Commitment (for policy change)

Like many people, I’ve become cynical of politicians’ promises so I have a suggestion. Each of the presidential aspirants must commit to 10 major policy changes he will implement within the first two years of his presidency. The commitment should be made publicly, in the form of a covenant with the people.

We have to raise the level of voting to go beyond popularity and fraud to win. Leaders must effect real change, change that will bring the Philippines off the bottom, where it’s sunk to, to being one of the true leaders in Asia. The country could be there if competently led by a leader who enthuses the people. This is the crux of it all, enthusing the people. People need to believe that greatness can be achieved and they will then achieve it.

Let me suggest 10 commitments to get things started:

1. Three people I personally know will be in jail for corruption within two years I will use all the influence I can bring to bear on the courts to decide these cases speedily so we send the message we need to send—high-level corruption will no longer be tolerated.

2. I will only appoint to Cabinet positions people who have the technical expertise and experience for the job and are of known probity and integrity. They will be selected from 10 names submitted by the private sector. Political appointments will only be for secretary and undersecretaries, no lower. Undersecretaries will be chosen from career officers wherever possible.

3. Delegates to a Constitutional Convention will be elected by the people and given six months to draft recommended changes. The people will vote upon the changes item by item (not a blanket yes/no vote). Whatever changes are proposed will not apply to current political leaders, they will not be eligible for any office in the first election following Constitutional change. I will recommend dynasties be banned without need of an enabling law (which history has shown can’t be expected even though it was the people’s wish). None of my family to the third degree of consanguinity will be allowed to run for elected public office. And will not be appointed by me into public office (anyone already there can stay, but I’d prefer they resign).

4. Education will be brought back to the preeminent position it had 50 years ago. Ninety-five percent enrolment this government crows about means nothing, what must be changed is the only 42 percent that complete secondary schooling and the worryingly few 14 percent that obtain a college degree. Schooling will be brought up to the international level of 12 years and classes will be a maximum of 30 children —in a decent classroom. Focus will be on maths, science and English where the future jobs are.

5. A proper, decent, responsible family planning program will be introduced to assist couples to have the lifestyle they wish. We will not force anyone to do anything they don’t want to, but people must be able to make an informed choice, not kept in ignorance of their options.

6. All controls on markets will be removed, market forces will prevail. Where poor or disadvantaged sectors need special support it will be provided by direct action of government operating within the market, not controlling the market.

7. To register a business will require only one form and two signatures, and will be approved within 14 days. All government approvals and actions will have published deadlines, and if those deadlines are not met approval will be automatically granted on the deadline date.

8. Infrastructure will be built (here a list of specific projects to be started within the first two years should be provided). We will award contracts within one year (not the current seven, or so) of identifying the project. This is priority number one for competitiveness in the economy. I will encourage the private sector to become more involved in assisting us to build our much-needed infrastructure as rapidly as possible. We will hire a well-regarded international auditing firm to ensure the honesty of the contracts and their execution.

9. We will concentrate all efforts on promoting and supporting the five areas of “natural advantage”—agriculture, mining, tourism, IT and IT-enabled services, and healthcare and retirement. And show a minimum growth of 20 percent in each by the end of year two.

10. Funding for all the above will come from elimination of corruption and achieving a tax ratio (to GDP) of 18 percent, a level our more prosperous neighbors can achieve. Some tax changes will be made. The principal ones will be to increase VAT to 15 percent—but reduce income tax to 25 percent. Pay when you spend, not when you earn. And a sensibly constructed tax on “sin” products.

Ok, that’s my list let’s see theirs, and a fixed commitment to it. Will you support me?

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What reinforces this need for change is that another set of statistics has come out. The Philippines ranks 105 out of 182 countries in the UNDP Human Development Index. DOWN from 77 in 1997 to 84 in 2003, it’s getting worse. It’s not the only set of numbers; every one of them, and I stress—every one, is worsening no matter what you look at.

This is an independent international organization making the assessment so it has no biases and as it uses the same methodology each year the trend can’t be questioned. I’m trying (and this might be futile) to bring this degradation in almost every measure to public attention so pressure will be brought on government to change. To do the things that will move the Philippines up the scale, not down it. Is that too much to ask for the Filipino people?

What on earth does it take to get the message through that whatever it is the government is doing it is doing it wrong. It must change. How can I not get angry? How can you not get angry? Here’s a marvelous country sinking on the world stage. It’s not deserved. All it needs is action, not talk. Let’s demand action from the next government in an ironclad commitment they can’t wriggle out of. –Peter Wallace, Manila Standard Today

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