Muzzled or on silent mode?

Within the first week of telecast of our TV show “AGENDA” on Cignal TV’s “OneNews,” it has become evident that there is an atmosphere of fear and “self-censorship among would-be respondents or guests on the various topics we have scheduled for discussion. We lined up discussions on air traffic congestion, telcos, SSS and PhilHealth, over-the-counter products or OTCs and the impact of the TRAIN law on inflation and consumer products. Sadly, many agency representatives of government and PR or corporate communications officials from the private sector would either bail out at the last minute or blurt out that “the powers that be” would not like or want any publicity on problems that government is failing to address. We managed to move along with other invitees, but I can’t help expressing my anger at how so-called communicators throw away opportunities to inform and educate the public.

Whether their reasons for not joining is fact or fiction, both government and private sector lose because they won’t participate in conversations that must take place. To immediately presume and decide that going on TV would be unhealthy for your career or your company also presumes that we in the media can’t be responsible enough to initiate the discussions in a fair, factual and civil manner. One invitee was honest enough to tell me that “authorities would be displeased” and they did not want to risk being squeezed. Declining participation also shows that the information sources don’t have the confidence, support and probably the competency for the position they are in. Last but not the least: if in fact it is professionally or operationally unhealthy to engage authorities in a discussion of joint concerns and responsibilities, it goes to show that there is so much ego and politics between the government and the governed. Then it is no surprise why we sink in terms of global competitiveness.

Forget the heralded law on “Ease of Doing Business”! If airline executives and government officials are both ill at ease to speak and share their ideas and concerns about “air traffic congestion,” how then can we come to a shared solution or at the very least informed state on a problem that robs people and corporations of time, money and opportunities amounting to billions everyday? How is government supposed to explain and educate the public about the economy, taxes and the likes if the learned bureaucrats automatically muzzle and exclude themselves from the dialogue in the interest of “self-preservation”?

At the start of the year, I remember joining Secretary Martin Andanar for their first ever National Conference on Communications in Davao City, and I was under the impression that the direction under the Duterte Administration was to empower government communicators so they could engage the media and the public. We seemed to have overlooked the “I have to ask permission first” culture in government. Whether it is at the DepEd, FDA, NEDA, etc., the culture “for permission required” is the dominant rule.

Time and again I have heard President Duterte state that they are pro-business, pro-public and anticorruption and abuse of power. But from where I’m standing, people on both sides of the fence are cowering in fear and some of Duterte’s high-ranking officials have adopted Duterte’s tough guy persona in dealing with complaints and criticism instead of an open door and open ears policy.

As the saying goes: “You can bring a horse to the water – but you can’t make it drink.” So “the show must go on” and we continue to move on, but those who opt to stay out of the discussion don’t necessarily get to walk away from not doing their job or contributing to public information or public good. Not only do you miss opportunities to participate and tell your side of the story or share your ideas, you have also thrown away a chance to develop contacts and relationships with the media and the public. For this reason, both government and private corporations end up having to pay the price in terms of campaigns and advertising! In the end your engagements are transactional instead of being relational which is relatively inexpensive and more transparent. In the end, remember what they say about elephants; they have long memories.

* * * We were blessed and fortunate to have Kiefer Ravena, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, Alaska Aces coach Alex Compton and Kiefer’s conditioning coach Mark Caron on AGENDA yesterday and our viewers certainly learned so much. Most important of all was that Kiefer manned up for his mistake and took responsibility for his unintended mistake. He blamed no one, will not allow this setback to defeat him or change his disposition, and if given the opportunity is willing to be the “Poster Boy” to remind athletes and the public to be careful what they buy, eat or drink in terms of power drinks and nutritional additives. We learned that Kiefer Ravena’s case is the first ever case in the Philippines in terms of banned or prohibited substances.

We also found out that the WADA or World AntiDoping Authority is quite serious about such matters. Not only was Kiefer meted out an 18-month suspension from international competitions, Kiefer has been prevented from playing in the PBA as well as all FIBA sanctioned basketball leagues or games. Coach Chot Reyes expressed hope or optimism that in time, WADA might be convinced that Kiefer is “repentant,” if that’s the correct term to use, and that he is very cooperative in WADA’s. The discussion also brought attention to the fact that the hundreds of banned substances on WADA’s list is not generally outlawed or “illegal” in the Philippines. So the Ravena case should become the magnet for legislators, health authorities, the DTI and Customs to seriously study this serious problem. My analogy during the show was the fact that “wangwangs” or sirens and police flashers are declared illegal for use on private vehicles, yet the government allows the entry of such products by the thousands. The FDA and the DTI need to act on the problem.

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