Roco’s fight against corruption

With a lot of people sick and tired of graft and corruption in government, former Senator Raul S. Roco, who makes no bones about his interest in the presidency, has been talking about what they like to hear i.e. his declarations on fighting graft and corruption in the government.

His latest audience was the members of the advocacy movement, Magtagumpay! at the NBT Tent in The Fort in Makati. The movement’s organizers were praised by Roco for daring to voice out their disappointment with the performance of government and the political and economic stagnation the country is wallowing in.

At the movement’s launching, Roco said that they key to the country’s future success is to reduce corruption in government to Zero. "We must develop zero tolerance for corruption," he said.

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He said estimates on the loss to government revenues from corruption in government are staggering; the revenues could easily wipe out the budget deficit. "Because of this corruption endemic in most government institutions today," Roco said, "the Filipino people are fed up. They want change – real change. And real change must start at the top."

That is not to say that the nation is full of dishonest people. Many Filipinos have demonstrated acts of honesty, he said. "The Filipino is good. Wherever he goes, he is valued as a hard worker, as an honest-fearing citizen, who loves his family and is willing to sacrifice himself his loved ones. Yet in his own country, the Filipino is faced with one crisis after another. Why?

"Because our leaders have failed the Filipino by allowing corruption to steal the fruits of their labors from their mouths. This is why we need to stamp out corruption at all levels. And we will start from the top."

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An important component of a corruption-free administration is transparency, and Roco vows "sheer transparency" in the development of a "zero tolerance for corruption". Roco is said to have wiped out corruption at the Department of Education during his one-and-a-half year as DepEd Secretary. "The record will show who has been consistently behaving according to what he says. I don’t think there is any businessman or lobbying group who can ever say truthfully that they ever encouraged me through money.

"The example must be set. But the principle of zero tolerance is very important because everybody acts accordingly, so long as the leader behaves. For the moment somebody in the family or in the cabinet starts finagling, you love control. Everybody, talagang happy days are here again. Kailangan talagang mahigpit. You must be ready to be lonely as President of this Republic."

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As to his proposed reforms, Roco said "We must encourage the bureaucracy to serve well. And the bureaucracy must be motivated. When the bureaucracy delivers, then you have something. But we’re talking first of general directions because it is very important. When you get down to brass tacks, that’s whoever delivers the details. We forget the main message, that’s why I’m trying to focus on the zero tolerance. If we can achieve that, then you have something. Zero tolerance for corruption!"

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The Magtagumpay Movement is spearheaded by ordinary citizens and a group of students and alumni of San Beda College, Roco’s alma mater. Leading the group is the Olympian basketball star of the 60s, Tata Carranceja, and Mike Policarpio, one of the pillars behind the Movement Against Drugs.

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On another front, the Japanese’s successful agri-business practices and current marketing trends in the Japanese market will make up the second of a four-part CITEM-JETRIO Vegetable Workshop which will be held on June 9 at the Philippine Trade Training Center on Roxas Boulevard.

The June 9 workshop, scheduled from 9:30-12 p.m., will have Dr. Minora Tahara, consultant for food sanitation of the Tokyo Metropolitan Food Sanitation Association addressing Japanese laws and regulations in importing vegetables to Japan. On July 3, Tatsuji Matsuoka, marketing/technical adviser of the Paniqui Federation of Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. will talk about the Japanese market for Philippine vegetables. In August, Shigeatsu Nishizawa, manager of the Shintsuke Green Recycling Center, will speak on guides to organic certification of vegetables in Japan.

The Japanese market is considered a primary market for organically certified produce and products, after the United States and Germany. The Philippines, with its agriculture-oriented economy, is ready to supply part of the global demand expected to be $1-billion in the year 2008.

For more details, contact, the National Products Division of CITEM at 831-24831 or 831-2201 at extension numbers 214 and 228.

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Is the midlife experience something to be feared? Yes, some women say. But no, many others say. The joys and challenges of midlife will be the topic of the June 5 "Something’s Brewing" kapihan-cum-roundtable discussion at the cocktail lounge of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Panelists will be Maan Hontiveros, Angel Ramos, and Rose Yenko. Moderator will be a male — Cito Beltran. The kapihan is a project of the Women’s Business Council Philippines (WBCP) and The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS).

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