So nearly 40 years after EDSA, we see how things in some respects in life haven’t changed much.’
IT’S been almost 40 years since EDSA, and one thing clearly hasn’t changed in this country: public works sucks. I thought that the change of regime in 1986 would at least lead to some improvement in even just this single area of life in these islands.
But no.
One of the many stories I enjoyed hearing from Enrique Zobel about his exchanges with Ferdinand Marcos was the one regarding Vicente “Ting” Paterno. Those of us old enough will remember that once upon a time Paterno was the Secretary of Public Works and Highways of the first Marcos, and was highly respected all around, especially in the business community.
But Marcos the First found cause to remove him. This prompted EZ to ask the Philippine president why he did so, given the fact that Paterno was known to be an honest and decent man.
Zobel told me that the response from the President was instructive: Paterno, the president conceded, was an honest man. But he was so honest that no roads were being paved.
Get the drift?
Nearly four decades later, and moving to the second year of the presidency of the second Marcos, you do see roads being paved — but only by so much. Whenever you drive all over the country, you’ll see half-started or half-finished work on roads and bridges, even buildings. It leaves me with the impression that went it comes to public infrastructure projects there’s something really wrong. As a result, nothing gets completed on time and within budget.
Let’s repeat that: nothing gets completed on time and within budget.
And before a project – like a road – is completed it has to be demolished again so that a new paving project can be approved and started.
Get the drift?
So nearly 40 years after EDSA, we see how things in some respects in life haven’t changed much. Public works still suck – and one wonders whether this is because there are fewer honest men or despite their presence in government.
