PGMA's Speech during the 5th Open Conference on Governance, Ethics and Social Responsibility |
Grand Ballroom, Shangri-la Hotel, Makati City (29 May 2002) |
| THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH DR. ESTANISLAO, CHAIRMAN, GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND FORMER SECRETARY OF FINANCE; BUDGET SECRETARY EMY BONCODIN, WHO IS ALSO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE; AMBASSADOR ROMULO, CHAIRMAN OF THE BUSINESS SECTOR ADVISORY GROUP; MR. WASHINGTON SYCIP, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL BUT MAYBE THE BEST KNOWN FILIPINO BUSINESSMAN IN THE WHOLE WORLD; MAYOR FRANCIS TOLENTINO, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES REPRESENTING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BUT I UNDERSTAND FROM MY LIST, ALTHOUGH I HAVENT SEEN THEM, THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER CITY MAYORS WHO ARE HERE -- MAYOR FONS CASURRA OF SURIGAO CITY AND MAYOR ROGER ANDALAN OF SAMAL GARDEN CITY. OH, THERE YOU ARE. AND MAYOR FRANKLIN QUIJANO OF ILIGAN CITY, OH, THERE, YES. AND I THINK I SEE SOLITARIO THERE, MAYOR OMAR ALI OF MARAWI CITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GREET FORMER PRIME MINISTER CESAR VIRATA; AND ATTORNEY DICK ROMULO WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND CHAIRMAN OF THE MAKATI BUSINESS CLUB. AND I MIGHT SAY, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMITTEE IF HE DIDN'T PRETEND TO BE SICK, SO THAT HE COULD BEG OFF. (LAUGHTER) AND I'D LIKE TO GREET, ASIDE FROM EMY BONCODIN, MY OTHER CABINET MEMBER WHO IS HERE, SECRETARY CITO LORENZO. I CONGRATULATE THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE INSTITUTE FOR SOLIDARITY IN ASIA AND THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE, REPRESENTED BY EMY, FOR ORGANIZING THIS IMPORTANT EVENT. IT IS A TIMELY RESPONSE TO THE CALL OF BUILDING A ROCK-SOLID FOUNDATION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE. IT ALSO COMES AT A TIME WHEN OUR SOCIETY IS CONTINUALLY DISTRACTED BY PARTISAN DEBATES AND CONTROVERSIES. WHICH HAVE A WAY OF THROWING OUR NATION OFF COURSE. SOMETIMES, WE FORGET THE REAL MISSION AHEAD -- TO WIN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE, WITH THE COMBINATION OF THE RIGHT NATIONAL AGENDA AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH GOOD GOVERNANCE. WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT -- AND MANY OF YOU WERE THERE IN EDSA THAT DAY I BECAME PRESIDENT -- I ENUMERATED TO YOU AND TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE MY FOUR CORE BELIEFS: FIRST, THE BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD BE BOLD IN OUR NATIONAL AMBITION AND SEEK TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE; SECOND, THE BELIEF THAT WE MUST IMPROVE MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE; THIRD, THE BELIEF THAT WE MUST CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF OUR POLITICS IN ORDER TO CREATE FERTILE GROUND FOR TRUE REFORMS. THAT OUR POLITICS OF PERSONALITY AND PATRONAGE -- THAT OLD POLITICS -- MUST GIVE WAY TO A NEW POLITICS OF PARTY PROGRAMS AND PROCESS OF INSITUTUTIONALIZED DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE; AND FOURTH, I BELIEF IN LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE. THE SECOND OF MY CORE BELIEFS -- IMPROVEMENT OF MORAL STANDARDS -- IS WHAT THIS CONFERENCE IS ALL ABOUT. ALSO IN MANY OF MY SPEECHES, I HAVE ENUMERATED THE FOUR ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE: FIRST, AN ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE APPROPRIATE TO THE 21st CENTURY; SECOND, THE NEED TO BOLSTER AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE; THIRD, TO ADDRESS THE PERILS OF GLOBALIZATION, A SOCIAL BIAS TO BALANCE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; AND FOURTH, TO ENSURE THAT OUR GAINS WILL NOT BE DISSIPATED BY CORRUPTION, IMPROVING MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN SOCIETY. AGAIN, THE FOURTH COMPONENT OF MY NATIONAL AGENDA IS WHAT THIS CONFERENCE IS ALL ABOUT. CORRUPTION IS NOT ONLY THE BANE OF NATIONAL PROGRESS, IT ABETS CRIME, INDISCIPLINE AND GENERAL DISRESPECT FOR LAW. IN MANY OF MY SPEECHES, TOO, I HAVE GIVEN MY DEFINITION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN TERMS OF THREE PILLARS: FIRST, A SOUND MORAL FOUNDATION TO GUIDE OUR LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS; SECOND, A PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSPARENCY IN ALL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS; AND THIRD, AN ETHIC OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE BUREAUCRACY. THEN AGAIN, ALL THESE THREE PILLARS ARE WHAT THIS CONFERENCE IS ALL ABOUT. ALL THESE MUST BE CONSIDERED IF WE ARE TO WIN OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. ALL THESE ARE NEEDED IF WE ARE TO CONSTRUCT THE CORNERSTONE OF A WORKABLE REFORM AGENDA. THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL, IN ITS AGENDA FOR GOVERNANCE REFORMS, HAS PINPOINTED FOUR CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN A GOOD GOVERNANCE ANTI-CORRUPTION PROGRAM: THE RULE OF LAW THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE NUANCES OF OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE; A POLICY REGIME THAT FAVORS COMPETITION, REDUCES DISCRETION AND RAISES ACCOUNTABILITY; AN EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THROUGH PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THAT MUST BE STRENGTHENED AND PROFESSIONALIZED; AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP THAT NURTURES A CULTURE OF COMPLIANCE, ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. I ENDORSE THIS AGENDA FOR GOVERNANCE REFORMS AS THEY REFLECT MY OWN FOUR CORE BELIEFS IN MY VISION, MY OWN FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL AGENDA TO FIGHT POVERTY, AND MY OWN THREE PILLARS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. ALL OF WHICH INCLUDE AS AN ELEMENT THE IMPROVEMENT OF MORAL STANDARDS NOT ONLY IN GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO IN SOCIETY. MY NATIONAL AGENDA CALLS FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN MORAL STANDARDS NOT ONLY IN GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO IN SOCIETY BECAUSE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, GOVERNANCE REFORM IS A BOTTOM UP PROCESS. IT CAN BE PURSUED ONLY THROUGH A STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNORS AND THE GOVERNED, BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE. BOTH NEED TO PUT COUNTRY ABOVE SELF. BOTH MUST SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AS DEMANDED IN A FREE AND OPEN SOCIETY OPERATING BY AND WITHIN THE RULE OF LAW. BOTH MUST ABIDE BY A CODE OF ETHICS WHOSE STANDARDS ARE CONSISTENT WITH UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED PRINCIPLES. BOTH MUST AGREE THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE STANDARDS MUST BE SWIFT AND EFFECTIVE. IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT I WELCOME THE PROGRAM OF RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP THAT THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY LAUNCHED. I ALSO WELCOME THE STRESS ON ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL -- FOR THOSE OF US IN GOVERNMENT AND FOR ALL CITIZENS -- THAT ARE THE CENTRAL THEME OF THIS CONFERENCE. I LIKEWISE ACKNOWLEDGE THE NATIONAL SOLIDARITY COVENANT, WHICH HAS COME OUT OF THESE SERIES OF GOVERNANCE CONFERENCES. I ASK INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS IN OUR COUNTRY TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE IDEALS IN THAT COVENANT. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIGN IT MYSELF. LET ME ALSO COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE BUSINESS SECTOR ADVISORY GROUP ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, FOR FULLY INSTITUTIONALIZING AND SUPPORTING THE INSTITUTE OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS AS A PERMANENT INSTRUMENT TO PURSUE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE EVENTUAL LAUNCHING OF THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE. I REMEMBER THE LAUNCHING OF THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS. I REMEMBER TOO THE SURVEY THAT SAID, THE BUSINESS SECTOR WANTS TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND IS WILLING TO SPENT FOR THAT, AND THAT IS THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS FOR GOVERNORS. WE DO NEED TO BRING THE IDEALS OF PEOPLE POWER TO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE. THOSE IDEALS MUST COME ALIVE NOT ONLY WHEN THE NATION HAS BEEN PUSHED TO THE BRINK, BUT IN TIMES OF NORMALCY AS WELL. BY MAKING THOSE IDEALS LIVE IN THE SMALL AND BIG THINGS WE DO, WE WOULD ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR NATION SAFELY AWAY FROM THE EDGE. WE COULD MAKE GREAT PROGRESS BY GETTING OUR ACT TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF CRISIS AND CHALLENGE. AND IN THE FACE ALSO OF THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES OF OUR PEOPLE. CONSISTENT WITH THE IDEALS OF PEOPLE POWER, I INVITE ALL CITIZENS, THOSE IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND IN CIVIL SOCIETY, TO PURSUE THE TRIPARTITE PARTNERSHIP FOR GOVERNANCE, NOT ONLY IN THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL FRONTS BUT ALSO ACROSS THE DIFFERENT SECTORS AND PROFESSIONS OF OUR SOCIETY. I APPLAUD THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR BRINGING CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS INTO THE BOARDROOMS OF BUSINESS AND CORPORATE ENTERPRISES. AND I AM GLAD THAT TODAY IS RECOGNIZED AN IMPORTANT FOURTH SECTOR THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND WHOSE INVOLVEMENT I WISH TO STRONGLY INVITE, AND THAT IS THE YOUTH SECTOR. I THANK THE YOUTH THAT THIS MORNING THEY PRESENTED THEIR VISIONS TO WHICH CIVIL SOCIETY AND THEIR ELDERS GAVE THEIR REACTIONS. WE MUST HEAR THE VOICE OF THE YOUTH. AFTER ALL, WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY, I AM HERE TODAY AS PRESIDENT, YOU ARE ALL HERE WORKING IN A STABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THE YOUTH WERE IN EDSA 2. AND THEREFORE, WE OWE THEM OUR BEING HERE TODAY, AND WE OWE THEM THEIR FUTURE. THE YOUTH HAVE THE ENERGY AND IDEALISM TO FIGHT FOR REFORMS AND UPHOLD GOOD GOVERNANCE. WE URGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CHANNEL THEIR DYNAMISM TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE AND PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP, ONE THAT UPHOLDS THE VALUES OF HONOR, FAIRNESS, COMMITMENT, DISCIPLINE, DETERMINATION, COMPASSION AND HUMILITY. I TAKE THIS OCCASION ALSO TO DECLARE THE COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO THE PURSUIT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS FOLLOWING THE OECD PRINCIPLES AND THE APEC GUIDELINES FOR PROPER PRACTICES OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. I WOULD LIKE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE CAPITAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY TO ENSURE THAT THE CODE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE BE STRONGLY ENFORCED. LILIA BAUTISTA AND I WERE TOGETHER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, SO I KNOW THAT SHE CAN ENFORCED THE LAW VERY WELL AND VERY EFFICIENTLY. I AM ALSO INSTRUCTING THE CMDC TO ACTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE 3-YEAR PROGRAM OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS IT ADOPTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. I AM HEREBY REQUIRING ALL APPOINTED DIRECTORS IN THE CORPORATE BOARDS OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED-AND-CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING CORPORATIONS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS A VITAL STAKE SUCH AS THE PCGG-RELATED CORPORATIONS TO TAKE AN ORIENTATION COURSE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. I ALSO DIRECT THE CORPORATE BOARDS IN THE GOCCs AND GFIs TO INSTALL AN EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PERFORMANCE OF BOARDS AND DIRECTORS. AND I INTEND TO USE THE RESULTS OF THIS EVALUATION SYSTEM TO GUIDE ME IN APPOINTING AND RE-APPOINTING PEOPLE IN THE GOCCs AND THE GFIs. WE NEED TO COMPLEMENT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE REFORMS. WE ALREADY HAVE ANTI-POVERTY, ANTI-CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS WITH SPECIFIC TARGETS AND PLANS OF ACTION IN EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND AT ALL LEVELS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. WE ARE SHOWCASING THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE AND THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS. I AM ASKING FOR A TRIPARTITE EFFORT IN KEEPING THESE PROGRAMS UP-TO-DATE, IN CONTINUOUSLY REFINING THEM FOR GREATER EFFECTIVENESS, AND ABOVE ALL, IN MONITORING ACTUAL PERFORMANCE VIS-A-VIS TARGETS AND PLANS OF ACTION. I TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE TRIPARTITE EFFORT ALREADY INITIATED TO COME UP WITH SEMESTRAL NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE SCORE CARDS. THIS EFFORT MUST BE EXPEDITED SO THAT THESE SCORE CARDS CAN BE ISSUED LATE THIS YEAR. I ASK THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE -- THAT'S EMY -- AND THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL -- THE OTHER GENTLEMEN IN THE PLATFORM -- TO WORK TOGETHER TO COORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY. I AM AWARE OF THE PROGRAM OF THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION TO ENCOURAGE EVERY PROFESSION IN OUR COUNTRY TO UPGRADE, MODERNIZE AND PUT AT GLOBAL STANDARDS ITS CODE OF ETHICAL PRACTICES. BUT WE ALSO MUST REMEMBER THAT CODES OF ETHICS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR ENFORCEMENT. AND I CALL ON DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND SECTORS OF OUR COUNTRY TO SET UP TRIPARTITE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY NURTURE A CULTURE OF COMPLIANCE AND WOULD SWIFTLY REWARD AND PUNISH ON THE BASIS OF CONFORMANCE. FOR THOSE OF US IN GOVERNMENT, WE ALREADY HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS, WHICH WE ARE ENFORCING BY THE POWER OF EXAMPLE. I WISH TO ADD TO THAT CODE OF ETHICS THE FORMULATION OF A CLEAR, TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR DISPOSING OF GIFTS GIVEN TO US IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. LET US LOOK AT THE GUIDELINES ON GIFTS IN THE PRACTICE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN HONGKONG AS WELL AS THE RULES OF ASSET DISPOSAL NOW IN PLACE TO GUIDE US ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THOSE GIFTS. I REMEMBER WHEN MY FATHER WAS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND HOW ON MY MOTHER'S FIRST BIRTHDAY IN MALACA„ANG, SHE WAS GIFTED WITH AMONG OTHER THINGS -- SHARES OF STOCK, LOTS OF SHARES OF STOCK IN A PARTICULAR CORPORATION. SHE HAD THE SHARES OF STOCK POLITELY RETURNED. AND I WAS WITNESS WITH MY OWN EYES TO SEEING MY MOTHER RETURNING A HUGE DIAMOND RING WHICH WAS BEING GIVEN TO HER AS A PRESENT BY A BUSINESSMAN. AND MY MOTHER DURING HER LIFETIME WHEN I BECAME A PUBLIC SERVANT ALWAYS REMINDED ME, "RETURN THE JEWELRY THAT PEOPLE TRY TO GIVE YOU." AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. WELL, THE FIRST JEWELRY THAT WOULD COME MY WAY WAS WHEN I WAS VICE PRESIDENT. AND I SWIFTLY RETURN THEM IN THE FIRST DAYS OF MY VICE PRESIDENCY. MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS THERE TO REMIND ME, "RETURN JEWELRY. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE JEWELRY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE SHARES OF STOCK AS A PUBLIC SERVANT." AND I'M GLAD THAT BECAUSE I DID ALL THOSE RETURNING VERY, VERY EARLY IN MY POLITICAL CAREER AS PRESIDENT. PRAISE GOD! I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY BIG DIAMOND RINGS, AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY SHARES OF STOCK. IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY KNOWS BETTER, KNOWS ME BETTER THAN TO TRY TO GIVE ME THOSE THINGS. I WISH THEY WOULDN'T TRY TO GIVE ME WARDROBES EITHER. YOU KNOW THE KINDS OF GIFT THAT YOU SHOULD GIVE TO
PUBLIC SERVANTS, THE KINDS OF GIFT I LIKE TO RECEIVE ARE -- SOMEBODY WILL SAY, "ON
YOUR BIRTHDAY WE'LL GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO SO MANY NUMBER OF THE POOR. OR ON YOUR
ANNIVERSARY, WE WILL REPAIR THIS PARTICULAR ROOM OF THIS PARTICULAR HISTORIC TREASURE,
NATIONAL TREASURE. OR ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR FEAST DAY, WE WILL GIVE, WE WILL HELP IN THE
EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT OF OUR OUT-OF-WORK, OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH BECAUSE EVERY EMERGENCY
EMPLOYMENT YOUTH BENEFICIARY WOULD NEED AL LEAST 5,000 PESOS A YEAR. OR YOU WOULD SAY THAT
ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR -- I DON'T KNOW -- OF YOUR SUCCESSFUL NEW HAIRCUT, (LAUGHTER) WE
WILL GIVE, WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE... YOUR HOUSING PROGRAM FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR
SO MANY UNITS OF CORE SHELTER WHICH IS ONLY 15,000 PESOS PER UNIT." THESE ARE THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAN RECEIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OR ARE PERSONAL
USE. THEY ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. THEY HELP US MAKE OUR GOVERNANCE
BETTER. |