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Base Conversion Not For Little Minds

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First Published: Reflections - Philippine Daily Inquirer Publication Date: 25th February 1992 Author's Name: Father Shay Cullen SSC

Great tasks are not for little minds.

The successful conversion of Subic from a military-dependent economy into a robust economic center calls for men and women of both vision and integrity and greatness of character. The image of a dry dock being towed out of Subic Bay gave rise to negative reactions. Newspapers bannered the loss of thousands of jobs , few however gave little comment on the positive aspects of the pull out - the possibilities of what can be done with the huge facilities to replace those jobs.

Leaders with greatness of vision have yet to emerge. The absence of enlightened and experienced local leadership capable of this conversion task is cause for greater concern that the sail-past of a dry dock.

The economic conversion of Subic is of national importance. The assets are the property of the Filipino people as a whole not the coveted property of any one family or group of preying individuals. It is a task for leaders with experience in national leadership not for those who are experienced in brothel-keeping.

The fixation of local leadership for many years has been the retention of the bases and the lucrative commercial sex industry in which their investments reside. Should these economic and political forces come to preside over the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (as the Base conversion Act makes possible) to be sure they will promote what they know best .

Instead of bright new economic initiatives and business opportunities being energetically pursued it could well be sex tourism on a bigger and grandioso sale. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will operate by law as an arm of the Base Conversion Authority, (a national board ), but the SBMA could continue to promote military prostitution and sex tourism as local leadership has done in the past by arranging port visits of military ships.

Records show that those aggressively arm-twisting themselves into positions to be appointed to the SBMA board are unfamiliar with modern economic development and haven't the slightest original thought on military base conversion other than what they have plagiarized from others.

Fast talking incompetence is no substitute for sound experience in professional business management. Investors will be leery of investing where a political dynasty is calling the shots. This is a matter of grave concern that can jeopardize the future of the base conversion.

For a conversion plan to work, or any development plan for that matter trust and confidence in the the integrity and incorruptibility of the leadership is what inspires investment. Business success depends on stability, confidence and honest dealings. The only industry to grow up in Olongapo and surrounding areas of any size is a commercial sex industry and it is not an inspiring example of local ability.

The good people of Olongapo were badly served and we will pay the moral, social and economic cost for years to come. While there are excellent people here they have been alienated from the mainstream of business life for years by political patronage and favoritism to selected cronies. Besides, those who refused to go along with the immorality of the system were the victims of vindictiveness,threats and harassment.

There is no evidence that this approach will not continue if local elites are appointed to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

The main quality of successful leadership is impeccable credentials of honesty and integrity and spiritual values about the dignity of people and respect for the poor. A real leader will have a total conviction that conversion is and always has been been the best and right thing to do. Opportunists will whistle any tune that will rake in money for themselves.

The future of the bases depends as much on the implementor of a conversion plan as the plan itself. With a political family in the chair the way is open to cronyism and corruption. What counts most will be the singer not the song.

Will it not be both ironic and tragic if those forces which promoted anti-conversion of the bases and set up and protected a dehumanizing industry now come to rule the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority that is tasked to implement conversion?

The national leaders are more enlightened and far-seeing to let this happen.

http://www.preda.org/

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