ONE OF the techniques of an effective subordinate is to recognize when the boss is speaking authoritatively and with irreversibility. In such instances the subordinate, if he is to be of any value, has to decide on the most effective and appropriate response.
Former US president Donald Trump was someone who was reportedly not careful about his outpourings. The consequences have been serious though not yet fully established.
The pronouncements of President Marcos Jr are clear and appropriately become part of the national conversation. For example, at the beginning of Marcos’ term, he instructed his subordinate vice-president and Secretary of Education Sara Duterte to carry out an evaluation of K-12, the current education policy enshrined in Republic Act 10533 passed in 2013.
Duterte’s response, if any, has not been reported. We might surmise that she consulted senior colleagues in the Department of Education. We could also surmise that no changes to current policy are recommended. But we do not know. A feature of a vibrant democracy is that the national conversation as shown in the media is vigorous and, on occasions, irreverent. We see this in the US where opinion pieces in the Washington Post and the New York Times are wide-ranging. Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks were subject to severe criticism.
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President Marcos’ desire to implement a Sovereign Wealth Fund was interpreted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to be urgent. He responded promptly. But when a Republic Act results from a presidential observation, the devil is in the details. It is fair to say that the Speaker did not appear to understand that the crafting of the Act needs careful scrutiny. Hence his observations received excoriation from the national conversation which included the assertion that numerous corruption opportunities were created by the draft Act.
International surveys confirm that the Philippines ranks low in the corruption league table. Since the second half of the Aquino administration, our place in the league table has fallen from 84th in 2013 to 115th in 2021. Thirty countries are now deemed to be less corrupt than the Philippines compared with ten years ago.
Within a few weeks, Berlin-based Transparency International is due to report on the relative corruption levels of around 172 countries. My guess is that the Philippines will be around the same level as last year.
We can do better. Improvements can be made if Congress passes legislation that reduces corruption opportunities. As many observers noted, including Bacolodnon Neri Colmenares, the Maharlika Sovereign Wealth Fund, as proposed, does not eradicate the possibility of corruption. Not for the first time, it falls to Senate to try to improve matters.
Let us hope our Solons are successful!
