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Those
“Ramdam Ko” (roughly, I Can Feel) ads playing on TV
featuring testimonials of citizens from all walks of
life feeling or experiencing the impact of the touted
economic gains since 2001 under this administration is a
powerful reminder of where lies the regime’s resiliency
in this time of turmoil.
Absent
said economic advances in the face of continued assaults
from a mix of interests, this administration should
already be tottering on the brink. It’s the economy,
pare (friend), the regime has to nurse, else it can
stumble.
Truly,
it is the health of the economy on top of President
Arroyo’s steely nerves, the steadfast loyalty of the
military and police forces to the Constitution and, of
course, the public’s continuing fealty to our democratic
processes—despite the beating it has been subjected to
for months on end—which has kept the regime in place.
It comes
as no surprise, therefore, that this mix group of former
senior government officials has trained its guns on what
they derisively called the regime’s “economic PowerPoint
mirage” after failing to get the administration on its
knees with that one-week, five-step “cleansing and
accountability” drive, or else.
Built on
a number of politically sensitive reconfiguration of the
fiscal and economic package which has governed us for
years on end, the stronger-than-usual economic
performance these past few years has slowed down this
regime’s inevitable passage to the predeparture lounge.
Consider
the battles which President Arroyo and her coalition
have had to go through to pass the E-VAT, Epira, SPAV
and the Agricultural Credit and Modernization, among
others, and you will understand why she has had the good
fortune of cushioning certain political demise from the
scandals and missteps which have become almost
synonymous with her administration.
Indeed,
quite apart from the enveloping fatigue for
extraconstitutional regime change and the paucity of
alternatives in terms of both agenda and personalities
within the fractious opposition, it is the economy’s
continued resiliency which has given this regime
breathing space. Of course, it has resorted to heavy
lifting on all fronts in responding to the crises
swirling around it. But try as the critics may to
degrade or discredit these economic gains, there simply
is no denying the fact that we have been experiencing
quite significant economic strides.
Consider
the following undeniable facts, among others:
a) Gross
domestic product growth at an average of 5.85 percent
punctuated by a high of 7.3 percent in 2007—the highest
in 31 years;
b) The
peso’s continued strength, maybe even overvaluation;
c)
Inflation staying within a respectable band;
d) Job
growth, especially in business-process outsourcing,
overseas and service sectors;
e)
Growth in tourist arrivals;
f)
Sustained remittance and foreign-direct investment
flows; and
g)
Steady growth in consumer spending, all of which point
to a kind of resiliency, which may finally break the
withering cycles of the past.
Of
course, a number of kinks exist blunting this otherwise
respectable economic growth: widespread poverty remains;
job growth may soon reach a plateau; oil prices and
power rates are on the rise; typhoons and other
calamities continue to visit a number of our productive
areas; smuggling and other economic banes remain
unresolved; “big-ticket” projects and privatization
deals get snagged with charges of corruption and
misfeasance; abuse of power on both the Executive and
Legislative, even the Judiciary, serve as disincentive
to growth and stability.
But
despite her seeming disconnect with a majority of our
people, there is no denying that President Arroyo’s
diligence and her untiring efforts, perceived or
otherwise, to push for “workable and sustainable
solutions to our problems rather than cozying up to
quick-fix solutions which don’t work” are winning the
day.
In the
end, it is how she handles the pocketbook issues which
will carry her through in the face of all kinds of
accusations of wrongdoing hounding the regime. For now,
a majority continues to believe that she can hack it
better than the alternatives, in and out of the
administration. That belief should be nursed with
humility, care and performance, not bombast and
unconscionable gloating.
What’s
with Napocor, Mr.
del Callar?
Calling
Napocor chief Cyril del Callar: kindly explain why your
agency continues to labor with contrived and more
expensive nonschemes in handling your annual coal
requirements amounting to a staggering 3.45 million tons
(MT).
You know
that you have to supply this huge amount to keep some of
the biggest power plants in the country, such as Sual,
Pagbilao, Naga-Cebu and Masinloc, among others, under
carried-over, highly objectionable power-purchase
adjustment deals, yet you continue to insist on sourcing
through contrived auction rules which ultimately
translate into negotiated deals.
Instead
of working for long-term supply arrangements with
reputable suppliers, you insist on these “sari-sari
store, off-the-shelf” activity which can only translate
to higher prices and unreliable supplies.
The
latest del Callar “contract” awarded to Indonesian firm
PT Masiterno Prakarsa is one good example. After putting
the same to auction known only to a select few, Napocor
eventually resorted to a simplified negotiation to award
the 195,00-MT contract for March delivery at a price
which some insiders claim is at least $10/a ton over
similar deliveries.
Had the
same been worked out as part of bigger supply
arrangement earlier than usual, which is to say last
year, our sources say the national power company would
have been able to get considerable discounts and, of
course, the gratitude of millions of consumers who would
have been spared from paying for higher electricity.
But, no. Mr. del Callar and company would rather do it
their own unique and problematic ways.
The
lesson is clear. If you want to save on cost and do your
job to your principal constituent, in this case the
consuming public, plan out well in advance and secure
your requirements on time, not under the gun or time
constraint. Stop misreading or even misusing your
mandate to do all kinds of contortions or somersaults to
the public detriment.
The
suppliers and, yes, the consumers will see through those
schemes and will probably hold you by the balls sooner
than you realize it. Unless you get excited being held
by the short hairs for reasons known only to you, even
at the expense of your principals as a public official.
It does
not take a rocket scientist to realize that advanced
planning and thorough, not time-constrained,
negotiations under contrived conditions work out best,
’di ba? |
