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PBBM: ‘Business as usual’ over, gov’t to be strict on hitting targets
By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned his Cabinet against complacency, saying he is continuing a rigorous performance review of key officials and emphasized that government work must never fall back into a “business as usual” mindset that has long plagued the Philippine bureaucracy.
“Ayoko talaga ‘yung business as usual kasi ang dami natin problema. Naging problema ‘yan kasi business as usual tayo nang katagal-tagal. Ilang dekada tayong business as usual. Eh anong nangyari sa atin (I really don’t like business as usual because that’s been the root of so many of our problems. We’ve been stuck in that for decades. And where did that get us)?” Marcos said in the latest episode of his PBBM Podcast released Monday.
The President stressed that under his administration, both large-scale and day-to-day government operations will be under close scrutiny to ensure targets are met, especially in areas directly affecting the public.
“We will be very, very conscientious of hitting our targets on time. And that’s the important thing. And that applies not only to the very big legacy projects — the big transportation projects, the big agricultural projects… Hindi lang ‘yun, kundi ‘yung maliliit na bagay (not just those, but even the small things).”
Marcos cited practical examples — malfunctioning escalators, broken stairs, uncollected garbage and long queues in public services.
“Those are the things that we still have to pay attention to and that’s every day. Every day ‘yun. Hindi mo pwede sabihin, ‘Oh, naayos ko na,’ tapos iiwanan mo.’ Kailangan balik-balikan mo (You can’t say, ‘Oh, I fixed it,’ and then leave it. You have to keep on doing it). That’s why you are on probation because it’s an ongoing assessment,” he said.
Marcos said accountability in government must be firm and swift, just like in the military.
“In the military, kapag sinasabi, ‘Eto yung gagawin mo.’ Pag hindi mo — anong nangyari? Hindi ko nagawa kasi ganoon — Out. Relieved. Next. And that’s what we should do,” he explained.
“We have to be very, very strict. Look, kahit kaibigan kita, mahal kita at lahat, pero hindi mo nagagawa ‘yung trabaho, eh. Hindi naman ito tungkol sa pagkakaibigan o pagmamahal natin sa isa’t isa kung hindi para sa serbisyo para sa tao (Even if we’re friends, even if I love you, but if you’re not doing your job, this is not about friendship or affection. It’s about public service),” he added.
Asked whether his recent surprise inspections at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, hospitals and other government installations are part of his leadership approach, Marcos affirmed that reports, no matter how detailed, can only say so much.
“it’s still important to go and see things for yourself. Of course you read all the reports, but that’s not the — iba-ibang accuracy rating kung minsan,” he said.
On the issue of replacements within government ranks, the President said numerous personnel changes have already been made, albeit quietly.
“If you’re not helping, get out of the way… Whatever get out of the way means — you’re fired or you’re floating or you’ll be transferred to another part of the government,” he said.
“Whatever it is, just get out of the way so I can do my job.”
