Shadows blanket Gibo's dreams

In the third and last installment of the Makati Business Club’s Presidential Candidates Series, current ruling party standard bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro spoke lengthily, if a bit too detailed, on his platform of government should he win the May 2010 elections.

(Two presidential candidates had earlier outlined their campaign platforms: Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Manuel “Manny” Villar. The order of appearance was based on survey ratings, with the most popular invited to speak first. Former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who ranked third in surveys, did not take his turn.)

Who is Gibo Teodoro?

Gibo’s popularity ratings, if surveys are to be taken seriously, hover between four-to six-percent share, and still show no encouraging signs of breaking into double digit levels. Compared to the first three contenders for the presidency, Gibo is a poor fourth. And this is where his problem lies.

In fact, one can ask in earnest: Just who is Gibo Teodoro?

Apart from serving three consecutive terms at the Batasan representing Tarlac’s first district, Gibo likes to say he is to date the youngest Secretary to hold office at the Department of National Defense. Personally, he is unblemished by any personal record or rumor of corruption.

He may have a law degree at University of the Philippines, topped the bar exams on the year he graduated, and completed his masters degree at the Harvard Law School in Massachusetts, but this has not always impressed people fed up with “knowledgeable” but self-serving politicians.

In response to insinuations of a possibility to falling prey to corruption, an affliction that generally befalls political servants, he takes offense by reacting rather stiffly and replying strongly that nothing is worth besmirching his personal honor – or his father’s, being the only son of the well-respected Social Security System administrator Gilberto Teodoro Sr.

Loyal protege

This demeanor however does not soothe many people’s apprehension of Gibo being a puppet and indebted protégé of President Gloria Arroyo, Malacañang’s incumbent whose image has been gravely sullied by a series of controversies from election fraud to overpriced contracts and other irregularities.

Having been unanimously chosen to represent the current administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party has not visibly boosted Gibo’s bid, and in fact is the source of rumors that President Arroyo is planning to make a last minute decision to channel all Palace support to another “more winnable” candidate. (This is the much-talked about Villar-Arroyo scenario).

Vision for economic growth

At the MBC forum, in a house not so full of business leaders – with the “green” ladies together with Gibo’s wife, Tarlac first district Representative Monica “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro, almost outnumbering the men – the administration bet began his speech with a statement strongly espousing the principle of relying on private investments to further spur the country’s economic growth.

Acknowledging the dire fiscal condition of government, Gibo spoke about the roles of business and the bureaucracy in achieving an avowed pledge to raise economic growth to eight percent every year, something that had not been met with enthusiasm especially by economists.

Skepticism over the achievability of growing the economy by even five percent is already high, thus an eight percent goal is met with incredibility, and by some economist as downright impractical given its inflationary impact on the economy. But Gibo remains steadfast to this goal, even as he apologizes to having a more finance than economics specialization.

Specific objectives

If there is one thing that delineates Gibo from other presidential candidates, it is in how he embraces with sensibility the role of a state CEO not only in managing matters that affect the national bureaucracy but also that of local government units.

On the national level, he outlines government’s role in making sure that the right infrastructure is in place to help businesses fuel economic growth. This does just not involve building new roads but also an irrigation network to spur agricultural productivity.

To replenish the coffers of government, Gibo favors raising consumption taxes, specifically the 12-percent expanded value added tax, to 15 percent, and imposing higher taxes on sin products such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

Imperative reforms

The presidential candidate also talked about reforming the bureaucracy, largely pointing out the need to reduce the cost of governance and to make it more adaptive to the needs of business as well as the country’s citizens.

This challenge applies to local governance, according to Gibo. In particular, he talked about reinforcing the capability of LGUs to handle local funds and carry out intended projects, and of rewarding those who are able to competently manage their local affairs.

One other aspect of Gibo’s campaign platform revolves on reforming the current agricultural system by introducing measures that will allow even small farmers to earn a decent income from their harvests and to stop the exodus farmers’ children to any other means of livelihood other than farming.

Gibo is also pushing for an improved learning structure that will encourage quality and more technically skilled graduates. He is also espousing reform in the health sector so that benefits would spread to a wider area, and so that go to those who need them most get the needed coverage.

Kiss of death

Among the presidential candidates, Gibo may exhibit the articulateness in dealing with many of government’s problems. But the question in voters’ minds is no longer just professional capability.

Gibo seems unable to shake off the long dark shadow of the incumbent president, one that has been regarded as a kiss of death to any associated politician. The Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, as expected, continues to officially harp on the vaunted might of the political machinery to bring in the winning numbers in May.

With just 10 weeks to go before the polls open, win-ability is still the biggest hurdle. It may continue to be fight-fight-fight in the Gibo camp, but if the numbers don’t change quickly, even the strongest of believers may lose heart and shift support.

It is a sad reality, but in the minds of many, it is, after all, a useless gesture to support someone who will in most probability lose.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.