Votes or lives

Back in 1992 right after the presidential elections, I remember a conversation among members of a political party as they assessed the outcome of the elections, the loss of their presidential candidate and what strategies they could put in order to retain their influence in Philippine politics. For the most part the suggestions were to carry on supporting their winners, building up relationships with winning independent candidates and aligning with smaller parties for common agendas and programs. After all that, the party Elder looked my way and asked me to join in.

I innocently asked how many congressional seats were required to have a solid majority in Congress, because that effectively was the second-best thing to being president. Given that the elections then were over, I suggested that it was the right time to start building up candidates and investing in future congressional candidates of the party. The only difference was that they had three years instead of three months to do it. Last but not the least, the “investment” should not be political but fundamentally a “business development plan” where the party members, supporters and businessmen and women could be part of a nationwide program where the party would identify one or two potential candidates per district, identify the lifeline businesses in those districts and build them up based on their capacity for job generation, addressing basic needs such as food, power, water or businesses that support or enhance other businesses such as transport, cold storage and ice plants and petroleum, piggeries, poultries and fishponds. Back then my idea was to create businesses that support agricultural development and livelihood because it generates jobs and fights hunger.

Given the three-year period and the vast resources of experts, logistics and financiers, I was quite confident that putting up the needed businesses would be a lot easier than doing a 45- to 90-day political campaign, throwing good money after bad and essentially gambling with no guarantees or legal returns. By building up the network of businesses and livelihoods in congressional districts, those who got involved could get their money back, develop strong ties with the communities and voters and would effectively create wealth that stays in the district.

Mr. or Mrs. Congressman would no longer have to buy votes but simply create jobs, revenues and improve the quality of life and commerce in their designated district. Unfortunately, my suggestion never came to life because in the Philippines, politicians are sadly creatures of habit who believe in short cuts and ploughing campaign contributions for three months instead of making profitable investments over three years.

Years after that meeting, I found myself in a different role when President Joseph “Erap” Estrada was detained first at the Veterans Memorial Hospital and then later at his farm in Tanay, Rizal. Every Friday after I joined a small group of Erap’s friends and family members and would drive one hour and a half to Tanay, hold Bible studies for an hour and a half, have merienda or dinner and then do the same one-and-a-half-hour drive going back to Quezon City. During one of those sessions, Erap asked us to wait for him until he finished his meeting with then presidential and vice presidential candidates FPJ/Ronnie Poe and Loren Legarda. When Erap got back to us, he shared that the meeting was about plans by the two guests to file an election protest and that it would require an initial expense of P60 million back then. As Erap sat at the head of the table he asked me for my opinion.

I started out by saying that such protests rarely win, and I definitely had strong doubts of winning a protest, given that the opponent was already in office. As for the P60-million price tag, I humored Erap by asking if there was a P60-million check under his plate? There being none, the appeal or idea was moot. I suggested to Erap that for 10 percent of P60 million, he could easily buy all the pigs, carabaos, goats, chickens as well as seeds and distribute them all over Tanay and he would be loved by all the poor people in the area. Erap being Erap, his face brightened and the very next day he was already launching his revolution that he dubbed “Rebolusyon Kontra Gutom.”

It quickly gained momentum but a man, even Erap, could only do so much from behind the gates where he was detained and when the tide turned, Erap focused on regaining his political power and redeeming his reputation. In hindsight, if Erap had stayed the course with his revolution against hunger and remained focused on his walk with the Lord, who knows how his second shot at the presidency might have turned out.

I’m beginning to realize that starting such a revolution or livelihood campaign cannot be planted on the soil of politics or the leading of politicians. What we need are successful business models, showcases or demo LGUs that will be proof of concept, financially successful for those running each segment or module within the showcase, presenting a process and network that provides a market for sellers and buyers and politically beneficial to local officials. From what I heard, this already exists in Israel, Taiwan, etc. and we could consult their experts, adopt best practices, Filipinize them and build them in the 20 poorest of the poor provinces in the Philippines.

By creating such showcase and bragging on the profitability of the different features, we can capitalize on the “inggit factor” or envy of Filipinos which in turn will guarantee that if the programs were carefully and systematically designed almost like “franchises,” many related corporations such as San Miguel Corporation, BMeg and LGUs as well as entrepreneurs under Go Negosyo would immediately sign up. Let us all take an interest in food security because like I said, that is the next war.

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