A QUEST FOR LEADERS 2010 AND BEYOND:

ELECTORAL CHOICE AS PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY

EDNA ESTIFANIA A. CO
5 February 2010
1. INTRODUCTION

2. THE SOCIO-POLITICAL JUNCTURE

3. THE CHOICE OF LEADERS AS PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY

4. SETTING THE CRITERIA OF LEADERSHIP

5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

1. INTRODUCTION

A. SEARCH FOR THE LEADER IS LIKE A HUNT FOR THE

HOLY GRAIL

* NO SINGLE CANDIDATE POSSESSES ALL THE IDEAL

QUALITIES

* PROMISES, PROMISES…

B. HOW TO CHOOSE LEADERS?

C. MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE + PUBLIC

PHILOSOPHY FRAMEWORK
2. THE SOCIO-POLITICAL JUNCTURE

- HUGE POTENTIALS : PEOPLE, RESOURCES, “ USED TO BE

ALL FIRSTS”
- OVERTAKEN BY COUNTRIES IN THE REGION

- INEQUALITY, MASSIVE POVERTY, AND

DEMOCRATIC RECESSION

-WEAKENING OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS:

> LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
> COMELEC
> OMBUDSMAN
> CONGRESS
> JUDICIARY
 MGG’s agenda for Good Governance:

1. Chief Executive, Vice President, major leaders in Govt to

demonstrate excellence & honesty (Robredo, 2009)
2. Change the balance of power away from the Executive towards
congress & local governments
3. Make appointments transparent & merit-based, professionalize
and depoliticize the Civil Service
4. Strengthen performance evaluation of public offices, awards &
sanctions to improve meritocracy. Outcome & impact rather
than inputs
5. Enhance people’s access to & influence on public policy
processes
6. Institutionalize transparency – amend the Bank Secrecy Act
7. Appoint competent & credible Ombudsman
8. Engage civil society & media in monitoring govt. performance
9. Organize accreditation system for citizens-watch dog
groups & build their capacities for monitoring
10.Promote judicial independence and fiscal autonomy by
professionalizing the Judicial and Bar Council,
improving disciplinary process, providing incentives
to good performance
11.Strengthen & rationalize the regulatory functions of the
Comelec
12. Strengthen local governments by redesigning IRA formula
to promote equity & efficiency, reward good
performing local governments
3. THE CHOICE OF LEADERS AS PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY

A. NORMS – “normative grounded theorizing” (as opposed to

norms as theory) - norms are subjected to the field and the
reality
- What norms are necessary at this political juncture?
-Choice of leaders as a “moral enterprise” – aligned with the
agenda for good government
-Moral : abidance by the constitution & the law, transparency,
willingness to subject to judicious scrutiny based on rules
and account for responsibilities of public office
-Is “moral” only a theory? Only Rhetoric?
NO! It is as real & grounded as the brazenness of
corruption, the shamelessness of the exploits of power at
the expense of resources that could have been invested in
more school buildings, textbooks, hospitals, medicines
It is as real as favoured bids granted to family, friends &
associates and which corrodes trust in govt. by young
people
 -Worn out by the weakening of institutions, the nation
needs a decent public system
-A decent system and transparent rule of law shall draw in
investments that will yield jobs; reduced corruption that will
mean more & better services

B. DEMOCRATIC EXERCISE – people’s voice & choice as

political wisdom are an input to the direction of the
future
- The leader should provide ample mechanism & opportunities
to integrate this wisdom into the public processes
C. LEADERSHIP AS INSPIRATION : BUILDING A TEAM &
A FOLLOWING THAT COULD DELIVER RESULTS
-NOT PATRONAGE OF PERSONALITY & WEALTH
- A TRULY PLAYING FIELD; DOES NOT NEED TO BE A
CRONY TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
-A REFORM CONSTITUENCY THAT WOULD PURSUE
CHANGE & VET REFORMS

LEADERSHIP AS PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY: (Charles GOODSELL)

1. CHOICE OF LEADERS WHO COULD BRING THE NATION TO
THE RESTORATION OF TRUST & HOPE IN PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS – TO ACHIEVE DECENT PUBLIC
GOVERNANCE
- PUBLIC TRUST IS THE PINNACLE BYPRODUCT OF
GOVERNANCE
- FOOTHILL GOALS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION :
LEGITIMACY, TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY, INTEGRITY,
INVOLVEMENT, FAIRNESS
 The Pinnacle
Byproduct

PUBLIC TRUST

Legality, Integrity, Efficiency,

Effectiveness, Involvement, Foothill Goals
Dependability, Transparency,
Fairness

The Mountain of Public Administration

Goodsell, 2006
4. SETTING THE CRITERIA OF LEADERSHIP

A. ETHICAL

B. EFFECTIVE

C. EMPOWERING
 A. ETHICAL

-GOD FEARING, CLEAN & HONEST TRACK RECORD, PROVEN

INTEGRITY
- ROLE OF LEADER : “BANTAY NG BAYAN” (Promotes rule of
law, protects public resources, fights injustice, graft &
corruption)
-INDICATORS : demonstrate good moral character (lifestyle)?,
circle of associates who are people of integrity & pro-reform,
advocate for meritocracy in government, prosecute & punish
offenders, transparent use & accounting of public funds,
protect natural resources & sustainable development, has
initiated inquiry to expose corruption & led to enactment of
laws?
 B. EFFECTIVE

-COMPETENT, GOOD TRACK RECORD, DECISIVE & PRO-

ACTIVE
-ROLE OF LEADER : “KAPITAN NG BARKO” (Steers the ship of
the state to arrive at the destination – just, humane,
prosperous society)
-INDICATORS : clear & comprehensive platforms of
governance, consistent & clear position on key issues,
hardworking & smart, exhibit maturity in intelligence
& emotion, demonstrate political will, action taken to
address poverty & social injustice, reform programs,
crisis management, legislation/policy, sound &
effective legislative record
 C. EMPOWERING

-PARTICIPATIVE, ENGAGING, INSPIRING, SOCIALLY JUST

-ROLE OF THE LEADER : INSPIRING SERVANT LEADER
-INDICATORS : Involve stakeholders in decision making,
promote social justice, consulted both strong & marginalized
stakeholders, peers, colleagues, constituencies
 5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

A. SELECTION OF LEADERS IN 2010 HAS CONTEXT, TIME &

SPACE – LOCATED WITHIN A POLITICAL JUNCTURE
B. WEAKENING OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS & BROKENNESS OF
PUBLIC GOVERNANCE SYSTEM
C. AGENDA FOR THE CHOICE OF LEADERS IS A CHOICE FOR
CHANGE – CANNOT REMAIN AS STATUS QUO
D. REVISIT THE MANTRA OF “PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY” OR THE
MOUNTAIN OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WHICH CONSISTS
OF : 1) NORMS THAT ARE GROUNDED, 2) CENTRALITY OF
THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND PUTTING BACK THE
PEOPLE’S TRUST IN THE PUBLIC SYSTEM
E. CRUCIAL LINK BETWEEN SELECTION OF LEADERS &
CREDIBLE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS – THE FILIPINOS NEED
TRUSTWORTHY LEADERS, ETHICAL, EFFECTIVE, &
EMPOWERING
F. THE CHALLENGE TO THE LEADERS IS TO DEMONSTRATE
THE PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY (A DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION & ADMINISTERING DEMOCRATICALLY)