Best practices: Making things better than we found them

LAST October 3, we discussed the need for the Aquino III administration to do “best practices called the 4-Cs” within its first 200 days. Recall the record of President Aquino III’s first 100 days which materialized well below what was anticipated, considering the nationwide optimism at his inaugural on 30 June and further boosted after his SoNA of July 26. P-Noy rated himself as “passing” with a grade of 50 percent – by looking at the glass as half-full, not half-empty.

However, he deserves a longer honeymoon period given the huge problems he inherited which can only be confronted – and resolved – with persistence, patience, and political will.

The tasks needing a renewed burst of urgency within his first 200 days are to:

(1) Consolidate – the Executive Branch officials who, as the President’s alter egos, must prepare a comprehensive program of action and think-speak-move as one to accomplish P-Noy’s priorities in tandem with partymates and partners;

(2) Clean-up – soonest the problems his administration inherited, like dysfunctional agencies, debt/budget deficit, controversial appointments, and corruption scandals.

(3) Converge – vital government resources, initially by conducting an honest, continuing audit of non-vital or overlapping functions and clustering these into focused, comprehensive entities, while strengthening those that enhance inherent advantages – as represented by world-class Filipino artists, teachers, engineers, scientists, seafarers, etc.

(4) Compete – by determining the strengths/weaknesses of the Philippines in relation to what we want to achieve, identifying opportunities/ global niches we are bound to capture, and setting the national direction – along with needed resources – to get there.

Notable “best practices”

Within such extension of 100 more days (ending third week of January, 2011), it would be advantageous for the Aquino III Administration to focus on notable “best practices” that worked effectively during 1992–1998, which were:

(1) Planning “Backwards” – the application of the OBJECTIVE as the foremost “Principle of War” which identifies the long-range goal in a military campaign.

In the task of nation-building, this consists of the leader’s vision for country and people, especially the direction and strategies of how to get there.

Simply put, if one generation hence is the target year – say by 2034 – for attaining a better quality of life for Filipinos and higher degree of respect for the Philippines in the community of nations, then plan backwards where benchmarks for years 2028… 2022… 2016… 2015… 2014… 2013… 2011 must faithfully conform to that target vision.

Any policies, decisions, or actions of the P-Noy administration that do not move the country accordingly or which militate against attainment of the OBJECTIVE, must be abandoned, adjusted, reformed, or refined.

The practice of “backward planning” is nothing new. It is, in fact, the S.O.P. in any respectable corporate or military organization – for both short-term and strategic purposes.

(2) LEDAC – Former Senator Ernesto Herrera had written earlier: “It’s impossible for a President to avoid political engagement with Congress. That’s why there is LEDAC.”

The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council is a vital mechanism for uniting the nation, securing enduring peace, and hastening sustainable development – all in consultation with leaders, in particular those from private business, civil society sectors, and the opposition. FVR convened LEDAC every Wednesday morning for dialogue/advice while Congress was in session – averaging 30 times annually for five years after the law’s enactment.

(3) CORD – the “Cabinet Officers for Regional Development” was promulgated by President Corazon Aquino through Administrative Order 55 on 9 February 1988. It prescribed additional responsibilities for Department Secretaries above their regular duties to enable Government to “pursue a more active role in its relationship with the public.”

LEDAC as the “elders” of the extended Filipino family

LEDAC was created by law (RA 7640, December 9, 1992). It was among the first laws approved by FVR upon its enactment by the 9th Congress.

Its Declaration of Policy provides: “The State shall formulate, after consultations with appropriate public agencies, the private sector, and LGUs, socioeconomic development programs taking into account the requirements of conservation and ecology and in accordance with its Constitutional mandate to promote a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; a sustained increase in goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged.

“The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets.

“The LEDAC shall constitute an effective advisory/consultative mechanism to ensure consistency in coordinating executive development planning and congressional budgeting.

“The LEDAC shall be composed of 20 members with the President as Chairman and the following as members: the Vice President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, seven Cabinet members designated by the President, three members each from the Senate and the House designated by the Senate President and House Speaker, respectively, at least one each coming from the dominant minority party, and the following appointed by the President: a representative of local government units, a representative of the youth, and a representative of the private sector from any or a combination of: business, cooperatives, agriculture, and labor.

“The Council shall serve as a consultative/advisory body to the President for certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy with these functions:

“(a) determine/recommend socioeconomic development goals in the formulation and implementation of the national development plan;

“(b) provide policy advice to the President on vital issues affecting socioeconomic development;

“(c) direct the study of measures to ensure that regional development plans/ programs are integrated into the national development plan;

“(d) receive/require reports on, and study measures to improve, the implementation of official development assistance from multilateral/ bilateral entities;

“(e) assess effectiveness of implementation of the national development plan;

“(f) integrate environmental concepts, principles and practices into the national development plan for a balanced and cohesive approach;

“(g) review the relationship of the legislative agenda to the national development plan to ensure the integration of both;

“(h) study/recommend to the President and to Congress sources of revenue and measures to reduce unnecessary expenditures to the end that the resources of the Government are used optimally.”

The CORD system as energizer between government and the people

The archipelagic nature and extent of our Republic made imperative the establishment of the CORD system for executive outreach and people’s feedback. It was, in fact, one of the outstanding creations of President Corazon Aquino to bring the government closer to the people – so that community and regional concerns could be tackled with dispatch, consistent with the long-term vision of a better life for Filipinos.

Cabinet members, as CORDs for our 16 Administrative Regions, were put to work by FVR in accordance with their specialties and/or regional origins on a 24/7 basis. Our Regional, Provincial, and City/Municipal Development Councils; Peace and Order Councils; and Disaster Management Councils, etc. were given due importance and their capabilities were mobilized/utilized to implement programs/projects that would contribute to sustainable development in their areas of responsibility.

Specifically, the CORDs were tasked to:

(a) Assist in articulating the Region’s concerns and perceptions in the Cabinet, with the other Departments and concerned agencies;

(b) Assist the President in the speedy, efficient, honest and orderly resolution of problems in government operations in the Region;

(c) Assist in identifying and clarifying the key development issues, priorities and projects in the Region;

(d) Support the development of the institutional capabilities of the Region;

(e) Formulate a plan of action, consistent with this Administrative Order, which plan shall be subject to the approval of the President;

(f) Go on regular visits to his/her Region of assignment; and,

(g) Function as Convenor during Presidential Regional consultations.

In addition, the CORD provided the hosting, venue, secretariat, and logistics – within his/her Department’s assets and budget – for important consultations of local officials and people’s representatives with the President and Congress.

Going for it

The evolution of humankind parallels the history of every nation, our beloved Philippines included. Each generation should do better than its forebears, in the same way that each President must succeed better than his/her predecessors.

Thus, the process of internalizing accumulated “best practices” Philippine leaders should institutionalize – or even enhance to perfection – to attain the national vision.

No nation became great within one administration, not even if such lasted a generation. It is a multi-generational evolution – with each successor building upon the positive accomplishments of previous administrations.

At this time of presidential start up and opportunity, let’s go for it!

Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org. –Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, Manila Bulletin