national recovery program

8/2/2019 National Recovery Program

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NATIONALRECOVERYPROGRAM

TheNationalRecoveryProgram(NRP)isinspiredbyavisionofapeacefulandprosperousPhilippinesandaunitedFilipinocitizenry.Itadvocatessocialequityastheessenceofgovernanceandequalityandsocialjusticeasthetruemeasuresofdemocracy.

Thepursuitofthisnoblevisionwouldtreadonalong,circuitousanddifficultpathandthus,

would require structural changes to some institutional restrictions that have been hindering ourprogressanddevelopment.Thediresituationweareincallsfordrastic,sweepingreformsandthereisnowayaroundit.

Politicalconcessionsandaccommodationswillneversolveourproblems.Therefore,thedecisionsmustbehardandsteadfast.

TheNRPdoesnotpretendtobeapanaceaforourcountrysproblems.Instead,itsprimaryobjectiveistoarresttherapid spiralingdescentofourRepublicandlaythefoundation fora trulystrongNation.Moreimportantly,itintendstoigniteamoralandculturalrevolutiontofinallyfreeusfrom the clutches of greed, indolence, subservience, ignorance and helplessness that have beeningrainedonourpsychethroughcenturiesofcolonialpersecution.

TheNRPisastrategicpackageofpolicypropositions,whichfocusesonfivekeyresultareasofgovernance.Theseare:PeaceandOrder,Economy,Poverty,Population,andCorruption.

PEACEandORDER

Thepeaceandorderproblemis themain stumblingblockto ourcountry'sprogress.Wecannotdevelopasanationaslongaslawlessnessisprevalentinoursociety.Economicgains,ifany,will be negated and domestic/foreign investments and tourists will be discouraged to come in.Worse,theatmosphereofcrimeandterrorhaspreventedourcitizensfromenjoyingtheblessingsoffreedomanddemocracy. To addresstheproblemmore effectively, Peaceand Orderis dissected into five areasofconcernnamely:foreignaggression,terrorism,criminality,insurgency,andsecessionism.Eachareaiscompletelydiversewiththeotherand,therefore,eachrequiresauniquestrategyforitsresolution. A.DiplomaticsolutionstodealwithForeignAggression

ThecontestedclaimsforSabah,SpratlyIslandGroupandtheScarboroughShoalsare,atthemoment,thepotentialflashpoints,whichcouldtriggeraconflictwithothercountries.Ifever,thesewouldbesettleddiplomaticallybyinvokinginternationallaws.Asanaddedmeasure,bilateraltieswith concerned countries would be strengthened. This would be a much more peaceful andinexpensiveoptionthanengaginginanarmsrace. B.Warvs.Terrorism

Terrorism is a global concern. We have seen it rear its ugly head many times over,mercilessly killinginnocent lives in the guise ofpursuing fanaticalbeliefs or ideology.It must bestoppedandtheresponsibilityforitsexterminationfallsnotonlyontheStatebutoneachmemberofsociety.This wouldbeachieved throughvigilance,relentless exchange of information, and highlyresponsivelawenforcementagencies.

C.CampaignagainstCrime

Criminality is a menace to society. The past decades saw the rapid increase in crimeincidence threatening business, tourism and, more importantly, the normal lives of ordinaryFilipinos.Whileitistruethatpovertyisonerootcauseofcrime,manyrichandpowerfulpeoplealsocommitthesedastardlyacts.Eitherway,thereshouldbenothingtostoptheStatefromprotectingtheotherhelplessmembersofsocietyandapplyingjusticetothesecriminals.

Toeffectivelydealwith criminalityhowever,theother legsofthe criminal justice systemsuchaslawenforcement,prosecution,thejudiciary,andrehabilitation,wouldhavetobereformed.


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Thefollowinganti-crimemeasureswouldbeundertaken: ReformationofthePhilippineNational Police(tobediscussed below).Thiswouldensure

thatourlawswouldbestrictlyandproperlyenforced. Conductofentrapmentoperationsdirectedtocorruptprosecutors/membersoftheJudiciary Cleansing of the Judiciary. The SupremeCourt would be urged to cleanse their ranks of

hoodlumsinrobes.Allpendingcasesduefordecisionshouldberesolvedwithinsixmonths

otherwise theywouldfaceimpeachment(i.e.culpableviolationof Sec.16ofArt III oftheConstitution)ordirectousterbythepeople.ThepeoplehavelegitimatelydonethistoanelectedPresidentbefore.Thus,followingthislineitcouldalsobelegitimatelydonetotheSupreme Court.The Judiciary is just as responsible for thepresentmess in ourcriminaljusticesystemastheothers.

Reformation of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.Any incidence of prisonerescape would mean outright relief/discharge for the jail warden and other responsiblepersonnel.TheBJMPfacilitieswouldalsobeimprovedtoenhancetherehabilitationprocessforprisoners.

Filing of an anti-crime bill that would, among others, establish a National IdentificationSystem

Promotionofvigilanceinsociety*Itshouldbestressedthatinaddressingcriminality,HUMANRIGHTSWOULDBERESPECTED

ATALLTIMES.

D.EndingtheInsurgency

TheCPP-NPAinsurgencyhasbeenaroundformorethan30years.However,theendofthe

ColdWarinthe90shadeffectivelyremovedtheideologicalcausesforitsarmedstruggle.Still,itsdemandsforsocialequityandsocialjusticearevalidcausesthatshouldbedealtwithsquarelybytheState.

Toendtheinsurgency,thefollowingactivitieswouldbeundertaken: Reopening of peace talks with local communist leaders. This would directly tackle the

demandsoflocalinsurgentssothatregionalpeacecouldbeachievedimmediately. Ruralinfrastructuredevelopment.Theconstructionofroads,schoolbuildings,healthcare

facilities,andmasshousinginfar-flungbarangayscanpromotesocialequity.

Delivery of basic socialservices.Medical and Dental missions, socio-civicoperations andMinimumBasicNeeds(MBN)activitieswouldbeconductedinfar-flungbarangaysincludingNPAmassbases.

Agriculturalmodernization.Ruralemploymentandeconomicgrowthwoulddiscouragetheruralfolkfromjoiningtheinsurgency.

Agrarianreform.Thiswouldgreatlyaddresstheproblemofsocialinequity. Establishment of the Barangay Intelligence Network. This would enable the National

Government(NG)tobeabreastoftheprevailingsocial,economicandsecurityconditionsinallbarangaysnationwide.

E.LastingPeaceinMindanao

ThehandlingofMuslimsecessionistgroupsismuchmorecomplicatedconsideringthatit

hashistorical,religious,social,economic,cultural,politicalandmilitarydimensions.Therefore,thestrategytobeemployedwouldlikewiserequireamulti-dimensionalapproach.Onthehistoricalandreligiousfacetsoftheproblem,theMuslimsandChristianswouldbemadetounderstandthattheyareequallyessentialpartsofacompositeNationalIdentitythatisFilipino.WeareallFilipinosandtofightthisrealityisfutile,andwouldonlybringmorebloodshedthanitalreadyhas.Allofuscouldbeconsideredvictimsofhistoryandwecouldargueandfighttothedeathanditwouldstillnotchangeourpresentpredicaments.Thebestthingtodonowisresolveourdifferencessothatwecouldjointlymoveforwardtowardaprogressivefutureforthesucceedinggenerations.

Thesocial,economic,culturalandpoliticaldimensionsoftheproblemwouldbeaddressedthrough a truly autonomous government for each major Muslim group (e.g. Tausugs, Maranaos,


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Maguindanaons, etc.). The failure of the presentARMM isbut amanifestation ofhowthediverseMuslimgroupswerecompletelymisunderstood.

Finally,thosewhoinsistonpursuingsecessionthrougharmswouldleavetheStatenootherchoicebuttodealwiththemmilitarily.

The AbuSayyaf group,on the otherhand, is considereda terroristgroup and therefore,wouldhavetobeexterminated.

ThefollowingactivitieswouldbeundertakentofinallybringlastingpeaceinMindanao: ReopeningofpeacetalkswithMILFandotherMuslimsecessionistgroups EstablishmentofAutonomousMuslimRegionsforeachmajorMuslimgroupaccompanied

byaviable"mini-MarshallPlan"for each.Thiswould finally alloweachMuslimGrouptocompletelygovernthemselvesfreefromanysocio-culturaloppression.

ThefilingofabillcallingfortheinstitutionofaNationalIdentitytofosterunityamongallFilipinosregardlessofsocialstatus,religion,ideologyandculture

Ruralinfrastructuredevelopment.Theconstructionofroads,schoolbuildings,healthcarefacilitiesandmasshousinginfar-flungMuslimbarangaystopromotesocialequity.TheAFPEngineeringBrigadescouldbeusedforthispurpose.

F.ReformationoftheAFP/PNP

A key element in the resolution of the above concerns is the reformation of twomajororganizationsprimarilyresponsiblefortheupkeepofpeaceandordernamely:theArmedForcesofthe Philippines (AFP)and thePhilippineNationalPolice(PNP).Both institutionshavebeenbadlydamaged and plundered by their treacherously corrupt and power-driven senior officers.WhiletheremaystillbeafewmorallyuprightgeneralsleftintheAFP/PNPnonetheless,theyhavebecomesoinsignificantandimpotentthattheynevermadeanydifference.

Forustohaveanychanceatrestoringpeaceandorder,theseinstitutionsmustbereformed,cleansedandrestructured.

In the AFP, the funds formodernization, intelligence, operations and maintenance wereblatantlyandmethodicallyrealigned straight to thegeneralspockets andlavishhouses.All thesewere done while their men on the field, the lowly soldiers on foot patrol wearing dilapidateduniforms and using antiquated weapons, were risking their lives fiercely fighting for militaryvictories,forwhichthesesamegeneralsunashamedlytookcredit.Thesesoldiersdonotevenhave

theirownhousestocomehometo,asmostofthemaresquattersinsidemilitarycamps.Totopitall,even their retirement pay was not spared as the RSBS was again pillaged by the samemilitaryleaders.

The situation in the PNP, as everyone would agree, ismuch worse. We have policemenengaging in murder, kidnap-for-ransom, robbery, drug trafficking, extortion, bribery and illegalgambling.Inshort,theveryinstitutionthatwassupposedtoprotectthewelfareofthepeopleisthesameinstitutionterrorizingthem. ToreformtheAFP/PNP,thefollowingactivitieswouldbeundertaken:

1. OnProfessionalization All officers with therank ofBrigadierGeneral/Commodore/Chief Superintendentand up

wouldhave tobe retire. Shouldtheyrefuse, theywouldbeplacedonfloatingstatus.Thiswould give a new face to these organizationsthe face of reform. Meritocracy wouldhenceforthbethesolebasisfortheselectionofthenewAFP/PNPleaders.

ThetenureofMajorCommanderswouldbefixed.Therapidturnoverofofficersoccupyingsensitivepositionshasresultedintheabsenceofinstitutionalreforms.Theseniorofficersoften treat their present assignments as mere stepping stones for their next higherassignment. The tenureof everyChief of Staffwouldbe fixedat three years. This wouldensure that reformscould be implemented and institutionalized. However, an incumbentChiefofStaffmayberelievedunceremoniouslybytheCommander-in-Chiefforcorruption,incompetence, negligence and other offenses. The followingwould be the fixed terms of


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other major commanders: Commanding General, Philippine Army, 3 years; CommandingGeneral,PhilippineAirForce,3 years; Flag-Officer-In-Command, PhilippineNavy,3 years;Chief, PNP, 3 years; Commander, Area Commands, 3 years;Positionswith rank ofMajorGen/Radm,minimumof2 years;Positionswith rank ofBrig Gen/Commo,minimumof 1year.

Thenumderofgeneralswouldbereduced.

EstablishmentoftheInspectorGeneralServiceandtheJudgeAdvocateGeneralServiceasseparate branches of service under the direct operational control of the Commander-in-Chief.Thiswouldfreetheinvestigation,prosecution,andjudicialarmsoftheAFPfromthepressures of their superiors so that they can accomplish their mandated tasks with adispassionateandunbiasedperspective.

The curricula of PMA/PNPAand othermilitary and police training institutionswould berevised to include modules focusing on leadership training, character development,patriotismandnationalism.

Conduct of regular value formation and re-indoctrination activities to inculcate propervaluesintotheheartsandmindsAFP/PNPpersonnel

2. Onstructuralreforms

The PNP would be reabsorbedby the AFP. ThePNP's character transformation to beingcivilianhasworkeddisastrouslyagainsttheinterestofnationalsecurityandpublicsafety.There-absorptiontotheAFPwouldallowPNPpersonneltobesubjectedtomilitarylawsandsavetheorganizationfromatotalbreakdownindiscipline.Also,thiswouldconsolidatethe major law enforcement agencies for better control and coordination during jointoperations.

Camp Cramewould bedissolved and sold. The PNP headquarters would be relocated toCampAguinaldo.

The AFP J-Staff would be abolished. In its place, a Joint Strategic Staff would be formedcomposedoftheCommandersofthedifferentbranchesofserviceandtheChiefofStaff,whowouldbeitsChairman.Itsprimaryfunctionisstrategiccommand,controlandplanningfortheentireAFP.

TheISAFPwouldbeunderthedirectoperationalcontroloftheChief-of-Staff.

All arms and ammunition of theAFP/PNP,Government Arsenal and othermanufacturerswould be subjected to an inventory. A database would also be created to facilitateaccounting.Thiswould stop the continuedpilferageofarmsand ammo,which are eithersoldtotheenemiesoftheStateorusedincriminaloperations.

3. OnMoraleandWelfare SalariesofAFPpersonnelwouldbestandardizedtomatchtheirPNPcounterparts. AFP/PNPpersonnelincombatareaswouldreceiveacombatpayequivalentto25percentof

theirbasepay. MasshousingforallAFP/PNPpersonnelwouldbeprioritized.Thiswouldbesituatedinthe

vastmilitaryreservationsnationwide. TheRSBSwouldbeoverhauledtoensurethattheretirementpayofallAFPpersonnelwould

beguaranteed. Improvement of medical facilities and health services for the AFP/PNP personnel and

dependents IncreaseofthesubsistenceallowancetoatleastP100perday4. OnOperationsandModernization


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ThrustonInternalSecurityOperations(ISO).AllmanpowerandresourcesoftheAFP/PNP

wouldbefocusedontheresolutionofinternalpeaceandorderproblems. Assistinnation-building.AFPEngineeringBrigadeswouldbeusedextensivelyintherural

infrastructureeffortsof theNG.All otherAFP/PNPunitswould increase their conduct ofMedical/DentalmissionsandCivic-Actionoperations.

The AFP Modernization Program would be reviewed. Basic requirements for ISO asencapsulatedintheShoot-Move-Communicate-Forceprotectionconceptwouldbesatisfiedfirstbeforeembarkingonmoreambitiousprojects.

IntensificationofintelligenceoperationsdirectedagainsttheenemiesoftheStatetoincludetheestablishmentoftheBarangayIntelligenceNetwork.

ECONOMY

Accordingto2002reports,ourGDPandGNPpostedgrowthsof4.6percentand5.2percent,respectively.Whilethismaybetrue,thequestioniswhobenefitedmostfromthisgrowth?Thepoor?Theworkingmiddleclass?Ortheupperclass? Tobetteranalyzethetruestateofoureconomy,wewouldputforthsomehardfacts,whichwerenotgivenasmuchemphasis.Theunemploymentrateisover10percent.Investorconfidenceis

verylowandbusinessesaredown.TheAgriculturesectorhascontracted.Andourtotaloutstandingexternal debt asof September2002 has surpassed$50 billion. To top it all,wehave a runawaybudgetdeficitreachingP200billionthatisthreateningtohaltgovernmentoperations. Weneedtoreversethiseconomicdownturnquicklybeforeittotallycollapses. Below are the key economic reforms/activities to be undertaken for our immediateeconomicrecovery:

1. OnFiscalAdministration ReformationoftheBureauofInternalRevenue(BIR)andtheBureauofCustoms(BOC).(to

bediscussedbelow) Theremovalofthe32percentincometaxlimitforhigh-incomeearners Strictenforcementoflawsagainsttaxevasion

InitiationoftherepealoftheAutomaticAppropriationsLaw(AAL).Thiswouldeffectivelyde-prioritizedebtpayments.However,thepaymentsforgovernmentbondsissuedaswellasotherdomesticdebtswouldstillbeguaranteedbytheNG.Also,foreignlendinginstitutionswouldbeassuredthatdebtsowedtothemwouldnotbewrittenoff.

NG to make representations to developmental banks such as World Bank and AsianDevelopmentBankforimmediatedebtrelief

Eradicationofbureaucraticcorruption(tobediscussedbelow) Crackdownonsmugglingoperations Implementation of theNational Austerity Program. This would be applied toall national

governmentagencies(NGA).Theactivitiesunderthisprogramwouldincludethefollowing:a. All NG-funded foreign travel would be banned for at least three years. International

conferences earliercommitted toby theNGwouldbeattendedby the Vice-Presidentandnomorethanfivemembersofhisstaff.ThisalonecouldsaveatleastP500millionannuallyfortheNGandalsoenablethePresidenttofocusmoreondomesticconcerns.

b. The procurement of service vehicles for all NGAs would be banned. COA would benotified that any payments thereof should be disallowed including procurementcircumventionssuchasknock-downpartsorsubstitution.

c. AllPresidentialAdvisersandconsultantswouldberemoved.d. NGAs/LGUs/GOCCsshouldhavenomorethantwotechnicalconsultantseach.e. Salariesand allowances ofall Presidentialappointeesonall GOCCsandotherprivate

corporationstowhichtheNGhasastakeon,wouldbestandardizedandshouldneverexceedthesalaryofthePresident.Toensurecompliance,acontractwouldbeexecutedbetween the appointeeand the NGprior to theformersappointment stating, among


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others,thatanyformofremunerationgiveninexcessoftheamountofthesalaryofthePresidentwouldbeturned-intotheBureauofTreasuryimmediatelyuponitsreceipt.

f. Expenditures for meetings, conferences, ceremonies, trips, Christmas parties,anniversarycelebrations,etc.,wouldbesetataminimum.

g. AllNGAsandLGUswouldpracticefuelandelectricitycost-reducingmeasures.h. CeremonialfunctionsofthePresidentwouldbereducedtoaminimum.

Insum,thefinancialsurplusexpectedtobegeneratedthroughtheincreasedrevenuecollection, eradication of corruption, crackdown on smuggling, bureaucratic streamlining,NationalAusterityProgramandtherepealoftheAAL,wouldbere-channeledtofinancetherehabilitation and reinvigoration of the Agriculture and Industry sectors, infrastructuredevelopmentaswellastosupportprogramsoneducationandanti-povertytherebyspurringsustainableandequitableeconomicgrowthandproductivity.

2. OnGlobalization GlobalizationasaparadigmoriginatedfromFirstWorldcountries.Thus,itishighlyprobablethat the economists who conceptualized it did not dwell on its possible negative effects ondevelopingcountries.Morelikely,theirforemostconcernwashowtotapthehugebutprotected

ThirdWorldmarketstoadvancetheirowneconomicinterests.Theyshroudedthisschemebypreaching thatGlobalizationwould ultimatelybenefit consumersof allnations, as theywouldnowhaveaccesstohighquality,world-classproductsatthecheapestprice.

However,theimpactofGlobalizationonourcountrywouldbecatastrophic.Theinfancyofour Agriculture and Industry sectors could not stand against global standards and wouldeventually collapse. Thiswould resultin the wholesaledisplacement of farmersand laborersacrossthecountrycausingsocialunrest,anarchyandpossibly,civilwar.Inshort,incompletelyembracing globalization we would be risking the survival of our State only for the sake ofconsumerwelfare.

Sadly,however,wearealreadymembersoftheWTOandsoaremostcountriesintheworld.Hence,anystandagainstglobalizationatthispointhasbecomeuntenable.Still,thisshouldnotstoptheStatefromprotectingitsowninterests. ThefollowingactivitieswouldbeundertakentocountervailtheeffectsofGlobalization:

ReviewofWTOcommitments NGtomakerepresentationstoWTOtomovethefullimplementationofWTOagreementsfor

anothertenyearscitingnationalsecurityconcerns Protection of the Agricultural sector through the re-imposition of Quantitative

Restrictions/Tariffonimportedagriculturalproducts Reinvigoration,rehabilitation,andmodernizationoftheAgriculturalandIndustrialsectors

throughgovernmentsubsidies Removalofalltariffbarriersonimportedproductsandrawmaterialsusedextensivelyfor

localmanufacturing Revisit the BuyFilipinopolicy tohelpboostthelocalindustriesandhelp fosterNational

Prideonourlocalproducts. Launch an aggressive marketing campaign for export products utilizing foreign service

offices. SpearheadtheforgingofacoalitionofThirdWorldcountrieswithinWTOthatwouldprotect

theinterestsofdevelopingcountries.

POVERTY

NSCB statistics for2000 show that of the15.3millionhouseholdsin thePhilippines,33.7percentfallbelowthepovertythreshold,meaning5.1millionfamiliescouldnotsatisfytheirbasicneeds.Thiswasa2.4percentageincreasefromthepovertyincidencein1997.Thepovertyproblemis also coupled with very minimal access to the basic social services offered by the NG, such aseducation,healthservicesandshelter.


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Toalleviatepoverty,thebeststrategyfortheshortandmediumtermswouldbetogenerateemployment and have at least one member of each family employed. However, the abject poorpeopleinoursocietywhoaretoosick,toooldortooyoungforemploymentshouldreceivehelprightaway.

Asalong-termsolutiontopoverty,thefreeandeasyaccesstoformaleducationisstillthebeststrategy.

Thefollowingactivitieswouldbeundertakentoalleviatepoverty: Thebudgetforeducationwouldbeatleastdoubledtoensurethatthepoorwouldalways

havefreeandeasyaccesstoformaleducation. TheMinimumBasicNeedsstrategywouldberetainedbutitsimplementationwouldnowbe

directlysupervisedbytheOfficeofthePresidenttofacilitateinter-departmentcoordinationandtobettermonitorcompliance.

Establishment of institutional homes for the aged, disabled, mentally sick and streetchildren.

Rural Development. Rural employment would be generated through labor-intensiveinfrastructureprojectslikefarm-to-marketroads,irrigationfacilities,post-harvestfacilities,masshousing, schoolbuildingsandhealthcare institutions.Thiswouldbe complementedwithprovisionsforeducation,healthcare,electrificationandaccesstopotablewater.

Agriculturalization. The renewed thrust towards the protection and rehabilitation of theagricultural sector could provide the impetus for agricultural growth, employmentgenerationandconsequently,theeradicationofruralpoverty.Inaddition,thiswouldstemtheinfluxofruralpoortotheurbanareas.Theurbanpoormayevenbepersuadedtoseekopportunitiesintheruralareas.TheAgriculturalthrustwouldinclude:a. TheimmediateimplementationoftheAgricultureandFisheriesModernizationActb. NGmediationfortheimmediatereleaseofthefrozenCocolevyfundstobeusedforthe

rehabilitationofthecoconutindustryc. Thebreak-upofcartelsonagriculturalproductsd. Crackdownonsmugglingofagriculturalproducts

WealthdistributionthroughAgrarianReform.a. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) would be given a one-year deadline to

completelanddistributionafterwhichitwouldbereducedtoamerebranchunderthe

DepartmentofAgriculture.TheDARbudgetwouldthenbere-channeledtofinanceAgri-Agraloans.b. Cooperativeswouldbepromotedandenhancedastoolsfortheprotectionofthenewly

landedaswellastoguidetheminAgribusiness.ThesewouldalsoserveasconduitsforthereleaseofAgri-Agraloans.

c. The conversion of agricultural lands into residential or industrial lands would bebanned.

CORRUPTION

Corruptionisthebaneofourcountry.Itsrootscouldbetracedwaybackduringthecolonialera and is now deeply imbedded in our bureaucracy, our culture and our society. Previousadministrationshaveattemptedtoeradicatecorruptionthroughwordsoractions,onlytofindoutthefutilityofitall. Butnow,thereisaway.

Corruptioninitselfiscomplex.Corruptpracticesshouldnotbelumpedtogetherasoneformrequiringoneformulaineradicatingit.Eachgovernmentagencyhas,throughtheyears,breditsownpeculiartypeofcorruption.Applyingconventionalanti-corruptionstrategiesofinsertingadditionalchecksandbalanceswouldonlyresultintheformulationofnewwaysofcircumvention.Intheend,the net effect is only additional bureaucratic red tape for the public. Another failed strategy iscreatingasuperAnti-Corruptionagency,whichhasnoinklingastowherethecorruptionoccurs.


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Theparticipationoftheprivatesectorisalsonottheremedyastheyareoftenpartytothecommissionofcorruption.Thecultureofcorruptionisasprevalentintheprivatesectorasitisingovernment. Corruption, based on where they occur, can be classified into two, Operational andAdministrative.A.

OperationalCorruption Operational corruption is where the act occurs as a result or as part of an agencysoperationalactivity.AnexampleofthisisintheBIRwhereinthecommonactsofcorruptionlikebribery and extortion, occur during the conduct of its operational activity, that is tax collection.Corruption in other revenue collecting and regulatingagencies such asCustoms, COMELEC, LTO,LRA, etc., falls in this category.ThePNPs corruptpractices ofkotongand hulidap also fall underoperationalcorruption.

Toeffectivelydealwiththissystemicproblem,itwouldlikewiserequireasystemicsolution.Inotherwords,theverysameagency,whichcreateditsownformofcorruption,wouldbethesameagency to be used to decimate it.This would bedone throughperformance audits. Performancetargetswithzero-corruptionassumptionswouldfirstbesetjointlybytheagencyconcernedandtheNG.Thisway,theNGwouldonlyneedtomonitortheperformanceascomparedtothetargetsto

measuretheagencyssuccessorfailureinitsanti-corruptiondrive.Agencyheadswhofailtoreachtheimposedtargetswouldberelievedimmediately.Thiswouldforcetheagencyheadtoapplythesamestandardtohissubordinates,untilacycleoftop-to-bottomreformshasbeencompletedinthatparticularagency.

Thefollowingtaskswouldbeundertakentoaddressoperationalcorruption: ReformationofBIRandBOC

a. AllCommissioners/DeputyCommissionersaswellasall theDistrictCollectorsofBOCand all the Regional and DistrictOfficers ofBIRwouldbe immediately relieved.Thiswouldgiveafreshstarttotheseorganizations.Meritocracywouldbethesolebasisfortheselectionofthenewsetofrevenueofficersandcollectors.

b. NewannualrevenuecollectiontargetswouldbesetforbothBIRandBOC.Allrevenueofficersandcollectorswhoreachthesetargetswouldreceiveincentives.Butthosewhofail to reach the targets would be relieved. This would again spark a top-to-bottom

cleansingoftheiragenciessincethepressureoftryingtoreachthetargetswouldforcetheregional/districtheadstosetcertaintargetstotheirsubordinatesandsubjectthemtothesameperformanceauditstandards.

c. Taxauditofindividualsandcorporationsd. ComputerizationofBIRandBOC

Reformation ofotherNGAsengaged inoperational corruptionusing the samestrategyasstatedabove

ComputerizationofCOMELECandotherrevenuecollecting/regulatingagencies

B.AdministrativeCorruption

Administrativecorruptionisadifferenttypealtogether.Itiswherethecorruptactoccursasa result or as part of an agency's performance of an administrative function. This includesprocurement of supplies, equipment and personnel, hiring of services, facilitation of contracts,processingofdocuments,etc.

To illustrate, one of the administrative tasks of the Philippine Army (PA) is to procureammunition. Let us assumethat according to procurement documents, the PAprocured 100,000roundsofammunitionintheamountofP2million.Everythinginthesaiddocumentswereinorderandhadthecorrespondingsignaturesandreceipts;therefore,thepaymentwasallowedbyCOA.Intruthhowever,notasingleammunitionwasdelivered.Instead,P1.4millionincashwasgiventotheCommandingGeneral,PA.TheotherP600,000wasdistributedequitablyasprofitsforthesupplierandas"lagay"forCOAandothersignificantsignatorieswhofacilitatedthetransaction.Thisformofadministrativecorruptioniscalledconversionorghostdelivery.Howcouldthishappen?Collusion.


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Allpersonsinvolvedintheprocurementprocesswereeitherinvolvedinthepay-offorwereforcedtosignforfearoftheirsuperiors.AsfortheCOA,he/shereceives1-2percentequivalentofthetotalamountindicatedinthepurchaseordertoallowthepaymentforthetransaction.

Toguardagainstthistypeofcorruption,thereformationoftheCommissiononAuditiskey.Under the present system, the COA is the primary instrument of the State in guarding againstadministrativecorruption.Sincethegovernmentisconcededlyimmersedincorruption,onesimple

conclusion can be borne out, that is, theCOA has failed miserably in effectively performing itsmandate.Worse,ithadoftenbeenanaccomplicetothebureaucraticcorruptionitwassupposedtoguardagainst.

ThefollowingarethereasonswhysomeCOAauditorshaveapropensityforsuchnegativebureaucraticbehavior:(1)threats/pressurefromtheheadsofNGAs/LGU,(2)boundaryexchangeorfamiliaritywithofficials/officesbeingaudited,and(3)simplegreed.

Thefollowingactivitieswouldbeundertakentoaddressadministrativecorruption: TheimmediateimplementationoftheProcurementReformAct ThecleansingofallNGA/LGUemployeerosterstoweedoutghostemployees RestructuringofCOAauditingprocedures

a. TransferofalltenantCOAofficestotheRegionalOffices.Post-auditingwouldbedoneatthesecurityoftheirownregionalofficessoastoinsulatethemfromexternalpressureandpreventboundaryexchange.

b. NGAsdocumentsforauditingthatarewithinthejurisdictionofaRegionalCOAofficewouldbe raffledofftoCOAauditorstomaintain randomnessandavoidcollusionandbriberyduringpost-audit.

c. Monthlyrandom inspection ofsupplybodegasof allNGAs by COA auditors to ensurethattheactualinventoryreconcileswiththequantitiesstatedintheinventoryreports.This would do away with such corrupt practices as conversion/ghost delivery andsubstitution.

POPULATION

In 2002, the Philippines placed third among Southeast Asian countries with the most

numberofpeople.Thepopulationnowstandsatmorethan80millionpeople,withagrowthrateof2.3percent.Atthisrate,thepopulationisprojectedtoreach100millionby2015.

Thecountrysrapidpopulationgrowthhasnegativeeffectsoneconomicgrowth,deliveryofbasic social services, environment, and is oneof the primary causes of poverty. To address thisproblem,therewouldhavetobeashiftinthepopulationpolicyfromonethatpromotesonlynaturalmethodsofbirthcontroltoonethatpromotesbothnaturalandartificialmeansofbirthcontrol.Itshould be stressed however, that ABORTION WOULD STILL BE ILLEGAL and would never becondoned.

Thefollowingpopulationcontrolmeasureswouldbeundertaken: Declaration of a national policy to control population throughnaturalor artificialmeans

withanemphasisontheneedtoavertpopulationexplosion Distribution of free or affordable artificial contraceptive devices to all health centers

nationwide Informationcampaignonpopulationmanagementsubjectssuchasresponsibleparenthood,

familyplanning,reproductivehealth,andproperuseofcontraceptives Inclusion of value formation activities in the curricula of Secondary orTertiary levels of

education Church-State Dichotomy. The separation of Church and State is guaranteed by the

Constitution.Hence,itistheroleoftheStatetoapplywhateverstrategyitcouldeffectivelyusetoaddressaparticularcrisis.Inthiscase,indealingwiththepopulationproblem,thestrategytobeemployedbytheStateistomakeartificialcontraceptivedevicesaccessibletothe people and allow them to freely choose the appropriate birth controlmethod that issuitable forthem.The role of the Churchon the otherhand, is toinfluenceits own flockwhetherornottousesuchdevicesinsteadofinterferingdirectlywithStatepolicies.


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national recovery program

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