"Ningas-kugon" is a uniquely Filipino term for what has become, unfortunately, a not-so-good character trait of the Filipino. The term comes from "cogon," a type of grass which, when drawn to fire, extinguishes itself after a few seconds.
"Ningas-kugon" is often applied to the tendency of Filipinos to enthusiastically work on a project or a challenge with zeal at the start, but then lose enthusiasm or interest in the long run.
The result: projects often come to a screeching halt without being finished – a waste of time, money and effort.
This week, many local executives in Laguna province, especially the so-called "first-timers," will start their own tenure in public service.
In some cases, the change will spill over to the local government agencies, where new officials will immediately take their place.
As this paper had pointed out in the past, the first 100 days of the local executives' tenure will be a crucial one for them and for their constituents as this will be the time when they start rolling out the agendas and the projects that they have promised during the elections.
And as this paper had stated – and will state again and again – this is the time when we should be even more vigilant of our leaders, especially to the new ones who have promised a change in their towns or cities.
There’s no clearer example of this “ningas-kugon” attitude than in our response to the two-year Covid-19 pandemic.
At the outset of the pandemic in 2020, local authorities implemented health protocols such as the wearing of facemasks and social distancing with such zeal that residents sometimes complain that, at times, those implementing those health standards have overstepped their boundaries.
Today, however, that kind of zeal in implementing health protocols is virtually nonexistent.
As a result, many have found it easy to flout such simple rules as wearing facemasks in public places – and that sent alarm bells among health experts who now fear yet another surge of Covid-19 cases.
Some of our new leaders in Laguna province have actively urged their constituents to be active participants in the making of the change that they have promised during the elections.
And part of that participation is ensuring that our leaders will not go astray or lose their zeal in delivering their promises to the people.