Properly Managing The Philippines A Must

        In one of my travels I ran into a retired U.S. Air Force Coronel who worked for the Voice of America in Tarlac, Philippines.  He spent many years there and made a lot of observations.  I asked for his opinion on one issue. I asked what he thought were the reasons why the Philippines is the way it is, lagging behind most nations in Asia with its economy.  He told me he would give me just one reason.  He said it is the lack of or absence of consistent and proper management in many areas.

      
       Having spent almost four decades in the United States and having been exposed to many of its private and government systems and operations, it was easy to see what he was talking about. Indeed as one enters the Philippines from years of living in one of the most organized and managed societies in the world, one immediately sees the stark contrast.  And we are not talking about the difference in wealth but the efficiency with which things are being run.

    
      When the U.S. Naval base in Subic Bay, Zambales was still in operation I marveled at the heaven and earth contrast between what happened inside the base and the communities and government just outside the gate and beyond. Again we are not talking about the difference in wealth.  It was also a great source of amazement to see the same citizens of the Philippines, which made up the bulk of the workforce, working inside the naval base performed  with such remarkable efficiency and dependability.

     
      So we look at yet another angle. Let us quickly take a look at the successful entrepreneurs or businesses in the Philippines.  These are noticeably and mostly Chinese and other foreign-owned businesses. 

Now, we step outside our nation and go to the myriad of nations where our citizens go and work.  We exhibit the same remarkable ability to excel and be proficient, dependable and efficient.

     
      So, we ask this very important question.  Why are we NOT able to do the same things in our own turf and under our own style of management? Why is it that when we work under a different and obviously better management, we do not seem to have a problem flourishing as people?  Here lies the glaring fact.  Our ability to consistently organize and manage with any form of sustainability to move our society successfully forward is truly missing from a lot of areas in our government and even in the civilian sector.  Which leaves us with total clarity on what needs to be done.

Joe Joson, USA