Two incidents last Saturday made me realize that political and business leaders in the Philippines seem to take “Executive Risk” for granted.
During a lunch among Top Businessmen and certified car nuts, one of the country’s top business leaders talked about how he had a motorcycle related accident that required very painful therapy in order to realign his obviously traumatized hip and lower back. Being a fence sitter watching these heavy hitters, I very well could not make my sentiments known, but privately I was aghast that no one thought anything about the “Executive Risk” issue. If the business leader had been killed or paralyzed during his “Joy Ride”, one of the country’s biggest companies would have gone down like a spiraling plane diving to a crash.
On the same day but in a different location, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo thought nothing about jumping into a 4-seater aircraft commonly referred to as a “Tutubi” or dragonfly due to its diminutive size. Since Saturday evening, we’ve been praying for a Miracle that Secretary Robredo survived the crash along with the 2 pilots. But the incident serves as a perfect example for the need to discuss and regulate or write up policies regarding “Executive Risk”.
I certainly don’t want to be a Cosmic killjoy but even insurance companies have standardized rules when those they cover exceed or violate commonly held norms of safety. Many travel insurance policies specifically states that your coverage is void if you are injured or killed while participating in a high-risk sport such as car racing, scuba diving or riding a vehicle or aircraft outside of the “common carrier” classification. In other words if you ride a “tutubi” charter flight and crash, your insurance is void. If you crash and burn in a motorcycle, the insurance company could find fault in the “high risk” behavior that led to your injury or demise.
Now would be a good time for the Corporate Community as well as our legislators to study the often-ignored problem of “Executive Risks”. As far as government officials are concerned, the Robredo incident should at least produce guidelines that prohibit government officials from taking “Tutubi” flights or planes, boats etc. that do not qualify as common carrier or don’t meet the standard safety requirements for aviation or maritime transport.
I remember that at least two Presidents of the republic have been shown scuba diving, while Marcos fancied himself as a water skiing and Jet Ski enthusiast. The question is, were the diving Presidents certified scuba divers? Even if Marcos or any President for that matter has been trained by an expert, should Presidents be allowed to engage in “high risk” activities considering they are leading a nation of several millions? If you’re a private citizen, you can have fun on your own time but not when an entire nation or a major conglomerate hangs on your every word.
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Last Saturday, I endure the monster traffic created by the DPWH just to attend a very special graduation. I did not know a single person among the graduating class, none of the parents were my friend and I had absolutely nothing to do with the organization that was responsible for this exercise. So why would I crawl through 2 hours of traffic, risking blowing an engine through over-heating and still manage to have enough curiosity in me to sit through the graduation?
Because it was special. For the longest time I have staunchly supported the idea that companies in the Philippines should establish or expand internship and training programs that will empower young Filipinos in terms of vocational or corporate capabilities. Unfortunately many companies particularly Media and Hospital facilities have turned the idea into a business or a self-liquidating venture that provides them “fresh meat” for recruitment. That is not at all the ideal in terms of “giving back”.
Last Saturday, I learned first hand about the Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia (PTRCA) and how it has been quietly training students from Don Bosco Technical Institute to develop Porsche “Mechatronics”. From what I picked up, the program, which originally was only done in Germany, was tested in the Philippines through PGA Cars back in 2008 and was so successful that Porsche AG encouraged Robert Coyiuto to continue with the program.
From what I picked up, PGA Cars receives a list of the best and most promising students enrolled or graduating from Don Bosco’s automotive and auto electrical programs, the nominees then undergo a 19 month training under PTRCA for specialized training on Porsche engines and related products and technology. Alongside, their auto related training, the students also undergo language and communication skills enhancement from the Berlitz Language School. Once they graduate the students are accelerated from being just auto mechanics, they now qualify for further training and are highly employable in various countries as Porsche Mechatronics.
Since the PTRCA was established in 2008, PGA has seen the graduation of 7 batches of Mechatronics. One class even featured the only girl “Mechatronic” who started out as a runaway finding shelter at Don Bosco. As I watched the 16 members of the Seventh class graduate, I had to convince myself that these “kids” were highly skilled Mechatronics who could tear up my engine and rebuild it in the same day. They looked so young that I wondered how many of them actually had a Drivers license.
The Bible teaches us that “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed”, on graduation day, Robert Coyiuto Jr. was certainly refreshed by the shower of encouragement from many of the country’s big shots in business who were so inspired by what they saw and most said: “This is the perfect CSR”. Yes it was and will continue to be so. Congratulations to PTRCA, PGA Cars, Don Bosco and Berlitz for passing on the blessing and changing lives forever.