What’s the big deal with Agile?

So what if the Filipino PhDs and other experts working for Agile are being funded by the US AID? They are working on research and studies designed to reform our bureaucracy and heaven knows our government need to have those done anyway, but do not have the money. In other words, Filipino experts are doing legitimate work designed to make government run smoother, reduce corruption and serve the people better. So what too if they are earning fees commensurate to their qualifications, without having to go abroad?

Consider how desperate our situation is. Last week, I was chatting with a pretty respectable congressman (he exists, would you believe!) and I asked him the basic question about the AMLA affair. How come, I asked, you guys didn’t do a comparative research of acceptable AMLA legislation from countries that had passed FATF standards?

Well, I was told, we don’t have facilities and funds for research. This is why they depended on bits and pieces of information they hear about or read about on what Thailand did and on how Switzerland is getting away with it.

That’s terrible. I took it for granted congressional committees considering bills have basic research facilities, even if only a solitary fresh college graduate who knows how to research through the Internet. How is it possible that they would not even have someone who has heard of Google?

I would think that the basic thing they need is a chart that would compare the important provisions of anti-money laundering legislation from all over the world. This would enable our own legislators to see where our own law and proposed amendments stand. Otherwise, they would be arguing blind.

But, as this distinguished congressman insisted to me, they don‘t have facilities or staff to do even this kind of basic research. What more of more complex reform measures that Agile consultants are working on? In fact, I understand that Filipino consultants have helped many countries around the world introduce reforms in their bureaucracies. Why can’t they do the same for their own country?

In the end, anyway, whatever the Pinoy Agile consultants propose must still be approved by government agency heads and later on, must get congressional approval in the form of enabling legislation. The problem, I suspect, is that in the process of suggesting reforms, they step on the toes of vested interests in government and the private sector.

Domestic monopolies, such as the local shipping industry, naturally resent anything that would end their happy days. Streamlining government procedures and introducing measures that would minimize graft and corruption are all bad news to the entrenched bureaucrats who live off the bribes their positions generate.

Fair is fair. Let us evaluate each and every proposal arising from Agile studies on their merits. We can always reject proposals that are not timely or appropriate like that of open skies. Not just because Uncle Sam paid for it means it is an affront on our sovereignty. Some of the best and the brightest in Pinoy academia are working on those reform studies. Branding their effort as a new form of colonialism or worse is simply unfair and way off the mark. They shouldn’t be used as scapegoats in our never ending petty political wars.

Traffic

Reader Sonny Juico reacts to last Monday’s column on the traffic problem with his suggestions.

Re your article in today’s (2-24-03) Phil Star, congestion tax to relieve traffic jams. Personally, I do not think a congestion charge (London’s scheme) would solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila. I agree with you when you said that the "stupid experiment or rerouting traffic in the Ortigas area is probably more to blame."

It appears you came up with "the" solution and it is on paragraph 8 of your article. You said, "there are things we can do", let me piggyback on your suggestion by rephrasing it and adding on to it.

There are things we can EXPERIMENT. 1) Discipline bus drivers, jeepney drivers, FX, and cab drivers to load and unload in a civilized manner ONLY IN DESIGNATED AREAS. 2) No driver must be allowed to obstruct the flow of traffic SPECIALLY in key arteries. I believe what you are referring to are INTERSECTIONS. In California, specifically the bay area, there is a heavy fine for "gridlock." In other words, getting caught in an intersection.(X marks the spot).

The decision to move forward is left with the motorist. It does not matter if the light is green. Discretion must be exercised whether to proceed or not; the excuse that he/she got caught in the intersection is NOT ACCEPTABLE. The granting of a driver’s license is a PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT. Along with this privilege comes RESPONSIBILITY. Along with responsibility is judgment. One does not need a high school diploma to figure out whether he or she will cause a gridlock or not.

3) Go after the colorum buses with IMPUNITY. The three suggestions you came up with if implemented will definitely ease traffic congestion anywhere in the world. I’d like to add the following:

4) Designated left turn lane only. NO ONE must be allowed to make a left turn unless he is in the left turn lane only. (Buendia to Leveriza, Quezon Ave. to Roosevelt etc.) One left turn lane is now a three-lane left turn thereby blocking the traffic for vehicles who want to proceed.

5) No Parking signs must be imposed. To motorists, here’s my question. What part of "No parking" don’t you understand, duh!

6) No counterflow allowed unless authorized by a traffic enforcer. This includes tricycles, cart pushers, bicycle riders.

7) In addition to traffic lights, a traffic enforcer MUST be present at EVERY MAJOR INTERSECTION to assist.

8) Driving at night without headlights. Issue tickets with heavy fines to these f----g bastards. They endanger the lives of their passengers and others as well.

9) Driving with bald tires is NO NO. (I personally do not care if they drive topless.)

10)Vehicles carrying passengers MUST carry minimum insurance for its passengers.

One way of measuring the intelligence level of a nation (people) is its humor and its driving habits. The short of it is I think we are a stupid people. No matter how you cut it, that is what it boils down to.

When you put these stupid drivers in an environment where traffic rules are strictly enforced, these stupid drivers obey.

There is no substitute for enforcement of traffic rules, it does not even have to be that strict. I liken these traffic alleviating schemes to not taking a shower and instead rely on colognes, perfumes and deodorants. Keep up the good work.

Gottcha

Doctors seem to have great sense of humor. A Dr. Jimenez forwarded this one he got from another doctor in the US.

A high school English teacher reminds her class of tomorrow’s final exam. "Now class, I won’t tolerate many excuses for You not being there tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury or illness, or a death in your immediate family – but that’s it, no other excuses whatsoever!"

A smart-ass guy in the back of the room raises his hand and asks, "What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?"

The entire class does its best to stifle their laughter and snickering. When silence is restored, the teacher smiles sympathetically at the student, shakes her head, and sweetly says, "Well, I guess you’d have to write the exam with your other hand."

It took 15 minutes for the class to come to order.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is: [email protected]