Red tape

As a foreigner, I have noticed this "why should we care" attitude in government departments during the course of my helping to run a business here. The red tape in the bureaucracy, the gross inefficiencies, the overwhelming time consuming (wasting?) processes and at times sheer laziness of some government staff to give any meaningful assistance or show a real sense of urgency. These are, to my mind, some of the major reasons why foreign business stays away from the Philippines while those already here complain about the difficulty in doing business and getting anything done in a reasonable time frame. And without having to "pay off" someone to achieve it.

One would think such efficiency would make government departments here squirm with embarrassment, but not so. They merely shrug their collective shoulders and don’t seem to care. After all, they’re not there to serve the public. They are there to look after themselves!!! And the government’s spokespeople (i.e. spin doctors) wonder why the country is at or near the bottom of the heap in so many world and regional rankings.

All in the family

DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco - The Philippine Star 04/04/2007

I am disappointed in my idol, Sen. Joker Arroyo, for saying that political dynasties are good. Perhaps Sen. Arroyo merely wanted to say that it is a fact of life in Philippine politics and it isn’t bad per se. It is a cultural thing that cannot be legislated away, no matter that the Constitution frowns on it.

Everywhere you turn today, two or three members of a family are running for public office. ANC reported the other night that a Muslim politician and his three wives are all running for various offices in Basilan. That is taking politics as a family affair to the extreme.

This situation can’t be good for the Philippines. In fact, this could be the very reason why good governance is almost impossible within our political system. The "all in the family" tone to politics has alienated most people from taking a more active part in civic affairs. Family-oriented politics have reduced everyone else to outsiders looking in.

Let me put my fears in context. I think we can trace most of our problems today to an anomaly in the national psyche. We do not have a sense of nationhood… we are unable to think as one Filipino nation. Outside of a rare moment as EDSA 1, we are not inclined to put national interest (something quite abstract) above that of ourselves, our families, our friends, our regional ties, etc. That’s why corruption scandals normally include family members as principals and accessories. The Garcia and Ligot families, for instance, are implicated in the military financial mess now being litigated by the Ombudsman.