FM: The great Ilocano

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Government Structure

NOTABLY, the structure of government or offices established by Pres. Marcos has remained substantially the same except the change of name, inclusive of superficial features in laws, to give a semblance of change from that of Marcos regime.

The only significant department that was abolished after the departure of President Marcos was the Department/ Ministry of Human Settlements under Mrs. Marcos. It was dismantled but the functions were distributed to different offices that Pres. Marcos had created.

Socialized housing

The laws on socialized housing were conceptualized by Pres. Marcos through a series of legal issuances from the funding, the lending, mortgaging and to the collection of the loans. These are governed by the Home Mutual Development Fund, (Pag-Ibig Fund), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and the National Home Mortgage Finance which remain intact up to the present.

Specialty hospitals

All the specialty hospitals of the Philippines, like the Lung Center, Philippine Heart Center, Kidney Center, Philippine Children’s Center, among others, were of his great concern and are an offshoot of his response to public health concerns. Sadly, after almost twenty (20) years of FM’s departure, no specialty hospital of consequence has been established.

Energy crisis It is a truism that a leader’s mettle is tested in the crucible of crisis. President Marcos foresaw the oil crisis in 1974. Sensing and fearing that the foreign oil companies could strangle the country of its oil supply requirements and manipulate oil prices, FM caused the acquisition of Filoil. He made it the biggest oil company of the country, now Petron. It was meant to neutralize any attempt of foreign oil companies to control the supply of oil and dictate the pricing thereof. Wittingly and dubiously, a President sold substantial shares of Petron to an Arab company. The entry of a foreign country subverts the very rationale for establishing the biggest oil company under the management and control of the government as a protective shield from any untoward or adverse designs or activities of foreign oil companies.

In further addressing the energy crisis, FM caused the establishment of the Bataan Nuclear Plant. It would have adequately supplied the power needed to reduce our dependence in imported oil. Unfortunately, the acquisition of the plant is tainted with unproven anomalies. The nuclear plant was mothballed simply because it was Pres. Marcos’ project. The perceived overpricing in the construction of the plant could have been addressed independently of completing the project for the good of the nation.

As another measure to address the expected oil crises, FM initiated and multiplied the geothermal power plants as alternative source of energy. Had the Bataan Nuclear Plant and geothermal power plants been promoted, increased and further developed, dependence on oil importation of the country would have been lessened.

Water crisis

Marcos also foresaw the incoming water crises. He foresaw that the sources of water supply are inadequate to serve the increasing population. Thus, he secured a World Bank grant to make technical studies of the construction of the Lipan Dam. It was envisioned to be the future source of water adequate to supply the requirements of increasing population until the year 2025. The project would have cost only at that time US$10 billion. His successor, however, sidelined the project simply because it was the brainchild of or the initiative of FM notwithstanding that it is for the good of the nation and the people. When succeeding administrators realized their folly, one administration wanted to resuscitate the Marcos project only to find out that it will now cost more than US$50 billion, a price too costly to be affordable. Significantly, there are present moves/ measures to continue with the project of FM sired by necessity.

Arts and culture

President Marcos is the only president who recognized and acknowledged the supreme importance of arts and culture. He was criticized for the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine International Convention Center, the Manila Hotel, the new GSIS Headquarters, among others. These edifices, however, have remained the venues for the propagation of arts and culture, the holding of conventions and international conferences, in line with the government’s policy thrusts on culture, tourism and public services.

Infrastructure In the field of infrastructure, more roads and bridges were constructed during the administration of President Marcos than all the roads and bridges constructed from the time of the late President Quezon up to the time of his predecessor, the late President Macapagal.

These are a few of the significant issuances and undertakings of President Marcos. Some sinister or vindictive minds wish to vanish them but simply cannot. The issuances and accomplishments of President Marcos are part and parcel of our legal system. They continue to touch lives, properties and public functionaries.

Heel or hero?

Is Marcos a heel or a hero? It depends. He is a hero to those who are aware and appreciative of his performance and achievements. However, he is a heel to those who envy his ingenuity, vision and foresight, to those who seek revenge accented with hatred.

Shaper and mover of events

FM’s life in law remains a myth, unchallenged and unsurpassed. Like all great leaders and statesmen, he was a shaper and a mover of events. This unassailable fact will continue to intrigue and inspire generations. FM left an inexhaustible reservoir of innovative and beneficial legal instruments to uplift the nation and the quality of life. An objective and dispassionate scrutiny of these legal instruments should provide a guidepost in the framing of our laws and the art of governance to promote the common good.

History vindicates

The tragic drama is that biased people remember only the bad or wrong attributed to FM but forget the good he had done and achieved.

At time’s healing hands, FM will be vindicated. FM was a great man – unjustly judged at the wrong time by the wrong minds. Time and history will vindicate his vision and foresight, especially in lawmaking as a vehicle of governance. Generations freed from the blemishes of hate, vengeance and prejudice will look more kindly and with gratitude on FM’s achievements and contributions to the nation. Dispassionate men will make an icon of FM. FM, the great Ilocano.