In my view, one reason why most of our leaders seem to prioritize short-term welfare programs (such as the controversial AKAP, AICS and all the other dole-out projects ostensibly led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development) is the uncertainty of our political cycle.
Let me explain.
Elections here in the Philippines occur every three years. And in those three years, anything can happen – allies can turn into rivals, coalitions can be made (and unmade).
And traditional politicians who are so obsessed with “legacy” and carving their names for voters have found that crafting long-term programs, whether it be infrastructure projects or development programs for their towns or cities, is impractical for the simple reason that they could be voted out in the next three years.
So what happens? What the electorate gets, aside from welfare projects that are nothing more than dole-outs, are “pet projects” like basketball courts that can be built quickly and cheaply – and with a bonus of having their names painted on them.
If they do try to build long-term projects like bridges or school buildings or public markets, chances are they’ll be watered-down or built hastily, which meant that the next administration will have to deal with, let’s say, cracks on structures or a design flaw that meant they’ll have to rebuild the project entirely. More cost, more “perwisyo” in the long run!
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It’s this propensity to construct “quick-build” projects, in my view, that differentiates “populist” politicians from real leaders who see the future beyond their term limits.
There was this quote by a local city councilor here in Laguna province, made during our interview with her in the run-up to the 2022 elections, that has inexplicably been engraved in my mind ever since. As in – for a man like me who was notoriously forgetful on basic things like umbrellas and wallets, this quote somehow stuck in my subconscious and never got erased.
Now, with another election coming up, I have come to realize that it was what she described that voters should understand in choosing their leaders. (I know I’ve quoted this again and again here in my column, but please bear me out.)
“Ang politician kasi, ang iniisip lang niya, pulitika. That is, kapag ginawa ko ba ito, mananalo ba ako? Kahit tama ang gagawin mo, makakaapekto ba ito sa boto ng tao sa akin? But when you are a public servant, hindi mo papansinin kung ano ang iisipin ng mga tao sa ginagawa mo. You have a purpose – lahat ng ginagawa mo, may output na gusto mong makita. Sa simula hindi magugustuhan ng mga tao, pero mare-realize nila na tama pala, na ito pala ang dapat mangyari.”
Let me add another point here.
“Traditional politicians” are only concerned with their term, so their plans for the electorate are limited to that – especially if he’s obsessed with cementing his legacy. True leaders, on the other hand, are not afraid to dream big, to build big, even though he knows that what he started may not be finished during his term. His mindset: Yes, I won’t be your leader when this project or program finally reaps its benefits, but at least I started it, and I started it because I want our town or city to reach its goals for everyone.
And that’s something we should all consider as we once again prepare to choose our next leaders this May.
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