PAANONG PADADALIIN ANG PAGSISILBI SA GUBYERNO

Matindi ang mga report na nahihirapan daw kumuha ng mga taong pupuno ng mga puwesto sa gubyerno .May magagaling daw na mga tao na umayaw sa mga inaalok na puwesto dahil sa kawalan ng tiwala sa kapasidad ng gubyerno na magdala ng pagbabago at ang pananatili sa labas ay higit na kaaya-aya. May mga ayaw din ng napakababang suweldo. Ang mga puwede lamang ay ang mga opisyales na dati nang nanilbihan sa ilalim ng mga rehimeng walang k.

Marahil, mukhang mahirap ang humawak ng pamumuno sa gubyerno. Nakakatakot isipin siguro na papasok ang bagong namumuno sa isang organisasyon na puno ng mga, sa kanyang paningin, konserbatibong empleyado, mga sanay sa denumerong pagkilos, na ayaw umalis sa burukratang pamamaraan, at mga empleyado na maaaring magdadala ng sigalot o paninira ng mga gawain na puwedeng sumira ng imahe ng paparating na presidente, o kaya ay may pailalim na koneksyon sa mga opposition parties. Nagiging mahirap lalo na kung nasanay ang pinunong ito sa isang organisasyon na siya ay nirerespeto, ginagalang at ang paninilbihan sa taumbayan o sa kumpanya ay siyang pinakatampok ng gawain. subali't hindi naman lahat ng empleyado ay ganyan. Nagkakaganuon lamang dahilan sa mabigat ang resulta kapag lumihis sa nakagawian ng pamamaraan ng pagpapatakbo ng gubyerno. 

Sa katunayan ang mamuno ng isang departamento ay isang kaakit-akit na sitwasyon. Kaunti lamang ang tinatawag sa ngayon para maging piinuno. Ayon kay Propesor Leonor Briones, na nainterbyu ni Ted Failon sa radyo, maganda ring manilbihan sa gubyerno kasi kapag lumalabas ng bansa, mataas ang pagtingin ng mga banyaga sa mga delegasyon ng Pilipinas.

Nais kong idagdag na dahil na rin sa ating makasaysayang pagkilos marahil ito. Tayo ang kauna-unahang bansa sa Asya na lumaya sa kolonyalismo, sa puwersa ng Espana; natalo rin natin ang Japanese Imperial Forces noong Pangalawang Pandaigdigang Digmaan, at naibalik natin ang demokrasya sa Pilipinas matapos ang 14 taon martial law ng diktador na si Marcos sa mapayapang pamamaraan.

Ngunit di natin maaaring talikuran ang mabusising pagpapatakbo ng isang departamento. Dahil ako'y nagtrabaho sa gubyerno sa loob ng apat ng taon noong panahon ng martial law, bilang senior management specialist sa Budget Commission na ngayon ay tinatawag na DBM, masasabi kong  napakadali sa ngayon na mamuno kung ang layunin ay walang iba kundi ang manilbihan sa taumbayan at hindi raketeering.

Narito ang palasak na mga gawain sa gubyerno. Kung Lunes, may pagtitipon ang mga empleyado upang umawit ng Lupang Hinirang na sinasabayan ng pagtataas ng bandila sa harap ng gusali ng departamento. Susundan ito ng mga trabahong papeles - pagbusisi, pagpirma, pag-edit, pagreview atbp, meetings at pagsusulat ng report. Yan ang kadalasang gawain sa departamento. Nguni't ang mas sinserong namumuno ay lalabas at makikipag-usap sa taumbayan, sa sektor na pinagsisilbihan upang alamin ang kanilang mga problema. Kung PNP o militar, ang mga pupuntahan ay ang mga nasa pinakamababang ranggo, ang private soldiers.

Kung nasa Denr naman, ang pupuntahan ay ang mga foresters na nasa mga bundok, o kaya sa urban areas. (Opo, mga Kababayan, ang environment sec ay dapat na inspeksyonin kung may sapat na mga puno sa syudad, at suriin ang mga kalidad ng hangin, tubig at lupa. Dapat may target ang departamento kung ilang mga puno ang dapat na tanim sa syudad, sa mga bayan at barangay. Dapat mayroon silang tagamonitor kung nasusunod ba ang mga pamantayan. 

Pangalawa, pag pasok nila sa puwesto, dapat i-check nila kaagad kung ilang mga ilog ang marumi, puno ng basura, at hindi namamantina ng mga barangay sa tabi nila. Mas maganda rin kung may ibibigay silang pabuya, at parusa din kung di makapagbigay ng maayos ng report. 

Pangatlo, dapat i-ban nila ang paninigarilyo sa mga sidewalk at bus stops. Dapat may watchers sila na manghuhuli ng mga nakikitang nagtatapon ng upos ng sigarilyo sa paligid, 

Pang-apat, dapat maki-coordinate ang Denr sa LTFRB upang ipagbawal ang mga maiingay na mga motorsiklo. Lahat ng mga motorsiklo dapat ay may silencer. Nabanggit ng papasok na rehimen na patitigilin ang mga videoke na lumalarga kahit na sa kailaliman ng gabi. Sa aming barangay, may miyembro pa ng pulis na ganyan ang gawain at hindi mapagsabihan. Araw-araw? Madalas. 

MINAHAN: Marami na tayong nakalbong mga bundok Panahon na siguro para papagpahingahin natin ang mga diwata sa kabundukan at bigyan sila ng pagkakataong hilumin ang mga sugat na dulot ng pagbomba ng lupa, pagbungkal ng mga backhoes, pagputol ng mga puno gamit ang mga lagare, mga itak, at kung anu-ano pang mga matatalim na sandata.

DILG

Sa Dilg, ang pangunahing haharapin ay ang mga residente ng barangay, kasunod ang mga opisyales, ang mga officers, at ang tanod. Mga katanungan sa kanila: Paano nyong ginagamit ang budget at ibang resources ng barangay tulad ng mga sasakyan, mga pasilidad, ang internet para makapaghatid ng dekalidad at maramihang serbisyo sa taumbayan? Kailangang ang mga pamantayan na dapat na itakda ng kalihin upang malaman kung magaling ba ang kanilang paggawa. Dapat ay may tatlong pamantayan: superior, katamtaman, at bagsak.

Bawa't barangay ay dapat may bulletin board at may buwanang report kung magkano ang nagastos at para saang proyekto. Kapag naghahanda ng pangkalahatang asembleya, bawa't ipaalam kung kailan at saan dalawang linggo bago ito ganapin. Dapat ding maging regular ito. Bawa't mamamayan ay magkakaroon ng sapat na panahon para mag-isip ng mga isyus na nais nilang ilahad sa asembleya.

DSWD

Sa punto ng Dswd ang pinakamahalagang trabaho ay iikot sa kung anong mga bahagi ng bansa ang parating may paulit-ulit na kahirapan. Bakit sa dami ng mga rehiment nagdaan ay hindi umaangat ang buhay ng mga tao ruon. Bakit ang kababaihan, kabataan at mga nakatatanda (NOTA BENE: HINDI MATANDA KUNDI NAKATATANDA AYON KAY EDDIE ILARDE, ANG MATANDA AY OLD. ANG NAKATATANDA AY ELDERLY).

Halimbawa, kung sa loob ng isang tahanan, may nagreklamong may kamag-anak o kasambahay na naninigarilyo o kaya ay drug addict, o kaya ay lasenggo, at walang pakialam sa kung anong epekto ng mga pinaggagawa niya sa iba, panahon na para manindigan ang mga Dswd at harapin ang problema. Ang mahigpit na pagtutulungan ng Dilg. barangay at PNP sa mga bagay na ito ay kailangang-kailangan.

Nakalulungkot namang ang karahasan sa loob ng bahay ay hindi napagtutuunan ng pansin. Marami akong alam na tahanan kung saan may kasama sa bahay, kadalasan isang lalaki na nang-aapi ng mga kasambahay, ng kababaihan at nakatatanda at walang paki sa tinatawag na karapatang pantao. Ang Dswd, nagpunta lamang minsan tapos wala nang nangyari. Walang follow up. Ang barangay ayaw hawakan ang problema dahil sa pampribado ang problema at hindi raw sila dapat makialam. (O baka dahil kinikilingan ng isang mataos na officer ng barangay ang lasenggo?)

Ang paulit-ulit na trabaho sa departamento ay ang paghahanda ng programa, proyekto at budget para sa taong darating. Ito ay dinidepensa sa mga opisyales ng lehislatura, ang Senado at Batasang Pambansa. Trabaho rin ng departamento ang pag monitor at pagtasa sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa at proyekto. Sa puntong ito, mahalagang huwag manghihina sa mga alok ng pagpapayaman ng mga taong nais sirain ang moralidad ng mga tao sa departamento. Kailangan ang magandang relasyon sa Commission on Audit upang makatulong sa kanilang pagtatasa ng proyekto. Magaling sa numero ang mga taga COA upang masigurong makukumpleto sa tamang paraan ang mga programa at proyekto. Sa aking pananaw, ang COA ay dapat na kumikilos upang malaman kung nakatatanggap ba ng tamang benepisyo ang taumbayan hindi lamang kung tapos na ang taon. Kapag may nakitang mali kapag tapos na ang proyekto, mahirap nang iwasto.

Sa aking pananaw, maraming kababayan na kabilang sa kilusang non-government na eksperto na sa pagsisilbi sa mga komunidad. Ang panlipunang pagsisilbi ay isang gawain na kayang-kaya nila kahit nakapikit. Kung kaya't hindi mahirap ang paghahanap ng mamumuno sa loob ng gubyerno. Tigilan lang ang palakasan.

Naririto ang mga katangiang dapat na itakda sa mga tatanggaping pinuno:

*marunong makiramdam

*alam at eksperto sa gawaing haharapin

*may matayog at malalim na pananaw

at *may komitment o katapatan sa tungkulin

Malakas na pakiramdam

Kapag marunong makiramdam ang pinuno, alam niya kung sinu-sino ang pinakahigit na pagtutuunan niya ng tulong. Hindi siya bulag sa kahirapan at kaapihan ng kababaihan kabataan at nakatatanda. Alam niya kung anu-anong mga isyus ng kahirapan ang kinakailangang harapin kaagad – pabahay ba, kaapihan sa loob ng tahanan, sakuna at kawalan ng pagkain, etsetera.

May Kakayahan

Ang kakayahan ay hindi matatawarang kinakailangang pamantayan sa pagkuha ng pinuno. Kapag walang kakayahan, ang pinuno ay pagtatawanan, paglalaruan at lolokohin lamang ng mga empleyadong nagtatrabaho nasa ilalim ng departamento. Hindi mabubura ng press release o mga sinulat sa diyaryo at magasin, at paglabas sa telebisyon ang kawalan ng kakayahan ng pinuno. Pati mga taga media ay babatbatan siya.

Pananaw

Ang vision sa Tagalog ay “pananaw, may pangitain, mapangarapin...” Marahil yang mga pang-uring yan ang maaari nating gamitin. Ang isang pinuno ay dapat na may pananaw, pangitain, at mahilig mangarap. Ibig sabihin nito, ang pinuno ay hindi lamang nakatuon sa nakaraan at pangkasalukuyan kundi pati na rin sa kinabukasan at hinaharap.

Kailangan ang malalim na pananaw upang maisabay ang mga gawain ng departamento sa pangkalahatang plano upang paunlarin ang basan at sa mas partikular, kung ano ang magiging epekto ng federalismo sa departamento. Ito ay pagkakaroon ng malawak ng pananaw din tungkol sa pag-unlad ng sektor na tinutulungan at ng mga empleyado sa departamento.

Ang pagkakaroon ng katapatang-loob sa pagsisilbi sa bayan ay isang pamantayan na mahirap tanggalin sa listahan ng mga katangian ng isang pinuno. Kapag tapat ang pinuno maasahan nating hindi pupunta sa bulsa niya, sa bulsa ng kanyang mga kaibigan at kamag-anak ang kuwarta ng bayan. Hindi siya hihirang ng mga officers ng departamento na mga kaibigan lamang niya. Walang palakasan. Walang tinititigan. Walang kinikilingan.

Ang Civil Service Commission ay may mga pamantayan kung sinu-sino ang dapat na maging empleyado ng gubyerno. Magandang masuri ito at masunod sa pagpili ng mga tutulong sa pagpapaganda ng kaunlaran ng sambayanan.

Samakatuwid, ang pinakamahalaga ay ang paghahandog ng pawis, pagod, utak at damdamin para sa ikabubuti ng buong sambayanan.

May mga panahong mapapagod, mayayamot, maiinis, at tatamarin sa mga paulit-ulit na trabaho sa loob ng burukrasya. Nakakawala rin ito ng pagiging mapanlikha at maabilidad upang masolusyunan ang mga problema sa departamento. Sa ganitong kalakaran, napakalakas ang hatak na makinig sa musika, o kaya ay umalis ng syudad, magpunta sa tabing-dagat, damhin ang sikat ng araw sa likod ng katawan o kaya ay tanawin ang paglubog ng araw at magnilay-nilay kung bakit pa nabubuhay sa planetang ito. Ito rin ang magandang panahon para makaisip tayo kung paanong maaalis ang bureaucratism sa gubyerno, ang pagpapalawak at pagpapalalim ng ating panaw at kaisipan tungkol sa buhay.

Amen.

“Hello Garci” Larawang-guhit ni WSO 

How to make it easy to serve in government – environment, dilg, dswd, and other line agencies

How to make it easy to serve in government – environment, dilg, dswd, and other line agencies

Reports are rife that the next administration is having a hard time gathering, inviting, asking leaders who would be sitting in the sensitive positions in the government. Good people have turned down due to lack of, maybe distrust on the capacity of the government to effect change and that remaining outside of it would be a better situation. Some have turned down offers because the salary is too low from what they are now offering. Unfortunately, the only available ones, or more of them, could be those who have served before under questionable regimes.

Maybe many people think it is really difficult to handle leadership in the government especially in the following departments: environment, dilg, dswd, and the mmda. The mass of conservative employees, those who are used to their numbered steps and refuse to depart from the bureaucratic ways, as well as employees who are apt to disrupt government services especially those that would enhance the image of the incoming leader, or who arekeen, under secret ties with opposition parties, to destroy the image of the future administration, among others, present a very frightening situation for anyone who is used to managing a company or an organization with great inspiration, where people respect his or her leadership without question and service to the people (as din non-gov orgs) remains paramount.

In reality, being a leader of any department is such an inviting situation. Not many could be called at this time to lead and represent the country through the department one handles. As Professor Leonor Briones mentioned in a radio interview with Ted Failon, when government people go abroad, they are highly regarded by representatives of other countries. I would presume this is also because of our historical interventions like attaining independence from Spain (as the first country in Asia to have dislodged a colonial power), defeating the Japanese imperial army during World War II and booting out the dictatorship with the minimum of bloodshed.

However, it is true that we have to contend with the nitty-gritty of running a department. Having worked for four years in the government during martial law, under a dictatorial leader, I would say that it would be a breeze at this time to lead any organization so long as the goal of everyone is service to the people, and not racketeering

On Monday morning, it is expected that the leader lead the flag-raising and the singing of “Lupang Hinirang.” Then after that, paperworks, meetings, and writing of reports.

Those are the things that one does in government. But a conscientious leader would go out and talk with constituents to find out their problems. The constituents are those being served as well as the government people serving them in the lowest rungs. If the military or the PNP, then the constituents would be down to the private soldiers.

Denr

If the environment department, then the foresters up there in the mountains, the urban areas (yes, Folks, the environment sec has to inspect if there are enough trees in the cities, also, not just in the highlands), and check the air, water and land qualities. The Denr must have a goal – how many trees in the cities, in the town and barangays. Then they must have checks as to how adequately the the officials have abided by the standards. Secondly, they should check right away upon assumption to power, how many creeks and rivers are ill-maintained by the barangays nearest them. Set up penalties and rewards. Thirdly, ban smoking in public places, especially sidewalks and bus stops. Once Denr officials see a cigarette stub in one area, then they should have watchers that will arrest right away those who violate environmental laws. Noise – how should they deal with noise? Motorcycles and tricycles are terrible monsters on the road. The department has to coordinate with the LTFRB to impose silencers in them. And publish the reasons if the LTFRB refuses to do that. The incoming administration has already hinted that it will focus on loud videoke-users in the barangay. Let us look if there would be peace and quiet in the barangay after its assumption. For example, in our barangay, a certain policeman has allowed its videoke to blare up to 2 a.m. On many occasions. Daily? Yes, recently. MINING: Let us put a stop to this and let our mountains heal for twenty years. We need food, not too much money.

Dilg

If in the department of interior and local government, then the primary constituents would be the barangay citizens, next the barangay officials and officers, and the tanod. Questions to them should revolve around issues like: how have you been using the resources of the government like the budget, vehicles, facilities in the office in order to deliver quality and quantitative service to the people? Parameters have to be put up by the secretary in order to know if the barangay is performing excellently or not. There should be three levels of standards: excellent, average, and poor.

Every barangay must have a barangay bulletin board with a monthly report on how much they have spent and for what projects. When it conducts general assemblie,s then every household has to be told when and where it will be. This will give us ample time to raise questions and issues which have not been resolved yet, especially where domestic violence is rampant.

Dswd - Sensitivity

In the case of the department of social welfare and development the most important work is to find out which areas in the country have a recurrence of poverty – how come it is not alleviated at all after a year of leadership – and why such is perpetuated. I think that the aim of this department is to insure that the welfare of the people, especially women, children and senior citizens are addressed daily, speedily and with high quality. For example, if a constituent complains about a relative who is obnoxious in the house, is a drug addict or an alcoholic, or who smokes without regard to the health condition of the housemates, then that is a highly important problem that must be addressed right away. The DSWD must work closely with the DILG and the PNP in order to correct the situation.

Unfortunately, domestic violence is an issue that has not really been focused upon by the DSWD. I know a lot of homes where an individual, usually a man tends to dominate, humiliate, and oppress the housemates without regard for human rights. The barangay to which he is reported has not acted on the issue because the officers concerned consider it as a domestic problem and that the barangay should not meddle in this “private matter.”

The routinary tasks in departmental work is the preparation of programs, projects, and budgets, their defense to the higher executive officials and to the legislative branches of the government – the Senate and Congress, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the same once they are implemented. Here, the leaders must guard against those who would bribe them to create programs and projects that would tarnish the image of the government. They should also have a good working relationship with the Commission on Audit so that they could be appraised of the status of the project not only after it is complete. I think even during their implementation, the COA should be there, auditing the project to see if the sector being served is really getting the benefits they deserve and not just at the end of the project.

I think that the non-gov movement has a lot of experienced people who are

experts in serving in communities. Social service is just a snappy act to them and so the next administration will not find it difficult finding a leader. The important quality of that leader however is Sensitivity.

Sensitivity, competence, vision and commitment – these are the three most important traits that a government official must have. Being sensitive is knowing what is urgent and not; what is spiritually important and not; who deserves immediate help and not; what issue should be attended to right away and what could wait for action as well as being  attuned most importantly to the needs of women, children and the elderly citizens.  

Competence is being experts in their fields. It does not ean that they should close themselves form learning from the people around there. They should learn to interact well with the incumbent officers in the organization. If not, they could always transfer them to another department where they could be more productive. 

 Vision is knowing how to synch the department's tasks and functions with the over-all plan to bring the country to the height of humane development and in particular the plan to federalize the system of government. It is also having a broad view of the development of the employees and especially the sector that is being served. Commitment is being morally and strongly dedicated to serving the Filipino people's interests.

The only thing that leaders must guard against is getting bored in the job. Bureaucratism has a way of eating up one's creativity to the point that one would want to get out just to breathe fresh air, be able to go to the beach, feel the early morning sun's rays on one's back or view the sunset and meditate on why one exists on this planet and why work in the bureaucracy at all.

"Hello Garci" Acrylic Painting by WSO  . 

CORDON SANITAIRE

Cordon sanitaire

I think that the start of the demise of any administration is when a cordon sanitaire is placed around the leader. That becomes the step towards which the people around will exercise undue authority as they become the gatekeepers – as to who gets the audience, who can come in and talk with the leader, who can get papers to be signed for moving a program or project, and who can set an appointment for any individual to talk with the leader, among others.

How pitiful if leaders should descend to that level. It means that they will no longer be approached by the people who, especially voted for them, or who put them into office. It means that governance shall be limited to those who have access to them. It means that government standards for programs and projects shall be skewed only to those who are “malakas” or “may kapit,” no longer the positive results that could accrue from their implementation.

I think cordon sanitaire is also practiced in the private corporations. You cannot easily approach the head of an office unless you know someone there, or your credentials are nationwide. Sometime in the past, I proposed a project for children to a restaurant. I wanted to talk with the chief so that I could explain it better; unfortunately, I was turned down and the next thing that happened, the company put up a children's awards program.

Then another time, I submitted a script, this time to a friend of mine for film shooting. I was not paid at all; instead, my script was given to another writer who mangled it. Why was it turned down? Because it was not “bloody” enough as the group handling the project was delving into action. And this group was working for the richest if not one of the richest film producers of the land.

I tried submitting my coplaint to the Film Academy, but the head then said, “Gumawa ka na lang ng bagong script.” God bless his soul but what kind of an answer is that? It was not addressing the problem of script piracy at all.

Then one time I met, the scriptwriter who mangled it. He asked for my name and I uttered it. “Ah, ikaw pala yun.” I asked him to share with me the script payment, but is ethics spoken at all in the film industry? Maybe in a few companies.

I have beautiful memories of the people who helped me complete my year 2002 25-minute 35mm film, “Pangarap Ko, Saluhin Mo” about a urban poor wife who gets impregnated by her husband yearly because he wants a son, after their having had four girls. All the offices that I went to – Kodak, PIA (through Bel Kapul of the Public Information Agency, which has closed down its film section), Magnatech Omni and LVN Processing Laboratories through Amy who worked for Mike de Leon, the well-known filmmaker; LVN has also closed down now as the company was disbanded by the heirs of Donya Sisang, the matriarch who produced a lot of well-meaning films during her time and was able to make known certain movie stars with high caliber acting.

I think these companies, except for Kodak closed down really because the film and sound equiment have turned digital already, leaving behind all the analog equipment that have churned out lots and lots of films since the start of the Philippine film industry.

I showed the film at the Goethe Institut and I remember the words of the German officer, Anna, as she knows Tagalog, “Aba, magaling ka palang gumawa ng pelikula.” It was particularly memorable for me, her comment because she is immersed deeply in the kinds of independent, educational and commercial filmmaking that the German government sends to the Philippines for screening to educational and private groups here.

I will tell you something funny. I submitted my film to a film festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2002, the film section under the helm then of Hammy Sotto. It was not understood by the festival organizer at all. It was shut out from the list for awards. Then I approached Hammy and asked who was the head of the awards group – “But she is not a film buff,” I told him. Hammy answered me, “Emma I cannot control the awards, I am sorry. That was their decision.”

She does not know a thing about independent filmmaking at all, where one doesn't have to be tied down to a chronological or realistic presentation of a film topic, but rather one could employ stream-of-consciousness techniques, meaning showing the mindset of the major character as it affects her behavior of submission, in this case, to her husband. What is that mindset of the wife – her being imbued with religious conservatism. In the film, I have shown this with her walking down a narrow alley of Tondo, with children from both sides holding rosaries and approaching her as she walked towards the camera. Her costume was black, and her face was also veiled with black tulle, with her right hand holding a rosary that had bigger beads than those held by the children.

In her dilemma, I showed her seated, looking at the camera, and then her head looking up and turning around and around meaning that she was suffering from conflicting views of what she should do with her pregnancy.

I never experienced any cordon sanitaire at all when I approached the various offices in order to finish my film. By the way, my biggest support came from Erap's Office then, where I was given P30,000.00 as initial capital to produce the film. However, it was easily dissipated after shooting – where I had to spend for the film equipment rental, cinematographer, food for the actresses, actors, crew, rental of transport vehicle, and miscellaneous expenses. I shot the fillm in 1998 and P30,000 was very low then but at least it gave me the impetus to finish the film. After all, no less than the President of the Philippines gave support to my idea.

What am I saying here? Complete support for any endeavor, especially artistic, is highly needed when our Kababayan have to be inspired to create and come up with works. The office of the incoming President must exercise a pro-people approach in order to be effective and adequately supported by the people for any untoward event that could shake his administration.

Faces of the people not statistics should count as standards for measuring if programs and projects are to be assessed.

In one discussion, it was proffered that we should not be dependent on the government for seeing the fruition of our projects. I think that is a cop out. The raison d'etre of a government is that it is the repository of the treasures of the people, and therefore that money has to be spent for their welfare, the running of the country, so that we could be happy living on this planet. Everyone deserves to be happy not just a few who hold the ropes.

HELLO PHILIPPINES!

HELLO PHILIPPINES, WHAT IS THE FIRST ITEM IN THE AGENDA? 

Communication of course. The People should be able to communicate with the government in the fastest, clearest way. 

What is the situation now?

We need to dial different numbers, at least five TIMES before we could get to the right party. 

Sandali lang. Most of the time, when a government office answers, and you tell your complaint or your need, which would require some backgrounder,  the person at the other end would say, "sandali lang." And then it takes hours and hours before a voice is heard again. If you are impatient, you hang up and then call again. But then the person in the other line could be different. And so you have to tell your story again. 

Anong number? Unfortunately, the PLDT directories are the worst sources of numbers. The numbers listed do not match the offices they are written with. Then you have to call a number again, or ask the secretary's office to provide you with the number. But you can't be too sure that it is the one. 

The directories seem to have old (or odd?) )numbers of offices (in the government section of the directory) which are no longer functioning or the office itself has transferred. I wonder why yellow pages does not bother to correct the data. 

What is that? One time I called up the energy office and asked if they have a seminar on solar energy. "What is that?" What they don't have any seminar or they don't know what it is? I really cannot understand. Then the guy at the other end told me to contact a private group, after so much explanations to him, that conducts one. Or, the department would conduct one for our women's group if we can pay the fee. What? Thousands for a seminar on what should be basic knowledge that the government should provide us about solar energy? This aspect of always paying for government services is stabbing my heart all the time. I really feel stressed out. 

Where is the secretary? If you call up a department, and asked for the secretary's number, ho ho, so many questions will be asked you as if you are some bomber out to plan something fishy. Why can you do anything harmful over the phone? Except curse of course but still you are miles and miles away from the object. 

Why the need to connect with the secretary? Because in that office, it is presumed that the executive assistant there would be knowlegeable about the query you want to be attended to. Unfortunately, the PLDT directory does not have a truthful listing of numbers, especially of secretary's numbers. 

PLEASE EMAIL US. One time I was going to suggest to a government institution to fix the water system of a building in the complex. "Please email the chief about it." And then the respondent gave me the email address. 

Look, supposing I don't have an internet, and/or I don't know how to use the computer, what kind of emailing or why should I still do such emailing? Why don't they just write down the suggestion? I think that many institutions are now becoming slaves to gadgets and have forgotten how to use the ballpen and paper, the simplest way of writing down ideas. 

WHO IS THIS PLEASE? If I tell them my nickname and family name, then they take their time to answer. But once I say "I am Dr. Orozco," oops suddenly I get A-one attention. Why this discrimination? Why can't they treat everybody the same way regardless of titles?  And how do they know that a person calling is telling the truth about his or her title?

Manners on the phone I have come across government offices where as soon as you tell the responding party your aim, suddenly, they are gone from the phone, without even saying, "Just a moment please, I will look for him," or "Kindly wait for a few minutes and I will search," or "May I call you back to give you the answer."

(Worse of course are the telcos inquiry numbers. "Our operators are busy at the moment. Please wait awhile and we will get back to you...etcetera etcetera." You could wait for 20 to 30 minutes and still do not  get any answer.)

My dears, they never call back, 90% of the time. 

TALK BACK, TEXT BACK
The danger of not having an efficient communication line could be disastrous especially when our people have unique ideas that they want to share with the government. I think this is the reason why the talk back or text back feature- mechanisms of radio stations are thriving very well. The people can speak, and even be heard nationwide. So their ideas are judged, imbibed, given feedback, critiqued and possibly implemented right away. 

Which are priority institutions?
Philippine hospitals and health institutions have to be the first in priority in terms of having efficient communication systems. Next would be Malacanang, the Senate and then Congress. The people should be able to communicate with their Congress representatives very easily. Of course, the barangays should have efficient systems too. Sometimes, because of low budget, they can only spend for one line, which is more often than not, used for the internet. So, we cannot connect easily with their numbers. So in the next budget hearing legislators should include funds for at least two numbers per barangay. And fire all those officers who deny the use of phone and other barangay facilities to the people, their constituents. They have an inverted orientation of their jobs. Being in the barangay is for serving the people, and not a place for massaging their egos. 

We should also have an operator 3-number where we could ask for information and get respectful and complete answers without having to call back again and again.  

God, I pray and hope that communication would be the number one concern of the new leaders, whether in Malacanang or in the farthest rural barangay. 

Thus, as  we enter another presidential era, we hope for a miracle: the miracle of government institutions easily connectable, easily accessible to the general public. 

WANTED: LAWYERS

Thousands of lawyers should occupy posts inside polling precincts to help those whose voters' receipts do not match their ballot. 

This is an occurrence that should not be easily dismissed by the voters. In fact, if there are hundreds who experience the above, then the total votes from that precinct could be questioned for validity. 

And that is where lawyers are needed. They could help the voters prepare affidavits (maybe multiple copies should be made available before voting time) which they will submit to the Comelec. But the lawyers and the voters should have their own copies. In this manner, they could question after the elections the correctness of the tally of votes. 

Voting is a sacred, serious experience that should be handled with great alertness and watched with diligence. 

May the saboteurs be forewarned.

TUNAY NA LALAKI?

  
Parang nalilito yata ang maraming babae kung anong manhood, anong pagkalalaki ang ating yayakapin na makakasama sa buhay. Ito ay dahil sa dami ng nakakalitong ideya na binibigay ng media. 

May napakamalumanay na pasok ng babae. Pinapayuhan ang anak niyang lalaki na lumapit sa ama. Paglapit ng lalaki, inalok siyang uminom ng alak, na parang sinasabi "magbonding tayong mga lalaki. Ito ang ating pag-bonding-ngan."Yuk.

Tapos may isang ad na naman, mga lalaki nag--inuman na naman. Ganun daw ang barkadahan. 

Marami pa akong mabibigay na ehemplo but what takes the cake is this: yung aktor na gumanap na Juan Luna, lumabas sa isang billboard ad, nakasuot ng uniporme ni Juan Luna, may bigote na kaparis ni Juan Luna, at pati ang ayos na buhok panlalaki na sinauna. Anong ginagawa? Nag-aalok ng alak na naman. Tapos may pangalan siya sa dibdib, pangalan niyang artista para hindi maakusahan na ginagamit si Juan Luna. Pero ito ay pagsabotahe sa imahe ni Juan Luna. Kagalang-galang na bayani si JL, at hindi nangiming humarap sa kolonyal power na Amerika, pero heto ngayon, "Pare ko, magpakalango tayo sa alak. To hell with love of country," a tacit statement of the ad. 

Dito natin nakikita na nakakalito nga ang maging lalaki sa ating bansa. 

Pati tuloy sa pagpapahalaga sa ating mga choices sa mga opisyales, nababahiran na rin ng mga  katangiang ikinakalat ng advertising world. We are in dangerous times. We are playing with fire. 

Ang kababaihan natin ay nahuhumaling sa mga pinakikitang katangian ng ilang kandidato -- nagsisinungaling, mahilig sa babae, gagamit ng baril para pumatay ng tao kahit na labag sa batas, at walang taos na pagsisisi.

Anong mga katangian ng isang lalaki na dapat nating hanapin?

Tapat, hindi basta-basta gumagamit ng baril para ipakita siyang makapangyarihan, may paggalang sa kababaihan, may paggalang sa batas at mga karapatang pantao. Hindi nagkukunwari - tulad ng mahirap daw yun pala ay sandamakmak ang kwarta at propriedad. 


Hinahamon ko ang mga lalaking nasa likod ng mga kandidatong may mga katangiang taliwas sa makaDiyos, makatao, at may paggalang sa kababaihan na itakwil na nila ang ganyang klaseng mga kandidato. Maglalahong parang bula ang anumang mga ideolohiya nila para umunlad ang ating bansa kung magpapatuloy sila sa pagkipkip sa mga taong yan. Binubulag nila ang taumbayan sa kung anong klaseng mga lider ang dapat nating itaas, suportahan at ihalal. Sa halip sheer greed for power lang ang nais nila.

PASULONG O PAURONG?

Sino ang maaaring pagkatiwalaang kandidato para maging pangulo?

Maraming lumalabas na mga propaganda na nagsasabing, itong taong ito, o ako ang nababagay, o kaya may nag-eendorso ng taong ito. 

Kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila, tayo pa ring mga mamamayang Pilipino at Pilipina ang boboto, mamimili ng ating kandidato. 

Sa limang kandidato, apat ang may mahahabang karanasan sa pagtakbo ng gubyerno, bilang isang senador, bilang isang bise presidente, bilang isang kalihim at bilang isang meyor. Ang panlima ay bagong salta sa gubyerno nguni't may mahabang karanasan sa Estados Unidos. 

Tanong, ano ang maaaring matutunan sa pagtira sa ibang bansa? Una, ang Estados Unidos ang tinatawag nating "seat of democracy" kung saan unang nagsimula ang isang demokratikong pamahalaan. Bago siya itinatag noong 1776, mga bansang aristokratiko ang namamayani, pinamumunuan ng mga hari at reyna. 

Pangalawa, para mamuhay sa Amerika, malalaman natin kung paanong ang ating gubyerno ay kopyado rin sa gubyerno nito. 

Sa pagtira ko sa Nuweba York ng limang buwan noong 1991-92, kung saan ako ay naimbitahang magsalita sa isang international conference tungkol sa Women, Environment and Development, naranasan ko ang buhay sa Amerika. Dito, ang isipan ng mga tao, karamihan sa nakasalamuha ko ay sa pangkasalukuyan. 

Malalim din ang usapan ng mga tao rito; mataas ang level ng diskusyon -- tungkol sa mga events, sa mga ideya. Bihira ang tsismis. At ang kakapal ng diyaryo. 

Sa ganitong klaseng karanasan, mahahawa ka rin sa level ng pag-iisip nila. At ang NYC ay isang syudad kung saan nagsasama-sama ang iba't ibang lahi. Cosmopolitan, wika nga. 

At nang ipag-extend ko ang visa ko, matapos ang 3 buwan, hinulog ko lang sa mailbox at matapos ang dalawang linggo, bumalik na may extension na na 6 na buwan. 

Nang makapanood ako ng debate sa tv ng mga kakandidato sa Democratic Party, may telefonong binigay pagkatapos ng programa. Tinawagan ko ito kaagad at naibigay ko ang aking opinyon. Nang manood ako ulit ng programa nila, nakita kong nagamit na nila ang suhestiyon ko. 

Samakatuwid, umaandar ang statement na "democratic government is for the people, by the people and for the people."

Ano pa ang hihilingin natin kung ganun din ang mangyari sa ating bansa? Hindi ba magandang mapamunuan tayo ng isang taong naniniwala na ang demokrasya, ang karapatang mag-isip, magpaliwanag, magsalita, magpunta sa Plaza Miranda at ilabas ang ating mga hinaing sa gubyerno ay tanda ng pagkakaroon ng demokrasya?

Isa pa, sa ilalim ng isang Pangulo na sa tingin niya siya lamang ang magaling at "to hell with other countries," manganganib ang kalagayan ng ating  mga kababayang OFW doon. Maaari silang buweltahan sa pamamagitan ng paglimita ng kanilang paninirahan duon. 

Sa ating bansa naman, ang isang pangulo na magtatayo ng isang rebolusyonaryong gubyerno ay magtatakda ng mga limitasyon -- bawal magsalita laban sa kanya, etcetera, at sino ang makapagtatakda kung hanggang kailan magkakaroon ng revolutionary government? Baka masarapan sa puwesto at gawing forever. 

Ngayon, ano ang unang mawawala sa atin kapag ganyan ang nangyari? Ang ating IMAHINASYON. Ang ating pagiging mapanlikha -- sa pagsusulat, sa pagkatha ng mga tula, ng mga dula, ng mga jokes, ng libro, at marami pang iba. Pati Facebook at ibang social media ay lilimitahan ang paggamit. Masi-censor tayo.

Papatayin nito ang ating utak dahil siya lamang at ang partido niya ang mag-iisip para sa atin. Naranasan na natin yan noong panahon ng Martial Law. Babalik pa ba tayo diyan muli? 

Tanong, ano ang gusto natin, Sumulong o Umurong?