Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, Chairman, Institute for Solidarity in Asia
We now have the three components of our base chart. We have our Core Values, which serve as the true foundations of our efforts to further build our nation and bring genuine progress to our people. We also have a Mission, which gives us our North Star, giving clear direction to our continuing and never-ending efforts at people development within a democratic society. And within that Mission, we have a Vision, which articulates what we aim to realize and achieve within a definite time horizon, in this instance between 2010 and 2030, i.e. in slightly less than a generation.
All three components provide us with a stable base chart, one which does not change with personalities who may serve in top positions of government within a term of 6 years. It is a base chart for governance, which necessarily invites us to think of a long time horizon (instead of only the relatively short term); of our institutions that last (instead of passing personalities); and therefore of strategies (instead of only smart tactics). Moreover, the strategies that need forging should address vital issues that the components of the base chart itself suggest.
These vital issues relate to the values we need to observe in all facets of our life as a nation; the fundamental institutions that are the critical drivers of change; the internal capacity of these institutions and the infrastructure we need to put in place to make them function more effectively; and finally, the economic resources with which to serve the basic needs of every Filipino.
In assessing these issues, we need to look at ourselves squarely. It is true that we have weaknesses we need to address, but also strengths we can build upon. Furthermore, we have many threats we face, and some of these may come to confront us from we know not where. However, we also have opportunities we can and should seize. As a result of making a frank and objective assessment of our weaknesses as well as strengths, and of the threats as well as opportunities that are out there, we can arrive at a set of strategic priorities we need to give serious consideration to and adopt as key spheres for close attention and decisive action.
A close look at these different strategic priorities would reveal that there is a close link between them. A few of them are so closely inter-related with each other that they can fall under one strategic theme, which can serve as a convenient umbrella under which to group them.
Three such strategic themes emerge from the set of strategic priorities, which arise out of the assessment made on the basis of our weaknesses and strengths as well as of our threats and opportunities, taking due account of the base chart for the long-term strategic direction of the governance of our country.
The first of these strategic themes is our “Shared Values”, which serves as the umbrella for six strategic priorities, i.e. “responsible citizenship”; “strengthen drivers of change”; “ethical and professional standards aligned with global standards”; “social responsibility programs spread to sectors and segments of society”; “the Filipino enjoying the real benefits of development”; and “the Filipino being proud of the Philippines”.
The second strategic theme is “Sense of Progress”. It serves as the umbrella for these strategic priorities: “good governance”; “infrastructure: modern and competitive”; and “growth in real GDP per person”.
The third strategic theme is closely related to the first, and it goes by the name of “Sense of Community”. Under this umbrella are the following strategic priorities: “keep government, in partnership with the private sector, lean, effective and efficient”; “clean and green environment”; and “growth in productivity”.
The strategic themes are few—only three—thereby conferring the advantage of being relatively easy to remember. Moreover, they serve to underscore the strong links between several strategic priorities: fundamentally important as they all are, still they are so closely inter-connected with each other that they can and should be grouped together.
Manila, January 21, 2010
from his column “Swimming Against the Current,”
Manila Bulletin
