A Few Deserving Senatorial Bets

Numbers Don't Lie

By ANDREW JAMES MASIGAN

October 7, 2012, 2:14pm

MANILA, Philippines — We’ve come a long way since the lost decade under GMA, but much still needs to be done to sustain the favorable economic outlook we enjoy today. P-Noy’s anti-corruption campaign and pursuit of good governance provides one part of the equation.

The remaining half lies on the shoulders of the legislature. New laws have yet to be passed to improve our level of competitiveness, bolster government’s revenues, strengthen our institutions, and better prepare the youth for the economic challenges of the future. This is why the next elections, particularly those for the 12 senatorial slots, are so crucial.

The senatorial slates of both the Liberal Party and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) are pretty much firmed up. From what I see, both parties offer a hodgepodge of candidates ranging from your garden-variety trapos (traditional politicians) to newbies, neither of which is compelling enough for me to vote a straight ticket.

So from now until election day, I’ll be dedicating some of my columns to candidates whom I think can contribute to our national dream of economic prosperity for all. This is my way of helping ensure that those elected are public servants in the truest sense with something substantive to contribute.

But before I reveal my first senatorial choice, let me first tell you who I am NOT voting for. I am not voting for candidates who are next of kin to any incumbent senator. I say this because no single family should have more than one vote in the formation of national policy. This could prove dangerous especially if the family has inclinations, or already is, a political dynasty. Moreover, no candidate should gain undue advantage just because he or she enjoys the benefit of name recall.

I will not vote for those intellectually and experientially deficient, those suspect of having committed crime, and (especially) those who, in the past, sabotaged the economy by mounting a power grab through military rebellion. These are people who do not deserve the vote of hardworking citizens like you and me.

First Among My Choices

The first candidate on my ticket is former senator Jun Magsaysay. Experience and intellectual savvy aside, Jun Magsaysay is a man with a well-defined agenda for running for office. If elected, the former senator will champion the cause of entrepreneurship, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and the agricultural sector in the senate.

For a nation blessed with millions of hectares of arable land and fertile fishing grounds, it is still a net importer of rice, grains and produce. The sector has shrunk massively since the ’70s due primarily to the premature implementation of land reform. As a result, agriculture has shrunk to only 13 percent of the entire economy, from more than 50 percent two decades ago.

The ultimate goal is food security, says Magsaysay. Unknown to many, the good senator was the principal sponsor of the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act, the most comprehensive statute that outlines the long-term development of the agricultural sector. He was also the main proponent of the Young Farmers Program, a scheme that encourages the youth to venture into agri- and fisheries-related businesses, a field not too fashionable these days. In fact, even after his stint at the senate, Magsaysay continues to promote the agricultural sector as a field of livelihood. This is an advocacy close to his heart.

Of course, let us not forget that he was the lone senator who had the guts to blow the whistle on the Bolante-Fertilizer Scam even amid pressure from GMA herself.

As for his advocacy on entrepreneurship is concerned, Magsaysay is the man behind the Magna Carta for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), a law that made it mandatory for banks to allocate eight percent of their loan portfolio to support SMEs. The decree has helped thousands of struggling   entrepreneurs expand their businesses, save them or get them off the ground.

But as a private citizen, perhaps not many are aware that Magsaysay is himself a self-made entrepreneur. He is considered the country’s “father of cable TV,” having established the first cable network in Zambales way back in the ’60s. His company, Asian Vision Cable Holdings, is still operational today and provides cable services for the folks in Zambales and Batangas, among others.

Lately, however, Magsaysay has been preoccupied with his dairy farm and pasteurizing plant that goes by the brand name, Holly’s Milk. Like the true La Sallian entrepreneur that he is (with an MBA from New York University), he built his company from the ground up to prove that dairy farming can be a viable business. His handiwork has since grown to become a fully integrated milk processing facility that utilizes the most current technologies.

The former senator understands the plight of the entrepreneur because he is one himself. He understands the challenges of the agriculture industry, having experienced it first hand. To me, this makes him credible.

Knowing The Guy

Although the former senator has been a friend of my in-laws for years, my chat with him last week was the first time we got close and personal. What struck me was his soft-spoken and self-effacing demeanor. Despite his many achievements in the private sector and in public office, he still finds it difficult to talk about his accomplishments. A breast-beating politician he is not. If anything, he comes across as a wise uncle generously dishing out advice about life and country.

We spent the better half of the afternoon in interesting chat while enjoying Carmen’s Best ice cream, made using fresh milk from his farm. From our exchange of anecdotes, I realized that beneath the veneer of his pedigree, Jun Magsaysay is a simple man who lives a modest life bereft of material excesses. His joys are simple. There is no lust for power, no lust for money or no need for attention I could detect. In this sense, he is untypical of politicians of his generation. No surprise that after being in public office for 40 years (on and off), the man’s record remains clean of scandals or accusations of corruption. I reckon he is a statesman of the most honorable kind, just like his father.

I sensed a calm enthusiasm about him as he spoke about his plans if elected again to the senate. Apart from his passion for entrepreneurship and agriculture, he also spoke lengthily about decongesting Metro Manila, developing satellite cities and improving our standards of higher learning. As he spoke, his love for country shone through. I came out of our meeting inspired and appreciating my country even more.

Sensitive Issues

To give everyone a perspective of where Jun Magsaysay stands politically, I asked him what his positions were on some of today’s more controversial issues. I started with the most difficult one of all, the RH Bill.

Magsaysay clarifies that there are many dimensions to the RH Bill. This is why he finds it difficult to categorically say whether he is for or against it. This much, however, he shared: He is all for the dissemination of information and advancing education on reproductive health. He is against abortion but is open-minded about the use of contraceptives. To him, contraception is a personal decision which the state has no business controlling. He also stresses the importance of population control for the economic future of the country.

As for Sin Taxes, the former senator believes that a simpler tax system would be better for all concerned. He finds the current four-tier system far too complicated, making it open to “flexibilities”.  While he is all for increasing government revenues through sin taxes, he also warns that it (the taxes) should not be too excessive as it may only encourage smuggling. This is what must be avoided, he asserts. He also thinks that making tobacco and alcohol products more expensive for the populace can have a positive impact on their health and well-being.

The former senator also confirms his support of the Freedom of Information Bill. He believes that the people deserve full transparency for projects where public funds are used. He cited how the “open-book policy” of Jesse Robredo, while Mayor of Naga, proved to be a win-win scenario for both the local government and its constituents. It sowed trust, promulgated honesty and made public spending more efficient.

On the Philippine-China row at the West Philippine Sea, the former senator believes that all diplomatic avenues must be exhausted to settle the dispute. He stresses, however, that the Philippines must take the lead in advancing the concept of “co-habitation” of the disputed shoal. The claimants, after all, are not just China and Philippines, but Vietnam and Malaysia as well.  Again, Magsaysay is looking towards a win-win solution.

The Realization

My talk with the former senator seemed like it could go on for another three hours. We had a great time! But the sun was setting and I didn’t want to take more of the senator’s time than I already had, so we agreed to save our storytelling for another time. As I said my thanks, the good senator insisted that I take home three tubs of ice cream for my wife. It was a gesture I didn’t expect, but was incredibly delighted by. It was as if he didn’t want me to go home empty-handed. I felt like a kid again visiting my uncle’s house.

That night, as my wife and I enjoyed the ice cream, I received an unexpected text message from the former senator. In it, he said, “Andrew, my pleasure to be interviewed and to meet you! Tito Jun.” At that moment, I realized who Jun Magsaysay really was. He is the gentle, generous and wise “Uncle” the Filipino has long been hankering for. As for me, I was grinning from ear to ear because I knew my best senatorial bet was now also my “Tito”.

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Andrew is an economist, political analyst and businessman. He is a 20-year veteran in the hospitality and tourism industry. For comments and reactions, e-mail andrew_rs6@yahoo.com. Follow Andrew on Twitter @aj_masigan.