good governance because it requires that laws be respected.
Good leaders, wrote an author, strives for good governance. Obviously, it’ still not a pervasive reality in our neck of the woods Recently, Baguio Bity Mayor Benjamin Magalong has tolled his bell against the prevailing corruption in our midst.Magalong has only pointed to the obvious: the lack of good governance.
In another front, the TV station of a prominent religious leader who is most wanted for human trafficking and other crimes in the United states has been banned on YouTube for violating its rules. Where do we go from here?
In her time, former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, formerly senior deputy speaker, had a roadmap for national ambition for the country : eliminate poverty, establish good governance as foundation and change the character of Philippine politics.
What happened Mam?
