Don’t even bother!

The next time someone asks for advice if they should accept a nomination or appointment for a government position under the BBM administration, my advice will be: Don’t Even Bother!

Last week, several columnists, members of media and people doing business at the NAIA were puzzled and confused about a slow and seemingly calculated or deliberate release of information that a “new” MIAA general manager had been appointed. We are not talking about Cesar Chiong whom we wrote about and praised in this column for quickly taking action on problems raised by outbound and inbound international passengers. Instead, a slow trickle of “memos,” news bits and ultimately an alleged confirmation by the OIC of the Office of the Press Secretary that the son of former DOTr secretary Art Tugade, named Jay Art Tugade, had been appointed as GM and member of the MIAA Board.

The problem was no one from Malacañang or the office of the current DOTr Secretary had advised or even warned GM Chiong about his removal from office or of his replacement. As a result of this unexpected and mysterious turn of events, many columnists were busy exchanging views on what could be the story, given the fact that there was no controversy surrounding Chiong’s first month at work. The initial suspicion was that he, like some other appointees, was used as a seat warmer. But that hardly makes sense since he was personally requested by Secretary Jimmy Bautista to leave a lucrative job managing the Caticlan Airport & San Miguel Corporation and to sacrificially serve the country as the MIAA general manager. Is it possible that even Secretary Jimmy Bautista was blindsided or undermined by a politician close to PBBM?

Another theory is that the slow trickle of information and distribution of the memo to members of media was part of the work of a public relations firm that launched a “trial balloon,” meaning calculated announcements to check the political and public reaction to a “coup d’ etat” at the MIAA. That certainly is a popular notion in the minds of several columnists. It is simply too early to replace an experienced industry executive who has been doing a good job and keeping his nose clean, unless in trying to put the house in order, Chiong might have introduced changes that the airline operators were not ready to undertake.

There are many other possibilities, but when you put together the short-lived stay of Atty Trixie Angeles, executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, the equally mysterious transfer of Cheloy Garafil from LTFRB chairperson to OIC of the Office of the Press Secretary, the continued vacancy for a Press Secretary that PBBM said he would announce more than two weeks ago, the vacancy for a DOH secretary and now the mystery surrounding the alleged appointment of a new MIAA GM, who in his or her right mind would want to serve the country when the CEO-President can’t even sustain or defend the tenure or term of an appointee? A senior columnist referred to this as the “spoils of war.” I call it rotten, amateurish and the best reason not to join or serve this administration. Don’t bother!

*      *      *

Once again we are hit by a typhoon and once again it hits us in the “bread basket” or where much of our rice and vegetables are produced. I have no doubt that once all the damage reports come in from Typhoon Paeng, we will be hearing about further reductions on harvest forecasts and stocks, etc. Needless to say, all the negative forecasts and predictions about food shortages are becoming a certainty and we will either run short of food by December or many Filipinos will simply be forced to do without some of their food choices or basic necessities.

It is no wonder that more and more opinion writers/columnists or political commentators have been focusing on agricultural issues and concerns and not just because President Bongbong Marcos is the self-appointed Secretary of Agriculture but because of the general impression that in spite of all our fears, PBBM has not said or done much to allay them or lead the charge with plans and logistics in hand. Sorry to compare, but his old man FM Sr. at least had slogans, gave speeches and got his feet dirty while planting rice, even if they were mostly for propaganda and photo-ops which were the “selfies” of the 60’s.

It may be that PBBM is confident that in the event of a shortage between now and the first quarter of 2023, his administration could easily import whatever is needed. That option is there and was the same fallback position of certain economic geniuses during the reign of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo until they were rudely awakened to the decision of exporting countries to reduce and hold back their supplies due to internal shortages, droughts, etc. As the saying goes, “Better safe than sorry.” There is still time for the PBBM administration to initiate actions that could reduce the ill effects of shortages even at the household level. I realize that as President, PBBM has to focus on the big picture, the macro not the micro. I also realize that PBBM would feel like a hypocrite doing the “planting rice” photo and I can live with that.

But why should that stop him from running a “self-sufficiency” campaign where households, barangays are encouraged to plant edibles instead of ornamentals. In this age of “growing your own food” and going “organic,” why is there an absence or resistance to such program? I know of mayors that have launched their own “green revolution” and livestock dispersal programs where they give away piglets, goats, chickens, etc. I remember the time of the late Sonny Escudero, when he actively pushed for dispersal programs, vaccination programs and family or household based self-sufficiency. Why not now while there is still time?