Duterte’s Cabinet

‘Digong’ may have cleaned up ‘The Cabinet’ of Malacañang and installed new secretaries but do the departments and agencies still have skeletons hiding in the closets (offices)? If the President wants them to do a good job, I suggest he instructs his Cabinet to wash out and cleanse their offices. We have a new administration so, isn’t it best to start with a clean slate?

President Duterte handpicked his Cabinet officials, which according to him are honorable and respectable men who will address his priorities such as corruption, crime and red tape. But how can the Cabinet secretaries work if there are still remnants of the old system lurking in the dark shadows of each office or agency?

The trade of corruption will continue to exist if an ‘iron hand’ is not used. The old practices will continue to go on if the bad apples are not thrown away. Those who carry a whiff of ‘bad’ air, aggressively seeking a position or holding a bad record in his/ her midst, possibly without credentials are those we do not want working for government. Those who have an ‘agenda’ boldly spelled out on their foreheads should be removed or silenced. It’s just too much in this day and age.

So, let’s see, we have the following new Cabinet secretaries: Leoncio “Jun” Evasco, Cabinet Secretary; Salvador Medialdea, Executive Secretary; Martin Andanar, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary; Ernesto Abella, Presidential Spokesperson; Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., National Security Adviser; Rafael V. Mariano, Secretary of Agrarian Reform; Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol, Secretary of Agriculture; Benjamin Diokno, Secretary of Budget and Management; Leonor Briones, Secretary of Education; Alfonso Cusi, Secretary of Energy; Regina “Gina” Lopez, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III, Secretary of Finance; Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial, Secretary of Health; Rodolfo Salalima, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology; Ismael Sueno, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; Vitaliano Aguirre II, Secretary of Justice; Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III, Secretary of Labor and Employment; Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense; Mark Villar, Secretary of Public Works and Highways; Fortunato de la Peña, Secretary of Science and Technology; Judy Taguiwalo, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development; Wanda Corazon Teo, Secretary of Tourism; Ramon Lopez, Secretary of Trade and Industry; Arthur Tugade, Secretary of Transportation and Communications; Michael Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas and Christopher “Bong” Go, Special Assistant to the President/Presidential Management Staff Chief.

Topping the list of the most corrupt government agencies according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey of businessmen in 2015 are the Bureau of Customs, Land Transportation Office, House of Representatives, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine National Police and Department of Agriculture. But since the survey involved respondents from the Business sector, only one facet of the definition of corruption, which involves bribery, surfaced. Corruption, by definition, is not limited to financial gain. It also encompasses dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit.

As an academic, I take particular interest in matters related to Science and Technology in the Philippines. I was and still am happy to note that Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, one of the good men of the DOST in the past, who a few years ago retired seemingly frustrated was recently appointed as the head of the DOST.

There have been allegations of abuses that happened in the past at the DOST. As a matter of fact a well-respected scientist and a member of the National Academic of Scientist and Technology (or NAST) became a victim of intellectual property theft just recently. What’s disheartening and dumbfounding is that the perpetrators of the offense are still working in the DOST and one of them may continue as an undersecretary of the department. Susmariosep! If De la Peña gives this person a position then we are doomed. Our top Filipino scientists and researchers will surely be demoralized. They will be discouraged to work for the country and instead leave in order to protect themselves (and their intellectual property rights so easily taken from them by “rotten” officials). So, I ask the President and his men, will you continue to encourage such acts?

Secretary De la Peña should be decisive about cases involving ethics within DOST and know the implications of inaction. He knows what is happening but may turn a blind eye to the truth. Will he use diplomacy and be gentle to his department’s bureaucracy? Or will he use his power to do what is right and to get things done for the sake of the country? Will he continue to work with such monsters in the DOST ready to devour every multi-million project?

In the 2015-2016 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index report, the Philippines ranked 47th out of 140 countries. The report also noted other ASEAN countries moving up to the top half in ranking: Malaysia (18th), Thailand (32nd), Indonesia (37th), and Vietnam (56th). Of course Singapore was cited as the most Southeast Asian competitive economy.

The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) scores are calculated by putting together country-level data covering 12 categories: Institutions, infrastructure, macro-economic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation.

The report showed the Philippines ranked 48th in innovation and 68th in technological readiness. There is no other way but up for the country in these areas. Science and Technology must be given due attention in terms of budget, expertise and manpower.

The Filipinos today are happy of Duterte’s resolve to rid government of rogue officials. Scientists are inspired because he has chosen an honorable and respectable man to lead DOST. Don’t forget, an inspired science and technology community can launch a revolution that will drive our country to become a stronger nation.

If change is indeed coming, then, change must happen from within. And with this change must come an upgrade of government salary and benefits. In addition to this, the civil service code must be revisited so that government can easily remove those ‘bad weeds’ and not just transfer them to another section or department.

Each Cabinet member must submit the names of their key people. They should be principled and trustworthy having a clean record. We should know who controls the projects, contracts and budget. A system of check and balance must be in place before confirming positions and assignments. Transparency is the key.

President Duterte should revisit the current organizational structure of the Executive branch of government where some departments/agencies may be removed or added. Redundancy is just an unnecessary expense. It can also add to more corruption.

Soon we will know who the Cabinet secretaries will appoint as their undersecretaries, deputies or honchos. We will be able to discern if change is truly coming. We have come a long way and our President has made it to where he is now because of what he stands for. Don’t let the people down. Installing inefficient officers resulting to incapability, wastefulness and disorganization at work is as close to committing an act of corruption.

In criminal law legislation, our priority is the security and well-being of law abiding citizens rather than the rights of the criminal to be protected from incriminating evidence – Lee Kuan Yew