Wouldn’t it be great if . . . .?

Wouldn’t it be great if we got the right cabinet secretary for the right cabinet position?

Considering that a cabinet position seems to be largely dependent on being an ex-general, an ex-PMAer, or a stand-out student of the president, people are beginning to wonder if the President will ever get better selection in the future.

Considering the fact that guys like MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque are now standouts because of their knowledge, actual qualifications, and professional tenacity, it might be good to start hiring cabinet members or advisers based on track record and not on debt, threat, or ability to sucker up.

For instance WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF . . . . we got Tessie Sy-Coson to head the Airport Development Authority. Before you say I’m crazy, please tour the entire Mall of Asia!

Did it ever occur to people that Tessie Sy-Coson and her entire family have continuously been building malls in Metro Manila, the provinces, and I heard now in China on their own, with little fireworks except during opening, certainly no four-year legal battle like Naia 3.

Maybe we should just do an exchange deal with Henry Sy where he can convert the Naia 3 to the next big mall if they fund and build a new international airport right next to the Mall of Asia.

This way we could continue building the next international duty free shopping destination. We can even share the cost of airconditioning, security and parking management. I’m sure no other Taipan and mercenary law firm would dare mess with the Sy family since their business is more than hopia and siopao.

Once that’s done we can get Manny Osmeña of Cebu Hilton, the Toralbas of Mount Malarayat, to build airport boutique hotels, a new golf course by the sea, and then ask Danding Cojuangco and Ramon Ang to build an F1 quality raceway where The Tuasons and the Ramirezes can build up Filipino car racers! Then GMA can appoint Lea Salonga, Leo Valdez, Leo Martinez, Joy Virata, and Monique Wilson to head the Philippine Talent Development and Promotion Authority to build the Philippine version of Broadway.

* * *

Wouldn’t it be great if LTFRB chairperson Len Bautista finally became DOTC secretary instead of a loyal deodorant conveniently used for a necessary performance? I get the impression that Len Bautista is a sincere professional being kept on a very tight leash by Malacañang.

Somehow every time a good project comes along to instill order and discipline for transport operators, Bautista is allowed to take a few bites at offenders and shortly reined in by Malacañang. She recently spoke of implementing a JICA recommendation to reduce the buses in Metro Manila by 50 percent.

We already showed that on the program Insider where I personally boarded buses and showed they were generally half full or often only had 30 percent their passenger capacity. What intrigues me in the JICA-Bautista announcements is the fact that DOTC people immediately shot down the idea. Is it a general problem in government?

To Len Bautista: GO FOR IT. And while you’re at it why not undertake a thorough review with the SEC and the BIR regarding incorporators, franchise owners, violations of franchise such as underpayment or nonpayment of taxes, salaries, insurance, compliance with pollution policies. In other words throw the book at them. And if somebody interferes tell your friends in media.

It’s not an impossible dream. Look at all the billboards that have come tumbling down.

* * *

Speaking of Cabinet positions, given the intelligence mess we have in the country, the President might want to integrate all intelligence offices under one roof just like what George Bush did.

If GMA created a Homeland Security office, I would recommend she hire only the best and the brightest in intelligence gathering in the country. The Homeland Security Commission should be composed of Che Che Lazaro, Maria Ressa, Vic Agustin, Max Soliven, Nellie Sendayen, Ricky Lo.

To head the Housing and anti-poverty task force, the President need not look beyond Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga. Hey no one in the history of the Philippines ever came up with a better solution to fight hopelessness and the resultant poverty than Tony Meloto.

For Energy Secretary the obvious choice would be Raul Concepcion supported by the alternative resource development people of the DOST and the Philippine coconut authority.

To head the Commission on Overseas Filipinos GMA should tap the leadership of Migrant rights groups and not confused individuals who don’t know how to separate OFW concerns and local board exam scandals.

We can even reinstate Ping De Jesus as DPWH secretary after his world class achievement with the Manila Tollway or what we commonly call the North Luzon Expressway.

Forgive my apparent bias but if I chose the next DENR secretary it would certainly be Gina Lopez who has spearheaded the successful restoration and further development of the La Mesa Dam Eco-park.

Department of Trade should go to Socorro Ramos of National Bookstore. Seventy-two stores and still expanding. A humble but no nonsense person, Nanay Coring is unaffected by titles and Ivy league jargon. She also survived the pitfalls and trials of a very inefficient and corrupt system.

The well deserved post of Secretary of National Defense should go to General Palparan "whose reputation precedes him". If that’s too much a prize, at least send him to the PMA. Maybe then we can be sure that 40 years from now we will have professional soldiers and not rebels or opportunists who eventually act as mercenaries aspiring to be cabinet members.

* * *

Don’t look now but the Arroyo administration may ultimately reap what it sows. Legal and political analysts are trying to second guess just how the administration is going to walk its way out after painting itself into a corner.

Having pursued a legal attack against former President Joseph Estrada, they now await the court’s judgment on the matter. Or are they? If the court finds Erap guilty, Manila would not be a particularly safe place for the administration and its allies. But if Estrada walks out of jail innocent, there will be a price to pay.

They already painted themselves into a corner by fasttracking the case, which means the decision has to be made in a year or two at the most. Erap will push for a speedy judgment.

The one thing they don’t want is for Erap to get sick or die in jail which would be an even bigger headache.

Similar to the Erap case is the Subic rape case which has turned from a criminal case into an international incident that can escalate into a crisis.

In the middle of the storm, the courts declared Lucio Tan innocent of tax evasion and Imelda Marcos of graft. Whichever side you’re on, the decisions certainly raised a few eyebrows and criticism.

If these decisions are followed by an acquittal of the US servicemen in the Subic rape case, the enemies of GMA will certainly have enough ammunition to beat them in the next election.

No amount of economic good news is going to work as a salve or remedy for this big burn!

Speaking of Big Burns. Well there seems to be enough information from the NBI regarding the nursing exam scandal to show that the President’s advisers once again almost got her burned because of their incomplete and impulsive recommendations.

Two cabinet members who should be getting a tongue lashing are the Executive Secretary and the new Labor Secretary who was so gung ho about pushing for a retake of the exams even before the investigations were concluded.

I remember hearing Secretary Ermita telling the nurses to "just respect and accept the decision of the cabinet" as if he was the parent who spent over a hundred thousand pesos for each student’s education. Haste, Mr. Secretary, makes waste!

Hopefully, the new labor secretary will be a little more prudent in the future with his conclusions and specially his statements. Even judges are required to be mum about the cases in their courts.

As the US Navy says: Loose lips sink ships!