|
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Sienes: Martial law under Marcos
NO FILIPINO in his right mind would relish being under martial law once more. Thus, the thought of martial law being declared in the country again sends shivers running down the spine of every freedom-loving Filipino.
Yet, even as we dread another martial law proclamation, looking back at the Marco martial law regime, but for the alleged plunder of the nation's wealth, the rampant human rights abuses, and the excesses committed by abusive military personnel (not all military personnel committed abuses during the martial law regime, certainly not Colonel Rodolfo Biazon and the Philippine Marines assigned here then), FM's martial law regime had some good points, too.
First of all, during FM's martial law regime, professionalism in the bureaucracy was pursued. There was continuous training of government middle managers to make them career service executive officers or Cesos. Allow us to cite our case as an example.
In Region 11 alone, hundreds of government middle managers took the Civil Service Commission's Jet-Stream (Junior Executive Training-Supervisory Training for Effective Administrative Management) course. All Jet-Stream graduates all over the country were then asked to take the CSC Middle Management Examination.
Of the hundreds of Jet-Stream graduates who took the examination in Region 11, only six of us passed. Passing that examination was our ticket to the Middle Management Institute in Tagaytay that, in turn, was our stepping-stone to become Cesos.
I was already advised to submit my preferred schedule for the Middle Management Institute in Tagaytay. But then came the Edsa Revolt, which sent our Tagaytay training and our dream of becoming a Ceso scurrying away like autumn leaves before a gust of wind.
Secondly, during FM's martial law regime, the government was not top-heavy. Each executive department had only one secretary and one undersecretary or, as the system was later changed, one minister and one assistant minister. But now each department has so many undersecretary for that, an assistant secretary for this, an assistant secretary for that, and so on and so forth. As all these people receive whopping salaries and benefits, they drain the government coffers.
Right now the present administration has a so-called government rationalization scheme to trim the bureaucracy. But we fear that only the small people in the government will be greatly affected by such a scheme. The administration should also trim the bureaucracy at the top to make it leaner, as it was during FM's martial law regime.
Thirdly, FM set aside an oil price stabilization fund to protect the people from the effects of oil price increases. Of course, it should be mentioned here that the price of crude oil in the foreign market during FM's time was not as high as it is today. Still, setting aside an oil price stabilization fund even now could probably lessen the adverse effects of the never-ending oil price increases upon consumers.
Finally, the strict enforcement of the curfew hour during FM's martial law regime greatly reduced the crime rate in the country. It also rid cities of teenage gangs and teenage gang rumbles.
Shortly before the declaration of martial law in the country, I was the Prefect of Discipline at the Ateneo de Davao High School. Teenage gangs in the city were then a dime a dozen. Rumbles frequently occurred. But when martial law was declared, the teenage gangs in the city disappeared. So did the teenage gang wars.
Now, teenage gangs have resurfaced and teenage gang wars are again taking place. We still believe that the strict enforcement of the curfew hour in the city will help deter criminality and rid the city once more of teenage gangs and gang rumbles.
Okay, so Davao City is so big a city and we have very few policemen to enforce the curfew hour. Why not reinforce Task Force Davao so that soldiers could help enforce the curfew hour and deter buntogs and teenage gangs from pulling their capers? This is simply to keep the peace in the city, not militarization.
Lest we are misunderstood, we never sang for the Marcos martial law regime, and we certainly hate being under a martial law regime again. We are only citing here some good effects of the Marcos martial law regime.
Point to ponder: "Let him who would be happy for a day, go to the barber; for a week, marry a wife; for a month, buy him a new horse; for a year, build him a new house; for all his lifetime, be an honest man." (Thomas Fuller: Worthies)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 26, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
