“A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.” – ALBERT EINSTEIN.
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As Einstein hit the nail on the head, Filipinos seem not being able to make heads or tails of their responsibilities, functions, roles and duties.
Public servants are morally obliged to be diligent and disciplined – and public service obliges them to be on their toes 24/7.
Why 24/7?
Because life and public service do not cease after office hours.
Everything on this earthly plane grinds non-stop 24 hours a day.
Excuses for omissions and commissions of mistakes do not acquit those responsible in public service.
Thus, when the power outage at the NAIA Terminal 3 occurred anew (the first was on January 1 (New Year’s Day 2023), airport and transportation authorities at the DOTr were again crucified for their lackluster performance.
One of the most sensitive areas in the national bureaucracy, the DOTr and its attached agencies have been under fire since the department went solo as a full-pledged cabinet portfolio.
The NAIA has been poorly rated as one of the worst airports around the world. But having been tagged notoriously failed to propel Congress, government policy-makers and the sitting DOTr officials themselves to craft a permanent template to erase the bad image abroad.
Every Juan, Jose and Pedro know that airports are the country’s showwindow that mirrors what a foreign visitor expects to see when he steps in and passes through immigration desks.
News reports said close to 10,000 passengers were stranded because their flights were canceled as all electronic and digitalized equipment were down and out.
Filipinos are not short in creativity, organization and management but the two power outages smacks of government inefficiency, indolence and low IQ.
How then are we going to attract foreign tourists, businessmen, investors and travelers to come and see for themselves what the Philippines has in store for them if our airports are not in good shape, the equipment faulty and the personnel in disarray?
Sabotage was one of the lame excuses the DOTr offered which altogether would be considered an unacceptable mind-blowing alibi.
A saboteur group angry to strike back at the Marcos government would have eyed a HUGE, BIG landmark that would create an explosion like Mt. Pinatubo, the impact of which the international news community would pick up and take notice.
Tourism, investment and business concerns are suffering ultimately because government officials do not live up to their roles.
Filipinos are prominently known to be good copycats.
How come we cannot ape what Singapore is doing?
Our tiny island city-state neighbor operates the most beautiful and most efficient airport in the planet, thus attracting millions of visitors every year.
Considering that Singapore has a multi-ethnic society, how come its government is able to compete (with flourish) against the best Western economies?
As far as I am concerned, Singapore is the best standard we Pinoys should gauge our performance against in various aspects of governance.
Historically, Filipinos have a good idea of how the Singaporeans zoomed out of the “dark” and stood prominently in the light.
The Philippines and Singapore were both victims of Japanese occupation.
It broke out of the Malaysian Confederation soon after World War II and relentlessly pursued a national goal that makes Singapore the envy of the world today.
Hopefully, Sec. Jaime Bautista wakes up to the reality and send some of his key men to undergo a serious study of Changi’s operations and implement them to the letter here.
His long fruitful experience with PAL as its head honcho actually made him most qualified as DOTr chief.
Or, propose to Congress to enact a law that approximate’s all of Changi’s operational success.
Shouldn’t everything be done and no stone unturned as long as the job is done well?
My greatest fear today is: Suppose, another power outage happens, will there be new alibis?
Will a saboteur be finally identified and arrested?
Or was that just a figment of a naughty imagination? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
