Camacho casts vote of no confidence

It is simply a vote of no confidence on the way we run government. Finance Secretary Lito Camacho’s resignation isn’t surprising. He had a thankless job and it was just a matter of time before he reached the limits of his capacity to absorb frustration. His tenure had been most difficult, given the almost impossible mission of taming the fiscal deficit, while making sure government does not ground to a halt for lack of funds.

Politicians vilified him almost daily, particularly an extremely ignorant senator who obviously had no idea what Camacho’s job was all about. They criticized him for allowing government borrowings to balloon. But Camacho didn’t have much of a choice in the light of revenue collection shortfalls. He had to borrow from local and foreign sources to keep government running.

The worst insult politicians recently inflicted on Camacho was to make him wait the whole day for a budget hearing that never took place. Ever patient, Camacho waited and wasted his precious time before finally walking out.

The congressmen were playing their usual meaningless macho games, the same one they played with the Chief Justice. There must be something wrong in the way their parents brought them up. Mga bastos. There must be something wrong with people who elect them to office.

Camacho was also tasked to supervise government financial institutions like the GSIS. He tried to reform the institution that had long been notorious for mismanagement but politicians prevented him from doing his work. For starters, GSIS operations were extremely expensive at P3,000 per member compared with the SSS at just P200. But when push came to shove, Ate Glo effectively sided with the politicians in control of the GSIS.

When Camacho first joined the administration of Ate Glo as Secretary of Energy, I had the opportunity to ask him why he joined government. He said he thought he wanted to do his share of serving his country. He said he thought he could make a difference.

It sounded too noble for the cynical journalist in me but he looked sincere enough. I thought we need more decent people like him who have not given up on the system and are willing to take the chance. He seemed the sort of person with integrity who isn't likely to tarnish his professional reputation.

Best of all, he could afford the government pay scale too. His many years of working as an investment banker has made him very rich. He had nothing to lose in joining government except his privacy and also his innocence in this sort of thing.

When he took over the Finance portfolio, it seemed a perfect fit of job and man. Because of his reputation, our foreign and local creditors are reassured that the nation’s fiscal health is in good hands. And so Lito Camacho became the sort of seal of Goodhousekeeping, so far as our creditors are concerned. Investors were also comfortable with someone who understood their concerns.

Little do people know the kind of backroom battles Lito had to fight to preserve the integrity of his work and his professional reputation. For a while it seemed like he had the support of Ate Glo. Lately however, we have been hearing rumors that the usual greedy influence peddlers close to Ate Glo had been giving Lito serious problems.

In fact, Lito’s sudden decision to quit must have been precipitated by one tough battle with Ate Glo’s band of favor seekers. If I heard it right, the last straw had something to do with tax matters involving plenty of moolah and the usual suspects. Lito finally realized it was hopeless and it was time to go. He cannot lend his personal reputation indefinitely without endangering it in the end.

On the whole, I think Lito Camacho did well. He fumbled a bit in his response to the Code NGO bonds controversy early in his tenure. But no one can choose relatives and Lito was at that time not yet too sensitive to the dangers of being publicly perceived to be in a conflict of interest situation. His only other fault is to unrealistically see the glass half full most of the time. But that was demanded of him by his position.

It would be tough to replace Lito this late in Ate Glo’s watch. With six months to go, who is the finance heavyweight who would accept the job now? Maybe the brother of Ate Glo, a former Citibanker, can hold the position as a favor for his Ate. He would have the gravitas to reassure everyone with bets on the Philippines.

Lito Camacho’s resignation is a strong vote of no confidence in the way we run our government. It would be that much more difficult to entice some of our top professionals to accept government jobs in the future. But at least for Lito, he has the satisfaction of saying that he tried. Too bad he has to leave like this. His departure makes the GMA administration look more damaged and lame duck than ever.

Tourism department responds

Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab formally wrote me to respond to my complaints about the quality of service my family and I received at the Bohol Beach Club. He said they were instructed by Tourism Secretary Dick Gordon to address the problem. Palabyab said he ordered a special team be sent to the resort to check on the facilities.

In the meantime, Patria Roa, Director of DOT’s Cebu regional office, wrote to the resort’s management. According to Palabyab, Bohol Beach Club said they are still renovating and expanding and reorganizing staff. Management, Palabyab said, claims responsibility over our negative experience and is taking my comments constructively.

If that’s the case, what right does Bohol Beach Club have to charge $90 a day per room or $180 for our two rooms if they are not yet able to provide "superior" room standards? Can anyone imagine paying that price and not have cable television, at the very least?

The other aspect of our experience that the tourism department must take note of is the professionalism of the tour agency that sold us the package. I doubt if the one who took care of our booking at Annset Holidays Inc. knew what they were selling.

Have they seen the facilities of Bohol Beach Club and determined that they indeed have "superior" room facilities? We were depending on them to guide us. I know they tried to be helpful after they found out how unhappy we were but I expected them to represent out interests more forcefully in getting the resort to right the wrong.

Palabyab said DOT "has vigorously undertaken an advocacy campaign" on what he calls the three A’s campaign - to ATTRACT, to ASSURE and to be ACCOUNTABLE. He said they have a limited budget and that local government units must "be more proactive in the exercise of their regulatory functions."He said DOT only accredits tourism related establishment but does not have the authority to regulate the business itself.

Palabyab finally invites everyone to give their feedback so DOT can monitor compliance of all accredited tourism establishments with standards. Perhaps DOT can have an information campaign specifying the points they look out for in rating establishments. This will enable us to at least know for sure if we are being taken for a ride.

Pope and Jacko

Here’s Dr. Ernie E.

The Pope has issued a proclamation on Michael Jackson.

If he hears any more allegations about little boys, the Pope says he’ll have no choice but to make him a priest.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]