If You Were a Filipino President, What Are Six Things You Will Do First?

Philippines
November 25, 2009 7:26pm CST
If I will become president of the Philippines, I will do these things: 1) Put an efficient disaster management program. Erase the 11th hour habit of Pinoys to prepare only when the disaster has taken place 2)Prioritize educational system so that the poor can have equal access to all school paraphernalia like books, computers, chairs, use of the Internet, creation of public libraries, uniforms, a stipend for deserving scholars of public schools, teacher having better pays and continuing education trainings 3)Put up an efficient relocation program for the poor living under subsistent conditions and slums. They will be relocated in a place that is near their work, near an area where they can put up their livelihood, like a cooperative market where they can sell their wares. They will also be taught livelihood projects and ways to improve their small business. Goal is to create a multitude of small and medium entrepreneurs from these people. 4)Empower farmers by focusing on agriculture as a means to improve the economy. We have been exporters of rice in the early times, but now this is no longer happening. Laws must also be created to benefit their welfare 5)laws protecting the environment be put up so that energy efficient measures may be implemented like use of solar panels to be made readily available so that every home or family can easily buy one 6)Improve quality of healthcare by creating laws that protect the welfare of nurses who work for the country. Nurses will be given an entry level salary of 20,000, while supervisor and management, depending on their qualifications, will have 35,0000 as minimum salary, an additional amount dependent on their experience,and credentials, and attitude. Hospitals must continually provide continuing education seminars to improve quality of care. Hospitals not found to be following this will be forced to close down and to explain why they are not following the measures, and the CEO of the hospital will be put to jail for violating the rules, with a minimum penalty of 100,000,000 pesos included.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@aylim14 (501)
• Philippines
26 Nov 09
it's sad that topics like this aren't being responded to by a lot of our fellow countrymen, anyways, here are my thoughts. Although i don't know why it's the number 6, but here they are. , thinking as they come into my mind: 1. restructure and reorganize the processes in ALL aspects of government operations. Probably i'll start with the easy and most common things that people do such as filing of taxes, getting TIN numbers, licenses, etc. Like what a mayor did in his locality somewhere in the north, Ilocos i think, not sure though. That a two-week process in the city hall, became a 2-hour wait. so whatever that was, you can get it at the same day. This minimizes corruption and the less human intervention, the better. 2. change the system. EVERYTHING. because they are working separately from one another, which ought not be. just like in our body, every system needs the other to survive. Like we all blame the system for this and that. But that is not the whole picture. There are several systems involved in the organization, like let's call it the "emergency management system" where it should take into consideration the possible secondary losses (e.g. typhoon, primary loss is of productivity and profit; while secondary would be loss of life, additional property, etc). And the emergency management system should be in effect that in case this happens, we would know what to do in an instant so that the secondary loss would not occur. In addition, this is not a system that works on its own, it needs the other systems to be able to recognize and assess the possible risks in case that may occur if this was not handled properly, if this was not done, etc. 3. institute proper controls in that certain system. this could be like giving deadlines and having accomplishment reports on ALL the congressmen because they are all entitled by the pork barrel. (unlike today, which only the administration has, yet, no projects are being used, and pork barrel is a lot of money) 4. eliminate administration and opposition so as to unite the whole country. If the government is seen as one, then eventually, the citizens will also work as one. Like offering or instituting a policy in a cabinet (or something like that) that half are admin and half opposition (in the sense that before you run, there will still be an opposition - meaning the ones who were not from your party) 5. remove all foreign companies utilizing and abusing our mines and forests. In a certain law or republic act i think, that mining should not be given to foreigners except only if the contract is favorable to the Philippines. But from what i see and hear, it was never like that. Take note, not rarely, but never. 6. Go green. simple. by as what the author said, utilize solar panels like what they are doing in the metro right now, the flashing blue and red lights that tells a u-turn sign or a loading/unloading sign. always use renewable sources so as not to abuse mother nature. well, that's all in my mind right now.
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
First of all, I appreciate your feedback. Thank you for your very detailed explanations. Filipinos know what they want, but they aren't being given what they want. It's like giving a dog hay when we all know that hay is for horses. They are not being given the chance to voice their opinions. That is why the appearance of extremist groups who have decided to take the law into their own hands. I know that their means of doing it is not right, but for those in that group, it is all they can do to raise awareness to the administration. You are right to say that the government needs to be restructured right from the root. Doctors say that in order for the disease to be cured, treatment must start at the root.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
By the way, you were wondering why the number six was chosen for my topic. I was watching a video by Professor KB Akhilesh which is a requirement for our learning paper in Basic Planning and Management class, and he said in there, that an organization must have 5 to 6, a maximum of 7 objectives are needed for an effective organization. More than 7 objectives would already show a complicated organization. Thanks!
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@aylim14 (501)
• Philippines
17 Dec 09
yeah,,,just hoping that we Filipinos would really learn from our mistakes and really decide in ourselves that we are better than this sad state of ours right now.
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
Six things that I will do first: First is to revamp all cabinet members and their department heads that are associated with the Arroyo Administration. Second is launch a nationwide education campaign that will focus on entrepreneurship to develop the confidence of the people to engage in economic activities. Third, focus on agriculture, engage in helping farmers in making more productive yield for food security. Fourth, intesify tax collection from BIR and Customs and implement a 1 strike policy if the targets are not met. Fifth, Reform the armed forces of the philippines by removing all senior generals and install junior officers to lead the new armed forces to have professionalism and idealism back in their ranks. Sixth, intensify assistance to job creating industries like BPOs to create new opportunities in the provinces to declog metropolitan manila and make people go back to the provinces.
• Philippines
28 Nov 09
Thank you for your feedback. The Filipino nation is like a tired old man.Our country needs a new direction. Dr. Phil McGraw states that "you cannot change what you don't acknowledge". I don't know if our leaders have studied a Leadership and Management class. Or if they did, maybe they have forgotten all about and they have decided to throw it out the window. Our country's current administration only has managers, not leaders, leaders with a conscience. Leaders with a conscience are Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Mohandas Ghandi. Our leaders should go back to school and study basic principles in Leadership and Management again. They should from these leaders who have a conscience.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
26 Nov 09
Wow you sounds like you have a very good platform of government. I think those are very ideal platforms of government but I think you also have to consider many things before you can implement there. Of course there is the congress who also will have to enact those via a law to enforce those measures. Another factor is the business sector who will have to see if that proposal of yours is possible for them to apply in their own businesses without affecting their operations too.
• Philippines
26 Nov 09
Nice suggestions here. But I think more than adding more laws, I think the existing laws should be strictly implement first and a president can only that if he has a deep and strong political will. A good example is the Maguindanao Massacre where 57 were killed brutally which include more than 20 media personnel. If only the private armies of powerful politicians can be controlled, do you think this will happen?
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
If I were a President the six things that I want to focus more 1. Education 2. Health 3. Livelihood 4. Corruption 5. Infrastracture 6. Agriculture. GMA documentary "Biyaheng Totoo" is an eye opener to us because up to now the problems of the people in poor provinces is still not resolved. From the past administrations it seems they forget them and they losing their hope that the government going to help them. Corruptions is the hindrance why our country is still facing these problems and I hope this coming election we going to change it.