|
‘Young
Politics” was the theme of my June 18, 2007, column. I
wrote that in the wake of the multiple crises faced by
the country, the trend is not only toward New Politics
but primarily Young Politics.
In
response, Wick Veloso, treasurer of HSBC Manila texted:
“I fully agree with your point. The other area where a
lot of young minds can assist is the executive side of
government, primarily in education, finance [revenue
collection] and health services. Unfortunately, unlike
the political field, their need for financial
considerations forces them to go to the private sector
and the overseas market. We need to reduce the
bureaucracy and let it work like a corporation where you
rise due to meritocracy instead of patronage.”
Wick
proves my contention that the business sector is just as
interested and concerned about governance issues as all
other citizens. Young Politics must be matched by Young
Bureaucracy.
Actually, the government has recognized the need not
only to attract young bureaucrats but also to retain
them. Agencies like the Department of Budget and
Management, National Economic and Development Authority,
and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) welcome young
graduates with bachelor’s degrees from the University of
the Philippines National College of Public
Administration and Governance (NCPAG). However, as Wick
observes, they tend to move on to the private sector
after a short stint.
The CSC
has a program of scholarships in graduate studies for
bright young professionals who have the potential to
move on to higher positions. Called “The Brightest for
the Bureaucracy Program (BBP),” the strategy allows
qualifiers full-time leaves of absence to undertake
graduate studies in public administration. They are
awarded grants for free tuition, other fees and
allowances.
Hundreds
of young professionals have graduated from this program.
As a professor, it is such a delight to work with bright
students and with “out-of-the-box “ thinking.
Nonetheless, when these graduates return to their
respective offices, the picture is mixed. A number get
promoted and move on to better positions and pay. Many
go back to their old jobs, and wait in vain for
promotions and retirement of their bosses. The ironclad
rule of seniority in the hierarchy still prevails. Armed
with their new learning and qualifications, the
impatient graduates transfer to other agencies, or move
on to the private sector. Worse, some go abroad.
We have
had instances where the private sector partnered with
the government to ensure that committed public servants
remain in the public sector.
When Dr.
Juan Flavier was secretary of health, he initiated a
comprehensive program to induce medical graduates to go
to the countryside and serve their rural kababayan. The
program was supported by the private sector, which
offered generous financial packages, as well as
opportunities for professional growth. Senator Flavier
has moved to the Senate since then. However, many of the
doctors he has sent to the countryside have stayed on
and continue serving the people they have learned to
love.
Perhaps
it is time for the private sector and the government to
partner once more in the efforts to encourage trained
young professionals to stay on and bring their energies,
commitment and love of country to the bureaucracy. How
about it, Wick?
Who is
afraid of Ping Lacson?
Newly
reelected Sen. Ping Lacson tends to elicit mixed
reactions from people. There are those who believe the
horror tales of Rosebud (remember her)? There are those
who are unsettled and nervous when he looks at them
straight in the eye and fixes his unwavering glance on
them. They can’t abide his stern, unsmiling visage.
Others see him as a potential rival for even higher
positions.
Those
who know him well are continually amazed by his
prodigious memory, his keen analytical mind and the
consistency of his position on national issues. They are
impressed with the way he disciplined the police forces.
They are awed by his courage and dogged pursuit of
corruption cases which many fear to touch.
In my
province, one of the best-known
Ping stories is about the kidnapping of the only son of the owner
of a shopping mall in
Cebu. Ping, a young
lieutenant colonel of the then-Philippine Constabulary,
was in charge of recovery operations. After days of
frustration and frantic fundraising, the family resigned
itself to paying the multimillion-peso ransom. Ping and
his men recovered the boy unharmed. In gratitude, the
father offered him the entire ransom intended for the
kidnappers.
Ping refused.
The
child is now a young man. The mother continues to tell
the story of the young man who saved the life of her son
and absolutely refused payment.
A number
of people worry about
Ping. Not the
more than 15 million people who voted for him. They
trust him. |
