1 week ago
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Our business editor, Iris Gonzales, wrote a thought-provoking piece in her Op-Ed column the other week that wondered if a business tycoon or CEO can be a better future president of our country than the crop of plundering politicians we now have.
I have thought about that too. There are pros and cons.
True, we need someone with good managerial skills to run our country and with the technical expertise to navigate the perils of the current world economy and geopolitical realities. Also important, probably more important than those two qualities, is possession of true love of country above self-interest and the ability to empathize with the miseries of the poor among us.
Then again, we could get a businessman who has never held a government post like Donald Trump. We should be very careful what we wish for.
My problem with Filipino business tycoons and corporate CEOs is their general detachment to the pains of common people. They are the elite of society with a rent-seeking attitude vis-à-vis their relationship with the government. They are not real risk takers. Many have chosen the property sector because this has proven to be a sure thing. Or be cronies of the Malaca?ang tenant.
So called Filipino industrialists of the 50s, 60s and 70s were happy to produce overpriced but substandard products protected by high tariff and non-tariff barriers. No one cared to manufacture products that could compete in the export market. This is why our economy was surpassed by war-torn South Korea and later by another war-torn country, Vietnam.
Our business elite are only focused on assuring what one of them calls, his fiduciary responsibility to his stockholders.
The only Filipino enterprise that flew the Filipino flag abroad was SGV of Washington SyCip whose accounting firm was internationally recognized. The first OFWs were SGV staff assigned abroad.
One entrepreneur worth noting was Raul “Ronnie” Concepcion who successfully upgraded the quality and reputation of Filipino-made products to world class standards. I have also worked with him in marshalling public cooperation on energy savings during the energy crisis years and I noted that his heart for the country went beyond his business interests.
If I had to choose one Filipino businessman/CEO who could have been a good president, it’s probably Ronnie Concepcion. Everyone else were just businessmen.
What about today? Is there anyone out there who could be our knight in shining armor to fight this plague of self-serving politicians and discarded showbiz talents aspiring for high government positions?
Iris told me that based on comments she got from her column, almost everyone said it should be Ramon S. Ang. There was just one who said Manny Villar.
I know both people well so let me share my thoughts.
Manny and I were contemporaries at UP Diliman. We were on the same ROTC platoon. I admire Manny for being a self-made billionaire. There is no doubt he has the managerial skills needed to run our government. He knows our politics well, and was even able to maneuver the House to pass the impeachment resolution against Erap when he was Speaker. Manny understands how it is to be poor and what the poor needs.
My problem with Manny is that he is now more of a businessman with a political dynasty than anything else. And I will end there.
As for Ramon Ang, he is headstrong against entering politics. We talked about this possibility a number of times but he sincerely believes he can best serve the country by being in San Miguel. He has used the resources of San Miguel to clean rivers and submit PPP bids designed, in his words, “to keep other bidders honest.” His instruction to his team was to bid to win even if potential profits are not maximized.
Thus, when San Miguel won the bid for the NAIA Expressway, they offered a significantly higher upfront cash payment of P11 billion, which was around 36 times more than the next bidder, Manila North Tollways Corp., who offered only P305 million. He didn’t lose money on it and based on its current earnings, proved to be a good investment.
Then, San Miguel offered to share a significantly higher percentage of future gross revenue with the government compared to the next bidder for the NAIA rehabilitation project, proposing 82.16 percent compared to the GMR Airports Consortium’s 33.30 percent bid, meaning San Miguel’s bid was nearly twice as high as the next closest competitor.
Again, maximizing profits wasn’t RSA’s top of mind but, in his words, being given the chance to modernize NAIA, and remove this international shame on the country.
The thing with RSA is his attitude toward money. He believes money should be used to serve people. As he puts it, when you die, you can’t bring it with you. We talked about money and death one afternoon because a number of his contemporaries were dying.
RSA is also a hands-on manager. One rainy Sunday afternoon, I received a Viber message from RSA telling me that the flooded portions of SLEX have been cleared. Then he sent me some photos on Viber. This CEO was moving around checking on how his business operations were doing…on a stormy weekend. Name me another CEO who would do that.
But with RSA out of the running, I see no tycoon or CEO who can be a good president. As I pointed out, being a tycoon or a good manager isn’t enough to make a good president. We need one who has all those competencies plus a heart to serve and a vision for the country’s future. And one who will not steal or condone stealing from the National Treasury.
Out of 120 million Filipinos, there is no obvious one who fits the bill. Maybe someone young will eventually emerge. But for now, we are screwed.
Boo Chanco’s email address is [email protected]. Follow him on X @boochanco
