This title runs counter to the Jacksonian political aphorism that to the victors belong the spoils, or at least its exception.
Actually, the spoils cycle as part of the political patronage syndrome isn't extinct; in fact, to many pol veterans, that's the basic tool that underpins Filipino politics. In short, political loyalty is often anchored on whatever spoils that go with the system.
The most common form is dispensing positions in government. Where no vacancy exists, why, create a position even when there's no use for it, except to accommodate pol partisans, or payback time for election favors. Moreover, the "kamag-anak" or "kapamilya" spirit opens doors by skirting prohibitive laws. That happened in Mandaue not too long ago. VM Fortuna now recalls that in their time and, he now tells lies by accusing Mayor Jonas Cortes of nepotism. Hizzoner better furnish him the long list of the then "extended" family and their illegal cash advances and those of their ilk by the millions, and their "pilay amo" transactions, like the first overpriced Plaza deco lampposts.
As the national leadership changes, it's always payback time dispensing the spoils. Following Senator Amang Rodriguez' wit that politics is addition, and with a dash of Senator Avelino's "What are we in power for" thrown in, any Palace incumbent creates positions like crazy. The merry-go-round gets "the more the merrier" livelier; never mind the additional gargantuan fund wastage.
Any department head now has a covey of under-secretaries (USec), assistant secretaries (ASec), deputies to the USec, assistants to the ASec, and all other sheikdoms. They all sport "honorable" desk signage galore, ensconced in air-con rooms, with a bevy of office staff, ad infinitum, ad nauseam… They are now more visible on tv in all their glory, so young and inexperienced, mouthing palliatives and motherhood statements on certain policies, as if babes still with milk on their lips.
Over-staffing in LGU government is similarly endemic in extent and wastage. Aside from plantilla positions and the "casuals" to skirt the "personal services" percentage limitation, "politicos" cleverly resort to "job order" appointments.
These "job orders" are abused and, more in number and more wage total than regular employees. It's not exceptional that most LGUs are top-heavy with salary/wage obligations eating up more than 80% of their budget. Only virtual crumbs are left for developmental projects, like roads/streets, drainage, public lighting, and other infrastructure and general services.
It needs an LGU executive with tact and balls - and moral fortitude - to prune/cut down to a reasonable level the excessive hiring and retention of useless personnel, say, to not less than 1/3 of such excess on the average of all LGUs. For the national government and its agencies, pruning 75% of existing personnel doesn't paralyze the normal functions of the bureaucracy.
These are wishful - and wistful - thoughts beyond realization. The bad practice persists that the national and local governments constitute the major employers of the nation. In bitter metaphor, the collective government institution is a never-ending tale of bankruptcy.
And while the political rigmarole is on the roll, it's no longer funny for any youth to nurture the lifetime ambition of being a politician. Winners or losers, they are all the same, that is, they know how to play their cards to make even their losing hand a winning trump.
Take it from the 2007 Team Unity senatorial losers Vicente Sotto III who now heads the Dangerous Drugs Board, or Mike Defensor who could choose any post he likes, or now NEDA honcho, Vilma Santos' hubby Ralph Recto, or Rep. Prospero Pichay for LWUA Board, or sashaying Tessie Aquino Oreta who's slated for DepEd, and Erap nemesis Chavit Singson, whose losing senatorial bid is rewarded as Deputy National Security Adviser.
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Email: lparadiangjr@yahoo.com