Is Bayani Fernando for real? Part 2 of doctor’s orders

Last Friday, we excerpted portions of a fairly long academic paper of UP economist Dr. Raul Fabella. In it, he traced our continuing problem of underdevelopment on what he calls our "powerless state." Our government had been ineffective all these years because it had been consistently shorn of power by interest groups from rent-seeking elites to squatter mobs.

But Dr. Fabella sees a flicker of light in MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando’s success in easing traffic flow in Commonwealth Ave., clearing it of squatters and doing things considered undoable by today’s conventional wisdom. The question now is, is Bayani Fernando for real? If he is, can he survive our current political environment? If not, are we condemned to live in the squalor and disorder of a pigsty, resigned that there is no hope for order and progress unless you migrate to other lands?

When BF started as mayor, he brought municipal employees en masse to Subic Bay to see and feel for themselves a higher meaning of order and cleanliness. BF would have brought them to Japan but finances are limited.

But the field trip was important. "New benchmarks of governance had to be imported. A street sweeper reared in a squatter area has a very different definition of ‘clean’ or ‘orderly’. He has to see and to touch and to feel another definition of order implemented, in order to disabuse his mind of low accustomed standards."

People, Dr. Fabella points out, are at the heart of change. And benchmarks are important because "embraced benchmarks are how people judge others and themselves. You only need to give the pursuit of higher benchmarks a sense of social mission and purpose."

Dr. Fabella recalled that "when Park Chung Hee became president of S. Korea in 1964, he packed his Cabinet for an excursion to Taiwan (not Washington, mind you), then the fledgling model of global market orientation. This was state-of-the-art and this was doable. Thus began the S. Korean miracle. Ideas and benchmarks must sometimes be imported. BF’s own benchmarks of order and cleanliness are Japanese, easily the cutting edge of that technology."

After his town officials saw Subic, Marikina under BF, started making itself a benchmark itself for the country. Dr. Fabella continues: "Marikina’s garbage collection spending per capita is only half that of other contiguous municipalities. Other municipalities have a lot of explaining to do. Marikina, though far from perfect, is a national benchmark."

Dr. Fabella now thinks "the Marikina city hall is a positive learning experience. Educators should make Marikina a field trip stop for their young charges. This is beginning to stir up local governments. People now know the threshold of the doable and are demanding more."

BF produced his miracles by creating new institutions, although Dr. Fabella points out, "for the most part, he simply empowered and revitalized existing institutions. This happened at MMDA."BF showed that institutions, useless and ineffective as they might seem, could be shaped up enough to deliver. That concept is new, maybe even revolutionary in this country.

Commonwealth Ave. happened, Dr. Fabella observed, "due to a confluence of forces whose combined horsepower was harnessed by the already-bigger-than-office MMDA chairman. When BF was designated concurrent DPWH secretary, the clearing of CA shoulders also came under his responsibility."

BF parlayed two advantages, one logistical, the other philosophical: (a) BF as MMDA chair had an already battle-scarred Sidewalk Clearing Operation Unit, and (b) BF rejected the old DPWH adage of engagement: "Clear only when funds to develop (e.g., roads) are on hand."

BF’s alternative rule of engagement is: "Remove illegal structures whether or not development funds are available. Public lands belong to the public." BF then exploited the prohibition of the issuance of TROs for public works projects issued by the Supreme Court. Add a street-wise tactical mind and that’s how the Commonwealth Ave. (CA) phenomenon happened.

Order was restored at CA because when he accepted the MMDA chairmanship, BF immediately defined his mission as regaining the sidewalk for the pedestrians and the roads for motorists. Dr. Fabella observed that "while this seemed downright low tech, he sensed that this was one key out of the powerless rut. The road is every citizen’s first daily encounter with the government."

Dr. Fabella narrates that to do this, BF greatly empowered the Sidewalk Clearing Operation of MMDA with logistical ammo to give the impression of irresistible force and unbending resolve. Buses, haulers, dozers gave the impression of an army in operation. This was quickly trained, amidst loud defiance and skepticism, towards the clearing of Baclaran, an obvious challenge to rational traffic management and considered an immovable object. There it got its first baptism of battle and a taste of victory.

The Litex clearing along Commonwealth of the "kerosene spray" notoriety followed soon. It was followed further by the Batasan Road intersection clearing which people said will never happen because "nambabaril ang mga vendors doon." They were cleared.

Dr. Fabella observed that "clearing illegal squatters is a risky business that has ample potential for disaster. A noisy resistance and a sensationalist press can derail legally mandated demolition. One episode of bloodletting and the project is dead.

"Sound tactics have to be employed. Here’s one: A demo-lition day is announced. Resistance is organized. The press is called in. Excitement mounts. The day comes. No demolition. Another demolition day is announced. Resistance is organized. No demolition. Resistance dwindles. Demolition is announced the nth time. No one believes it. No resistance, no press.

"Suddenly, ambulances arrive and stretchers are laid out, all part of a psy-war of overwhelming force and singleness of purpose. Then, the clearing team descends with military precision and great number, does its job without a hitch and, more importantly, without casualties. "The "Cry wolf strategy," strikes again.

"Another tactic thrown in is the "thief in the night," which was used to demolish illegal structures along Tandang Sora. After previous announcements of eminent clearing, the team came one night and demolished without a hitch. An overpowering team, insight into the psychology of resistance, which shapes a tactic tailored for each situation and the law, so long flouted, is invested with majesty.

"The demolition of illegal structures along Tandang Sora beside UP was a signal triumph. For more than a decade, UP authorities have petitioned local authorities for relief from this emerging red light district. Nothing. Then, in one evening, the MMDA Clearing Unit demolished the detritus of decades. The majesty of the law was finally being upheld. This is very new in Quezon City." MMDA, so long viewed as part of the problem, has become part of the solution.

Hell hole

Got this txt msg.

Pinoy died & went 2 hell. He pleaded 2 call d political leadrs & ws gven d fon rates: US-$20; Britn-$15; Phil-$1. Pinoy: Y cheap 2 d Phils? Satan: Local call.

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