BUSINESS ETHICS FOR
NATION BUILDING AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Land Bank of the Philippines Code of
Conduct Month
7 January 2013
On May 10, 2010, in what many believe
was a minor miracle, the Filipino people
elected a reluctant candidate. President Benigno S. Aquino III became the
President of the Philippines. Some of us think the miracle was the precise
timing of the death of his mother, the
saintly Cory Aquino; the sudden, overwhelming realization of our people
that there have been government officials who served with integrity; and the
withdrawal of Mar Roxas to make way for Noynoy Aquino.
The miracle continues in President Aquino himself. He has changed the
course of history and continues to do so. In his inaugural speech on July 1,
2010, he outlined his social contract with all of us.
He made a ringing promise – wala nang wang-wang – that resonated with
each and every one of us. It was the most applauded statement in his entire
speech, because it captured in those four words, the root of many of the
problems that beset our country. Those four simple Pilipino words spoke volumes. Those four Pilipino words encapsulated
the principles he would live by as our President. Those four Pilipino words can
guide us in our code of conduct
Wang-wang depicted power; position; prestige. It also depicted arrogance;
a “me-first” attitude; “I’m more important than all of you”; “san tabi muna
kayo diyan”. It was a symbol of a society that had forgotten the principles of
democracy; of equality; of service; of those having less in life being given
more attention. It was a symbol of the abuse of power and pelf that has become
a social cancer, gnawing at the heart and soul of the country.
Everything the President has done since has flowed from that simple promise.
The antithesis of wang-wang is good governance, and he has made that his
single most important cause. He declared
war against corruption, a social evil that has become so ingrained in our
society that very few people thought he would succeed. But these past two and a
half years have seen a sea-change in the attitudes of our people.
Two dramatic events have demonstrated how corruption has become such a
mind-setamong our government officials that they no longer realized
they had destroyed their own lives and possibly those of their families. The
investigation into the so-called “pabaon” of tens and hundreds of millions of
pesos to top officials of the military showed, in the clearest of terms, how
the government coffers could be raided with impunity. The image presented by a
witness of huge vaults bulging with cash, to be dispensed by a simple controller, was mind-boggling. It
symbolized the worst form of pillage, of
arrogance, of evil. It resulted in one man committing suicide, possibly to
atone for his sins, as the Japanese used to do, and possibly to spare his
family from the pain and the shame of being investigated as well.
The impeachment of Chief Justice Corona showed another insidious practice
in the country – the total disregard for rules and regulations by those in
power. As in the case of Al Capone, the Philippine government used the tools of
accounting to show that a person’s net worth was not supported by his or her
income tax returns, or in the case of Corona, by his SALN. Because of these
cases, people could no longer complain that the government only runs after the “small
fish”. The Chief Justice is after all Number three in the government, right after
the President and Vice President.
Perhaps less dramatic has been the continuing saga of former President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, but it is instructive nonetheless that even the
highest official of the land can be investigated and arrested.
These cases, together with the unrelenting drive of Commissioner Kim Henares
against tax evaders, have shown that yes, it can be done. It needs political
will and a strong moral compass that will guide one in everything we do.
The President’s relentless campaign against corruption and for good
governance has resulted in an
unprecedented economic boom that has our stock exchange soaring, various
industries like the BPO, real estate, and tourism sizzling; and indications of
a brain gain – overseas Filipinos coming home.
But many problems remain. The President has called for “inclusive growth”
to ensure that the benefits of economic development will improve the lives of
those who need it most – the families at the base and at the very bottom of the
pyramid. He has also made a clarion call for each and every one of us to help
him achieve these goals. How do we respond?
First we have to start with ourselves. We must live the enduring values
of honesty,diligence, and excellence in our own personal lives. If we
don’t, we cannot do so in our professional lives. Do we tell the truth? Do we
pay our taxes properly? Do we follow traffic rules? Do we raise our children in
these eternal values?
What
about at the Land Bank? You who work at the Land Bank are in a unique time andplace to be a strong partner
of the President in ensuring that these goals – of inclusive growth and of good
governance – are achieved and, more important, sustained beyond 2016.
What role can each and
every one of you play in this great adventure that the President has set out
for us? Perhaps the best way is to do what he does. The President can be our
role model in determining our Code of Conduct as servants of the people.
· Land Bank as a GOCC must show best practice in business
ethics
· Follow “matuwid na daan”; zero
tolerance for corruption
· Achieve highest levels of service
orientation to clients
· Focus on its niche as the bank that
grows the agriculture sector of the
country
· Importance of food security
· Serve those at the base of the
pyramid
A. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CORRUPTION
The President has shown that yes, it
can be done. We CAN root out corruption. But yes, it will take some time to
reach a state when good governance is the norm. We must start with ourselves. Each one of us,
especially those of you who hold higher positions in the bank, must be paragons
of virtue, shining examples of integrity so that we can inspire everyone around
us to do so themselves. Good governance must become so ingrained in each official and
staff of the Land Bank that it becomes a
way of life. It becomes part of the corporate culture.
My late husband Francis made a big to-do about this at the
Sandiganbayan. Once appointed by
President Cory Aquino he immediately sent word to his relatives and friends
that they should not approach him for any case pending in the Sandiganbayan.
When one family dared come to our house, he did not even allow them to get out
of their car. He went out to meet them and to tell them not to even try. Sometimes
it is good to make a clear statement on the matter so that people already know
that you cannot be “approached”.
B. IT CANNOT BE A QUIET CAMPAIGN – People
have to see and hear, be aware, be vigilant. It is a WAR, and we have to arm
ourselves with the equipment to win. Systems and processes must be tightened to
make corruption difficult, without unduly burdening those we serve with
bureaucracy. There must be constant reminders to comport ourselves at the highest levels of integrity. Posters, suggestion
boxes, incentives for whistleblowers etc can be utilized for the campaign.
C. A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE
You at the Land Bank have
a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of the 50M
Filipinos who labor in the agricultural sector. You have the financial
resources, a whole host of talent and expertise within your ranks. You also
have the geographic reach to serve those who may still live at the margins of
society.
Every day you should be
thinking about how best to serve the farmers, those who till the land for whom
this bank was established. It is not enough for the bank to make money. Your
success should be measured in the lives you have improved; in the agri-based
enterprises you have helped grow; in the improved productivity of our
farmlands; in the support services you have put in place in the remotest farms
in the country.
D. BE BOLD; BE INNOVATIVE
President Aquino would
not have succeeded in his campaign against corruption if he had merely taken
little steps to curb it. He had to be bold. To take on big issues; to take on
important people; to show that no one is above the law.
In your line of work, you
can be bold in reaching out to your farmer-constituents instead of waiting for
them to come to you with their problems or their dreams. Go out into the field,
talk to them, listen to them, let them guide you in your strategic planning
sessions. What is it they need? What are their aspirations? How can you help
them solve their problems and achieve their dreams? The branches that serve the
CCT beneficiaries can be at the forefront of this effort. Innovate product
offerings, adjust price points, develop new approaches to serving your constituency.
E. FIND THE SWEET SPOT – DOING GOOD AND
DOING WELL – SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
At the risk of being
politically incorrect, I believe that the Land Bank can and should be a Social
Enterprise. With all the talent and resources at your command, the bank can
focus on service perhaps even more than profit.
Despite the great
economic numbers that our country now enjoys, many challenges remain. These are
especially true in the rural areas, where the Land Bank should be operating.
That is where your rubber should meet the road.
The problems remain:
- High Incidence of Poverty
- Challenges in public education, public health
- Lack of basic services in rural areas; inadequate infrastructure
- High unemployment and underemployment rates
- Limited access to credit
One way is for Land Bank to pilot programs for the farmers
and farming communities that are strategic, scalable, and sustainable.
My family was subject to land reform way back in the 1960’s.
As the youngest of our family, I was not personally involved in the farm and
was glad when they property was turned over to those who till the land.
However, I have always wondered whether lives of our tenants actually improved
over the past 50 years. Sadly, when we visited one of the communities last
week, I was deeply disappointed to see that they still lived in nipa huts; they were
still living a hand-to-mouth existence.
THE LAND BACK SHOULD BECOME A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE – find your
way to the double or triple bottom line. Your success should be in the measured
in the number of farmers who are no longer poor; who can send their children to
school; who can bring their families to a doctor; who can start his own
business; who can retire in relative comfort. Even if it takes the P9B in
profit to do so, it will make a significant impact not only on the farmer’s
families but on the entire country as well. it may take a lot of advocacy, it
may shake the tree or rock the boat, but it is the only way it can truly say
that it serves the countryside.
The Land Bank can be the role model for good governance and
by the power of its example in serving the poor and disadvantaged at the bottom
of the pyramid. If all the GOCCs were to then follow your example, then the
dream of President Aquino, which is the dream of every Filipino, will live on
beyond his term. It is you who are in government who can help ensure that the
reforms started by President Aquino will be sustained. GOOD GOVERNANCE; DRIVE
FOR EXCELLENCE; PASSION FOR SERVICE.
The challenge is there before you. The power is in your
hands. May the Holy Spirit guide you, inspire you, protect you and bless you.
