Demand and Supply – Manny Villar promises competence

Posted on | November 8, 2009 | No Comments

November 09, 2009 – Sitting relaxed in the elegant living room of the former Laurel mansion in Mandaluyong, presidential candidate Manny Villar served notice that he is not about to be counted out for next year’s contest. His first appearance in a serious television program, Villar told Ricky Carandang of ANC that he plans to win public confidence in his first hundred days by initiating and delivering high impact projects in a highly transparent manner.

Without directly attacking front runner Noynoy Aquino, Villar was effective in drawing the differences between him and Noynoy on things that would matter after elections are over. Manny V simply drew on his life experience of building a business empire from scratch as he emphasized that whoever lands in Malacañang would need the kind of experience he has had to effectively run the large bureaucracy… and yes, produce positive results amidst a fiscal crisis.

We all know, Villar pointed out, that the new President must build a lot of modern infrastructure for our economy to flourish. How can a candidate credibly promise to do this competently, he asked, if he has had no experience in building a road or a bridge for his constituents ever?

The former Speaker and Senate President observed that he will make it clear on day one of his administration that he intends to be totally transparent in all government contracts. He even wants public biddings covered by live television cameras. He said he wants to deliver a strong message to the bureaucracy by setting a good example in his style of governance… as he declares an end to business as usual.

Poverty reduction is on top of his agenda and to this end, he wants to deliver an annual GDP growth rate of no less than se-ven per cent during his term to make a dent on poverty. In the meantime, he intends to alleviate the impact of poverty on a growing portion of our population who are experiencing hunger with programs that directly help the poor cope with the daily challenges of living. Without freedom of want, he said, there is no true political freedom.

What strikes me with Manny V’s demeanor during the interview is the confidence he exudes that he is not just talking and promising but he can deliver. His self confidence is not arrogant but one that emanates from his rags to riches life story and his fairly short but meteoric political career thus far. Nothing seems to faze him anymore.

And he doesn’t seem to feel the need to viciously put down anyone to support his quest for higher office. He knows the rules of the game and he is ready to abide by these rules even as he decries early efforts to taint his image with suggestions of corruption in the C5 controversy.

I agree with him on that point… the C5 controversy is really a non issue that was blown out of proportion. Whatever may have been said about it, no one has been able to prove he made money out of it. Indeed, it is even now starting to benefit commuters in that part of Metro Manila.

My friends who are running Noynoy’s campaign should watch a replay of Ricky’s interview with Villar. Right now they are running on sheer emotion. The three-minute commercial produced by Kris and her showbiz friends is fantastic but is largely an appeal to emotions. But election day is still some months away and emotions have a way of dissipating over time.

Soon there will be comparisons made between Manny V and Noynoy on such things as potential ability to deliver on the promises of a heated campaign. Projecting leadership will matter as voters worry about the future. That’s when the things Manny said in this interview and the casual way he delivered his positives have the potential of changing even minds that were earlier committed to Noynoy.

The great thing that’s shaping up in this campaign season is the return of the two party system. More and more it seems it will be a one on one between Manny Villar and Noynoy Aquino.

Erap appears destined to lose more support as the campaign deepens… simply because he looks and sounds like the tired “has been” that he is. It does not help Erap to keep on saying he wants the election to vindicate him. He fails to understand it is not about him… it is about the country and its future. We also now have a new generation of voters who probably haven’t even seen an old Erap movie… who probably think Asiong Salonga was a former Senate President.

Gibo Teodoro, on the other hand, will fail to get traction and the defection of Lakas party members to Villar’s Nationalista Party is a good indicator of that. The stench of his association with Ate Glue would prove to be too much to bear for most voters. Gibo will find out it is not enough to have the oratorical talent of a brilliant lawyer.

Compared to Gibo, Villar has the advantage of having the proven management skills which Ondoy showed Gibo simply doesn’t have. But as the majority of voters totally disgusted with Ate Glue gravitate towards Noynoy, Villar and Gibo will find themselves fighting for the Arroyo loyalists who are in fact, only loyal to anyone who can provide them with funding.

This brings me to a handicap that Manny V must address: the growing impression that he is actually the real candidate of Ate Glue and Gibo is just a sacrificial red herring who is there only to attract the most vicious of anti administration attacks and thus shield Ate Glue’s real but secret choice. The problem with Villar is his reluctance to make a definite statement that he will go after the crooks of this administration. Has he promised Ate Glue and cohorts to be lenient or worse?

Ever pragmatic, Manny V thinks he can gloss over that and not alienate Ate Glue supporters if not Ate Glue herself. Problem is… the country is no mood for compromise. The imagery of the fight between good and evil is etched in many people’s minds. Manny must choose if he is good or evil.

I must confess I have yet to make up my mind between Manny V and Noynoy. On the one hand, I think we need Manny V’s pragmatism and experience to effectively deliver on the things our country needs badly. On the other hand, Noynoy is better able to win public confidence that at the very least it seems he can be trusted not to steal, not to live a profligate life and not put the presidency in disgrace.

Is confidence in a leader’s honesty and integrity more important than demonstrated competence and real world pragmatism? I don’t know.

Manny V’s strength is also his weakness as people have become more skeptical of leaders who have become as successful as he has on matters involving money. It doesn’t help Villar that he smells like a typical politician whose moral values are adjustable. But Noynoy’s strength is also his weakness as the emotional attachments to Tita Cory’s son evaporate in the grim reality of our day-to-day lives.

I guess, for now, it is turning out to be a good fight between Manny and Noynoy. At least, I do not feel I have to choose the lesser evil. Both promise to do the country a lot of good.

Credible leadership

Here is a reaction from an economist to our column last week on our need to elect someone who can provide a credible leadership.

There’s a downside to a credible government. The exchange rate might shoot up to PHP 40 to $ 1! At least, Ate Glue is helping to keep the rate “competitive.”

Seriously, now, we should also urge the BSP to take a more pro-active stance (buying dollars aggressively) to keep the rate competitive, just like what China is doing now. The threat of inflation from monetizing dollar inflows with proper sterilization is low.

With US interest rates near zero, there’s a danger that some of that global cash will pour into the Philippines once a credible government is in place, creating a bubble that’s likely to crash. Let’s not repeat 1997.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is . This and some past columns can also be viewed at www.boochanco.com

Original article found here.

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