By Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao
Chairman, Center for Excellence in Governance
As responsible citizens—absent a committed and morally responsible national leadership from government—we must step up the plate. We must work together to get us out of our current crisis.
We have described a way out, one that would get our nation moving from the deep hole into which we have fallen. We must dig ourselves out of it.
To do so, we must take a few critical steps that institutions and individuals can participate in. These are the critical steps of our national transformation initiative.
Every Filipino has an important role to play.
Let us not just analyze, criticize, and hope for better days. We must all take the critical steps that can lead our country to a new day.
10 CRITICAL STEPS ON OUR WAY OUT OF CRISIS
- Live the core values—daily.
The four national values—maka-Diyos, maka-Tao, maka-Kalikasan, maka-Bansa—must guide everyday decisions and actions, at home, at work, and in the community. They must be lived and observed, not just recited. - Enlist institutions to support values-based living and working.
Institutions must actively help individuals align their daily work and behavior with the national core values. - Align institutional values with national values.
Institutions adopt their own values but deliberately connect them with the national core values, so both reinforce character, citizenship, and social responsibility.
- Build transformation agendas on shared values.
Using these values as foundation, institutions define a clear vision, set priorities, forge strong work teams to deliver pre-set performance, and cascade values down to every unit and individual. - Spread values beyond the workplace.
Institutions extend values formation to families, schools, and communities through proactive social outreach and partnerships. - Form solidarity networks for social inclusion.
Institutions work together to provide skills, work values, and opportunities to marginalized groups, helping them escape poverty and regain dignity.
- Strengthen local governance through partnerships.
Solidarity networks collaborate with LGUs to improve public services, ensure clean and efficient processes, and promote orderly, productive communities using modern practices and technology. - Coordinate national action on natural resources.
A national solidarity network aligns government, business, and civil society to maximize value from land, water, marine, forest, and mineral resources—targeting faster economic growth. - Unlock the full value of human resources.
Another national network coordinates education, labor, and skills development to treat human capital as a single strategic asset that drives long-term growth of the economy. - Deepen financial inclusion and capital markets.
Strengthen financial literacy and broaden access to credit, bonds, and equity—especially for MSMEs—so finance becomes a true engine of inclusive growth.
Manila, January 2026