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Monday, July 11, 2005
Carvajal: Structural changes
By Orlando P. Carvajal
Uncut gems
WE can take a cue from how we Filipinos behave in traffic. In more developed countries, signs are enough to keep the traffic moving smoothly. In the Philippines, we need concrete structures to divide our main roads and prevent stupid drivers from creating gridlock by clogging up the opposite lane. We also need steel structures to prevent pedestrians from getting on or off their rides on a green light and jam up traffic in major intersections.
In governance, we need the equivalent structures to force politicians and government officials not to cheat and not to steal. If the opposition and its allies succeed in ousting the President unconstitutionally, we will have regular cheating during elections (as we do now) and consequently regular revolutions to oust from power the winners in the cheating game. Let’s face it, our elections are cheating games because the omnibus election code is so shot full of holes that cheating is guaranteed to happen.
The other systems (our disbursement and collection systems for instance) also have gaping holes that irresistibly tempt the winners, once in office, to steal people’s money. Unless the holes in all these systems are plugged, we will be forever going from one corrupt ruling elite to another.
The challenge, therefore, for Filipinos of good will (translate: with the nation’s welfare at heart) from both opposition and administration, from all sectors of society, religious and civil, is to identify the priority systems that need to be structurally reformed. The electoral system is a good place to start. We cannot possibly prosper if we continue to be ruled by cheats and we will be unless something drastic but effective is done to prevent cheating in future elections. Congressman Golez said on TV the other night that the tape is like a seminar on how to cheat. If so, then from the tape our lawmakers can get ideas on how to plug the holes in the system.
But first, we must make sure existing structures work optimally to bring closure to the present crisis. The challenge of good men in the administration is to ensure that the investigation went on, guilt or innocence established, and the appropriate punishment meted to all who are found guilty of impropriety or cheating, whatever the case may be. The only proper closure is that the President is either found guilty or declared innocent under the existing judicial system even if that system also needs to be reformed.
Another priority area is the form of government and a con-con might be called for to address this issue. We simply cannot continue with a system where the losers (in the cheating game, the recent elections) immediately prepare for the next cheating game, the next elections, by not cooperating with those in power even on moves that are clearly good for the people.
In the end, guilty or not, the President will fall if she does not give the economy the top priority it deserves. She must act decisively and deal a serious blow to all forms of corruption that deprive government of the resources to fight poverty. She must make other drastic and effective moves to alleviate poverty. As an economist, she knows the right moves. She just needs the political will to do it but which she should have if she is not to fall, and the nation with her, to the power-grabbers. She knows there is a brewing storm that could destroy her and the nation with her. Hopefully, she would also realize that, because of the storm, her glory and the nation’s welfare are just one lightning (move) away.
(opc@sunstar.com.ph)
(July 11, 2005 issue)
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