Your to-do-list

In keeping with a promise and a suggestion, this column is the beginning of a list. It is a suggested “To-do-list” for none other than President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, in keeping with his proclamation that “We” are his boss.

In printing out this “To-do-list”, I am in all humility hoping to press some buttons, open some windows, or turn on the “light bulb” of ideas. Most of what I hope to touch on today and in the future is simple, and already part of the job description for many in government.

Unfortunately everybody is so busy or focus on “issues” rather than the actual job. I hope the President can find the time to read up and gear up, so that the ship of state can really sail far and wide.

1. Read chapter 4 of the book “LEADERSHIP” by Rudolph Giuliani.

For everyone’s benefit, here is a portion that is worth thinking about:

“Everyone’s accountable, All of the Time”.

“The social contract is a two-way street. It was a privilege for me to work for the government. In exchange, I had an obligation to perform honestly and effectively. For instance, during my two terms we held a town hall meeting every month, rotating to different boroughs.

I’d bring the entire city government with me to the dais – the commissioner of every agency, each of my deputies, and several others from my administration. I would talk a couple of minutes, then turn the discussion over to the public, who would take turns asking questions.

Many of these boiled down to complaints about broken streetlights or zoning issues that seemed unfair. Rather than promise “Someone will get back to you”, I would lead the questioner to the commissioner responsible for the issue raised.

If a questioner’s complaint was that some nightclub was making too much noise in their area, I’d say, “Please come up here and speak to Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, who enjoys nothing more than closing noisy clubs.” He’d take the questioner’s name and number, the particulars of the club, then investigate and decide whether further action was warranted. My aim was to solve the problem directly, to send the message that government could accomplish things.

“But there was a more profound message as well. I DIDN’T WANT MY ADMINISTRATION TO GET LAZY ABOUT “THE SMALL STUFF”, thinking that items like park cleanliness or garbage pickup didn’t matter.”

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They say that the devil is in the details, and in the case of the Philippines, it is the “small stuff” that directly affects people and it is also the thing that officials take for granted.

Every person I asked for suggestions that P-Noy could do, all said that he should continue what he started when he declared no to “Wang-Wang” (Sirens). Everyone said, “Enforce the law”. In particular, traffic laws and those that have to do with public areas such as littering, jaywalking, obstruction of sidewalks, jeepneys and buses obstructing the road etc.

To be honest, the challenge to “Enforce the law” is certainly both a social and a political challenge for us and our President, because it will reveal if P-Noy wants to put everything to the test: does he have the courage to stand up to City and town Mayors and order them to start doing the job the way it is suppose to be?

Is P-Noy willing to take the risk to find out if the Filipino people will actually follow the law, and make the necessary change, even sacrifice, to put our streets, roads and neighborhood in order?

Is there an equivalent political will to match the desire for change that so many Filipinos have expressed? Do we dare risk to discover if the leaders we have are real or simply political rags known as Trapos? And what about us? Are we going to stand and deliver likewise?

I would venture that, it is a risk worth taking because, we have consistent proof that when Filipinos are placed inside a “known” or established “Discipline zone” such as Subic Freeport, NLEX, SCTEX, The Fort, both drivers and civilians suddenly become more conscious of traffic rules, not littering and crossing only at designated areas.

For this administration, it is a worthwhile venture because a successful campaign would solidify P-Noy’s leadership and the Filipinos’ support for him. As they say it would be a challenge to now “put our money where our mouths have been”.

For local governments in need of funds and finding ways to cut costs, fines and penalties create an evolutionary process where you initially make money from fines and when discipline sets in you eventually save money from reduced operational expenses such as street sweepers, garbage collection etc.

Perhaps, the budgetary “carrot & stick” strategy can also be implemented where LGU’s lazy or obstructionist LGU’s can be penalized for not supporting or performing in the “National Law Enforcement” campaign.

Even that should be made clear to Filipinos, Law enforcement is not just about cops and robbers but the bigger and equally important enforcement of civilian responsibility.

As a suggestion, Ask for volunteers or designate “Pilot areas” within Metro Manila to be declared as DISCIPLINE ZONES placed directly under the office of the President or in cooperation with the OP on a six month trial. Just like the “anti-wang-wang” idea, declare war!

Imagine declaring Divisoria, a 2-kilometer radius around the intersection of Pasay: Taft & Buendia as “Discipline zones”?

If P-Noy’s boys are scared of LGUs then maybe the major roads such as EDSA, C-5, Aurora blvd- Espana, Quezon blvd, Taft Avenue, Shaw blvd, A. Bonifacio avenue and the South express service road are all manageable areas. All P-Noy would need is to require massive presence of traffic and PNP personnel as well as LTO, LTFRB and MMDA teams.

It can be done, it should be done and it is time. Mr. President, it’s your call.

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