IN THE classic American novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, there is a classic quote by protagonist and lawyer Atticus Finch that reads: “You never really understand [a person] until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
This talks about empathy in many aspects. In this case, it applies to the upbringing of a child. Recently, however, I realized that this could also apply to good governance.
In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that local government units (LGUs) reclaim public roads which are being used for private purposes. The goal would be to clear the roads from any form of obstruction that can cause congestion.
In turn, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año issued the order Memorandum Circular No. 2019-121 to all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and other LGUs, requiring them to do likewise within 60 calendar days. He expects from them “significant results.”
The brilliant pioneer of all this, however, is recently inaugurated Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. What is amazing is the fact that he ordered the clearing of operations on the public roads of Manila on just his SECOND DAY in office. He wasted no time fulfilling a promise he made in his campaign.
This is where the introductory quote from Harper Lee comes in.
“Yorme” Isko’s journey did not actually begin on the “yellow brick road.” In his childhood, he was a scavenger and pedicab driver in the slums of Tondo. He would even bring home “pagpag,” or trash, to recook and eat. That would be his only meal. One day, he attended a funeral only for the benefit of receiving free refreshments; and only then was he discovered by a talent scout, where his rise to national stardom began.
Empathy is a necessity in understanding deep situations. Because Mr. Moreno grew up on the streets, he saw right then and there the same problems that he is attempting to eradicate today. Right before his very eyes, he has seen it all—from the proliferation of illegal vendors due to corruption, to the consequent monstrous traffic. And with the tables already turned, with him already being the mayor of the same city he grew up in, he has delivered a revolutionary solution to easing the traffic in the area.
Mr. Moreno proved that there is no contemporary issue too insurmountable to eradicate. For some, he may have done the impossible. May he be the inspiration for other politicians, to also formulate their own plans of action for mitigating other prevalent issues in our country.
Last year, in a previous contribution, I called out a certain government agency for failing to do its “one job.” “Yorme” Isko had ONE JOB, and he DELIVERED.