Midterm examinations

After conducting the midterm elections last Monday and reading the President’s statement “We must listen to our critics.” I humbly suggest to President Bongbong Marcos Jr. to conduct what I call the “Midterm Examinations” and after that, undertake the necessary make up work until 2028.

Minus 3 years may not seem long enough, but if PBBM sincerely and humbly puts his government to the task, and in cooperation with “patriotic” members of the private sector, he may yet accomplish significant goals that could be more meaningful than reputation management and rewriting personal history.

For starters, the President might consider engaging an independent review of “Team PBBM”. Who are the people around the President who remain respected by the public, media and the business sector? Who are not?

Who accomplished each and almost every task assigned to them by position or responsibility and who caused fires and crisis? Who turned out to be dead weight, incompetent or created more enemies for PBBM, the administration and the government as a whole? Who remains relevant and productive after three years?

If PBBM chooses to man up, he can start with his immediate family, go to the extended family, then to his “barkada” and finally his official cabinet. I used the term “Man Up” because that is what is needed to sideline, disconnect or detach any or all team members who did not deliver.

I have had to do the same in one project, I “lost” 17 men just because a married team leader engaged in an extra-marital relation that had locals asking for his head. I was asked to retain the rule-breaker in order to retain 16 vital craftsmen. I placed them all on two boats back to Manila.

On another occasion, I had to let go a couple of childhood friends as part of executive decision. Difficult but necessary. It hurt, caused guilt, but part of “being in-charge”.

I am not suggesting for the President to conduct summary terminations or voluntary mass resignations. A few discreet dumps will suffice.

I remember a time when people around a “King Maker” actively protected their “Cordon Sanitaire” by bad mouthing or accusing others. One day, I noticed that those same people were no longer around.

I was told that the King Maker had a habit of discretely inquiring why certain people he liked no longer visited, who blocked or prevented them and validated claims versus character or behavior.

The King Maker would then tell his staff to limit the access of the cordon sanitaire or the character assassins until “they got the message”. There were no mass terminations, just “Access Denied”.

Numbers also do not necessarily reflect correct solutions. Removing 20 ordinary employees has less impact than letting one General Manager go. PBBM does not even need to make a grand gesture of firing people as politicians often do.

In fact, it will probably naturally happen as it does with administrations in their Midterm. When the results of the Midterm exams come out, there will always be one or two cabinet secretaries with an “exit strategy” especially when an administration gains unpopularity.

Speaking of examinations, PBBM might also want to review the groups and advisory bodies that he lends ear to. The President may have learned and experienced men and women who advise him, but are they all loyal to PBBM and the government, Only?

Does PBBM practice the monitoring and surveillance of his cabinet members, some of whom might be “Deep Penetration Agents” or supporters of power blocks in business and industries? This is not about casting suspicion but suggesting “Safety and Security”.

In this light, who influences PBBM’s cabinet secretaries and the Office of the President? While I support government cooperation with the private sector, businesspeople are raising eyebrows on the advantage or access of “Big Business” and their influence on government plans and programs.

The so-called Private Sector Advisory Groups while helpful should be carefully screened and monitored for the integrity of their recommendations versus risks of manipulating government plans and policies.

Next section of the Midterm Examinations and make-up would be to review the real goals, as well as real needs of the nation at the start of the administration, as well as needs that have cropped up in recent times by virtue of economics, population, climate etc.

The plain and undeniable truth is the Philippine Government, because of laws, regulations and set-up is the biggest hindrance to development whether it national, local, private or personal.

The government collects taxes and fees first and foremost. Imposes taxes and duties – first and foremost. The government does not believe in subsidies or tax exemptions for power except for big business or major corporations. Rules and process are complicated by designed, and the entire system is not supportive of business or technical development.

If the government is incompetent in construction, building and maintaining infrastructure, PBBM should focus on making sure he and his government exert political will so the private sector can do the job with integrity and no corruption. In order to do that, Congress needs to get out of the picture.

The Executive branch and the Judiciary are at the mercy of the Legislative branch in terms of budgets, expenditures, crucial appointments and more. PBBM in his final three years should work at making Congress stick to legislating and not interfering with the work and authority of the Executive branch.

By this one act, our nation can be great again and PBBM can take credit for it!

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