Thirty two years after
IN February 2016, to mark the 30th anniversary of the February 1986 EDSA Revolution, I issued a public statement describing the historic event as an incomplete revolution.
Why did I make sure a provocative statement? Because while we achieved political freedom after overthrowing the dictatorship, economic freedom is still beyond our grasp. The fight for freedom from poverty remains. Poverty in the midst of plenty is our greatest shame. It is also our greatest challenge.
And I have said it countless times – in schools, in rallies and other assemblies, in front of workers, teachers, students, development experts, and businessmen: Democracy is nothing if it does not democratize wealth. Democracy cannot thrive in a society whose population groans in abject poverty.
We must work to restore the dignity of the poor by redistributing economic opportunity. And it is a fight that can be won. We did it in Makati. EDSA’s vision of a government that cares for the poor became a reality in Makati and I remain unshaken in the belief that local governments, when genuinely empowered under a system of effective and meaningful decentralization, can be the true engines of growth and social equality.
After the 1986 EDSA Revolution, Makati succeeded in rebuilding our city and our local economy. We succeeded in extending to citizens of all social classes quality health and education that were previously accessible only to a few. We reformed the bureaucracy, restored trust in government and addressed the poverty of our people. The ideals of political and economic freedom are now a reality in Makati.
And our social programs have made an impact on the lives of the citizens of Makati. Poverty has dropped drastically. From a poverty incidence of 3.74 per cent in 2000, Makati succeeded in lowering the rate of poverty to 0.5 per cent in 2012, or 2,000 individuals out of a resident population of 650,000. These are official national government statistics that not even our most strident critics can dispute.
Still, partisan politics undermined, for a brief moment, what we did for Makati. In 2015, the Ombudsman – acting as part of a conspiracy of lies, deceit and harassment against me and the members of my family - suspended and later dismissed from office my son, former Mayor Junjun Binay. A local political ally of the previous administration took office, and swiftly proceeded to undo what we have done for Makati and our people. The people of Makati, however, rejected the usurpers in the local election of 2016.
My daughter, Mayor Abby Binay, found a city and a government in disarray. Employees were demoralized. Residents were not receiving the services they deserve as citizens and as taxpayers. And contrary to their public posturing, safeguards to promote transparency were not observed but blatantly ignored by her predecessor.
The first order of business for the new administration was to undo the institutional damage inflicted by a year of inefficiency, neglect and misuse of government resources.
From July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, for example, the Ombudsman-installed administration hired a total of 1,218 additional casuals, 22 contractual workers and 78 consultants. These hirings bloated the ranks of city government personnel. A personnel review and audit, uncovered disappointing but expected results: Relatives and acquaintances of known political allies were among those hired, with most of them with no clear function or responsibility. There were cases of double compensation, with the appointees receiving salaries and benefits from the Office of the Mayor and the barangays. Cases of appointees collecting salaries and benefits without reporting for work have been documented.
Likewise, government contracts totaling 1568.87 million were simply extended without benefit of public bidding, again contrary to their posturing.
To illustrate the decline in public services, the Ospital ng Makati – a recipient of an ISO certification from the International Standards Organization – was found lacking in the most basic needs. The deterioration in services was palpable. The shortage in laboratory and medical supplies was chronic. Major diagnostic equipment were unusable and even the centralized air conditioning system, after breaking down, was left unserviced.
After just six months, the new Binay administration restored efficiency, transparency and compassion that has been the hallmark of Makati since 1986.