Tabije: Anti-corruption lang?

IN A national news article last week, Ramon Casiple, the executive director of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform, was quoted as saying that Noynoy has not defined what he's running for; that, all Noynoy has said so far is his fight against corruption and the sins of the Arroyo administration. Nothing else.

Mr. Casiple seems unaware of the importance of three things, viz: (1) the value of focus in success, (2) the extent of the negative effect of corruption on the fabric of our people's lives, and (3) the domino effect of curbing corruption.

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Successful businessmen will tell you that one of the pitfalls of starting out in business is to have your sights in too many things and jumping on each and every business opportunity that you see. Sooner than later, your concentration and resources get spread too thinly and you end up failing in all your ventures.

In other words, focus is what you have to learn first and foremost, if you want to succeed. You can't be in all places all at the same time.

If Noynoy starts looking at all things under the sun that can be improved, he will lose focus on the all-important anti-corruption drive. That’s for sure.

Let's assume that Noynoy wins as President (which is not at all unlikely), and all he does for six years is concentrate on his anti-corruption drive. What effect will it have on our lives and on his performance?

Different studies peg the extent of corruption at 20 percent to 40 percent of the national budget. Using an average of 30 percent, that would amount to a staggering P420 billion a year lost to corruption (using the P1.4-trillion 2010 budget for computation).

Given that corruption is impossible to weed out totally, let's assume that Noynoy as president can only whittle it down to a still-uncomfortable 15 percent level of corruption. The "savings on corruption" that will now go to the development of the less fortunate, instead of corrupt government people and businessmen, will still be a whopping P210-billion per year!

Just think of how many additional projects in education, health and sanitation, livelihood, low-cost housing, food security, social services, etc. that kind of money will fund yearly. Projects and services that will uplift the huge number of poor people in this country.

And that's just the money part. There's more.

With squeaky clean and dedicated cabinet members and heads of government agencies, government employees down the line will work more efficiently, effectively, honestly and sincerely. Delivery of basic services will improve. Quality of development projects will improve. Investors will be more motivated to invest, which will result in more jobs and other economic benefits.

Criminals will have more fear committing crimes because of more efficient police and military personnel. Even traffic problems will ease up.

"Anti-corruption lang? Wala na bang ibang alam gawin si Noynoy pag nag presidente siya? (Only anti-corruption campaign? Does Noynoy not know anything else to do if he becomes president?)" With corruption eradicated everything else falls into place. That's the biggest reason why first world countries are progressive.

Domino effect, never underestimate its power to change. It is the phenomenon that messes up our country when the top echelon of government is corrupt. It is the same phenomenon that will improve our lives if the top is clean.

Email comments to idtabije@gmail.com. Visit the writer's website www.bestmanagementarticles.com.