I'VE always told my friends, colleagues and acquaintances that at one point in time, Mr. Levy P. Laus was my boss on three capacities.
One was at Clark Development Corporation (CDC) where he was our president and CEO from October 1, 2016 to July 31, 2008. I was assistant manager then of Public Relations Department (now Communications Division).
Another one was during the time he commissioned me and other journalists for the “Pinatubo: Triumph of the Kapampangan Spirit.” It was a 280-page coffee table book where I served as its layout artist. It was edited by my mentor Bong Lacson and published by the San Fernando Heritage Foundation where he served as chairman.
The third one, still somehow in effect until April 25, is at SunStar Pampanga where I write columns since the early 2000s.
Yes, folks. Three times he was my boss. But that particular label he never wanted me to use on him. After all, whenever I was with him in any of those capacities, he never made me feel that he was always way above me as a superior.
In SunStar, I remember getting a call on the day when I was about to leave for the US to join a media coverage for the speech of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the United Nations in New York. He asked for me to see him at his office, only to find out if my needs for the travel had been taken care of. That’s how he took care of his people.
He made me feel at ease each time. Even at times when we failed him in CDC.
In CDC, I never heard him raise his voice. I did see him get tired and disappointed though, which was normal for any human being. I did see him feel so challenged when his proposal for a Central Business District was met with opposition by politicians for reasons that only served their vested interests. Now, that proposal is fast shaping up and coming to reality although not labeled as a CBD.
In CDC, he elevated professionalism by giving the government agency a corporate image similar to those in the private sector. Pretty much like the imagery known of the Laus Group of Companies where one employee has to look so dignified no matter how small one’s work may seem. Where working in CDC would always be treated with some class, efficiency and competence.
But more than these physical traits and office decorum, Mr. Laus left a far reaching mark – a legacy that may never be matched by the other CDC presidents and CEOs.
He led efforts to save thousands of jobs.
During his time in CDC, locators and investors came to a point when they threatened to pull out of Clark. That’s because a court ruled that the grant of tax privileges and other incentives were sort of illegal, so to speak, as they were granted by a mere presidential edict.
Pulling out of Clark would have meant the loss of thousands of jobs in various industries from manufacturing, commercial, tourism and all. Pulling out of Clark would have meant the possible downscaling if not closure of CDC too. After all, why would CDC continue to exist when locators are gone?
I must admit having apprehensions during those days. My two children were still in their formative schooling years. The specter of possibly losing a job also bothered me back then. My anxieties peaked.
But I and the thousands more have remained in our jobs. That is because Mr. Laus vigorously led efforts for the lobby and eventual passage of a law that required a congressional act to save Clark.
He rallied locators, local government leaders, NGOs, employees and residents to a concerted effort to bang at the doors of lawmakers both in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
I remember taking part in street demonstrations at the Batasan bearing placards and streamers that called for an enactment of a law that would save our jobs. I remember going to the halls of Congress, seating for long hours with co-workers while Mr. Laus and other top executives graciously paid courtesy calls and plea before lawmakers. Vividly, I could recall Mr. Laus, together with now CDC President Noel Manankil (then as VP for Finance) talking to Senators and Congressmen on one too many occasions to buoy up Clark.
The result? It was more than just saving our jobs. It gave rise to the Freeport Law or RA 9400 that amended the Bases Conversion Law or RA 7227 passed during the presidency of the late Corazon Aquino.
The Freeport Law rationalized incentives, defined well the parameters and boundaries of the Freeport (the former fenced in Clark Air Base proper) and the Clark Special Economic Zone (the adjoining area called then as Clark Sub Zone, part of the reverted baselands). It also gave a refined distribution of earnings (from Clark locators’ remittance of Gross Income Earned or GIE) to host local government units.
Just to give you an idea what this actually meant, Mabalacat City is the best example where it now gets some P600 million from the GIE. That’s a windfall as it represents almost half of its annual budget which it has to eke out from various sources.
Had it not been through his efforts, we could have gone to uncertainties with our futures. Had it not been through his efforts, there would no longer be jobs in Clark that have breached the 100,000 level. All that we owe to one great man, one fine gentleman -- Levy P. Laus.