Tapping external sources of support
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as “protector of the people” can never distance itself from the people. It will have to make progress, using its AFP Transformation Roadmap (TR), along the governance and transformation pathway, only with the people. It will have to win the support and cooperation of the very people it is supposed to serve, and whose interests it is expected to protect and promote. It has become very clear to the AFP, given its doctrine articulated in the IPSP: Bayanihan, that peace and development can be won and secured through three closely inter-related approaches: the whole of the organization (in this case, the “whole of AFP”); the “whole of government” (i.e. working in close solidarity with other government agencies); and the “whole of the nation” (i.e. working with all segments of the civilian sector in a positive and mutually supportive manner).
It is for this reason that under the AFP TR, all AFP units have to be closely and functionally aligned with the strategic priorities included in the transformation roadmap. The “whole of AFP” would need to move forward, towards the attainment of its vision, by fostering and observing the “culture of jointness”. In other words, there are no impenetrable silos artificially erected between AFP units. Indeed, every AFP unit must contribute to the achievement of targets set in the CS AFP Performance Scorecard.
Even as the process of internal alignment is being strengthened under the “whole of AFP approach”, similar positive steps should be undertaken to give flesh and substance to the “whole of government” and “whole of the nation” approaches. The AFP is already involved in a whole gamut of activities aimed at strengthening working relationships with other government agencies at all levels; it has also started to reach out towards, and work closely, with civil society organizations and other segments of the civilian sector.
All these processes and activities associated with all three approaches inevitably involve the Office of the Chief of Staff of AFP. To help ensure that they are connected with, and properly supportive of, the AFP TR, the AFP has decided to formally set up a Multi-Sector Governance Coalition (MSGC). A small, collegial body--as small as a normal Board of Directors in any modern corporation, and as collegial as any corporate Board of Directors---the AFP MSGC serves as a Board of Advisers to the CS AFP. Its members are drawn from government, business, academe, media, and civil society. The CS AFP may draw from its advice, perspectives, and expertise, let alone the networks into which the members of the MSGC are plugged and connected into, so as to provide any assistance to the AFP as it pursues the different strategic priorities in the AFP TR.
Outside of providing advice and any assistance to the CS AFP, the members of the MSGC may serve as external assessors of the performance claims, made under the AFP TR. They can give their “imprimatur” of the actual gains the AFP may present to the general public, in fact because they have checked the actual records and overseen the external audit process. Furthermore, several members of the MSGC may have specific expertise, which the AFP would badly need, such as expertise on real estate and area development (needed in connection with determining the best and proper use of AFP-owned real estate assets). Some members of the MSGC may also use the media platforms where they have an influence in order to communicate more effectively to the general public the accomplishments of the AFP under the AFP TR.
Since the AFP MSGC has been meeting regularly for a few years now, it has become clear that it has great potential for helping the CS AFP in meeting the targets set in the AFP Performance Scorecard. It is up to him to tap into such a potential, particularly in substantiating the two other approaches that the IPSP: Bayanihan calls for, the “whole of government”, and the “whole of the nation”. This would top off the “whole of AFP” approach, which is being secured through the internal alignment of all AFP units with the AFP TR.