GUEST COLUMN
By Chef Palocci
The shelved National Broadband Project
That much maligned National Broadband issue just won't fizzle out. It has become the main entrée of all soap operas in prime time media outlets. True enough, few must have pocketed that grease money and ran away. There are a lot of urban cowboys eavesdropping in the Hotel lobbies of Makati just waiting to hop at opportunities that could take them to their magic carpet ride. If you are a habitué of these places, you could see familiar faces having coffee or tea from breakfast to sundown. Some would stay past midnight when they can hook up with ventured capitalist, investment bankers or would-be proponent agents. Now there's another Twin Project called Cyber Ed. Once you have the infrastructure, all you need is integrating application program for distant learning. Wow $US466 to waste again? That's not a highway robbery but rather economic treason. Is the Philippines for sale? It seems like it's up for grabs to the highest bidders. This act of treachery is unforgivable for the next generation who will be burdened to repay these loans. Uncle Sam's land is full of flaws as well but I'm sure my grandson won't be taxed to pay this debt but my brother's granddaughter will. That is why most of these Big Projects are negotiated and drawn in the Lobbies of 5 star Hotels abroad to avoid the roving eyes of Telecom Mafia, Lobbyist Spooks, Coattails Politicians and would be power brokers. All wanted to get their beak wet by getting in the loop or just joining in for a ride. What a way to make a living. Sometimes I wonder I am indeed in the wrong business. The great Chinese Philosopher Confucius quote, "When opportunity opens its door, jump on it." Sure enough these Gentlemen saw the opening, used their influence, muscled in and wasted no time. Business Ethics seems to be a Greek word to them.
Is it needed? I say yes because of Globalization trend. The world has become a virtual market for all commodity trading. It is a must to have an infrastructure that connects us to Digital World. E-Commerce business is growing at unprecedented pace. It is the medium of business exchange of the future. I have clients whose Technical Support, Web Servers and Customers Service is based in India while the Fulfillment Center is here in New York City. For American Business to remain competitive they have to outsource what ever services they can to foreign land. With broadband backbone the world is bonded into one cyber community. The primary responsibility of the government is to provide infrastructure necessary to advance commerce, maintain public order, protect property rights and enforced contracts. Sustained economic growth is the path to human progress. Economic globalization is achieved by removing barriers to the free flow of goods, trading and money, anywhere in the world through this virtual community exchange. It spurs competition, economic efficiency, creates job, lower consumer prices, open up consumer choices, and promote industrial growth beneficial to anyone.
In quest of Economic Strength, free market ideology has been embraced around the world with near religious fervor. Money is its sole measure of value, and it practices advance policies that are deepening social disintegration everywhere. The combination of economic theory, greed, thirst for power and political interest makes a powerful alliance. In many occasion it served even its own members poorly as its corrupting influence has not been limited to a broader society. It has lead to economic collapse, betrayal and lost of confidence in business community. It debased the integrity and social utility of economics. The political success of this alliance totally violates the moral foundation creating a society that they would scarcely wish to bequeath to their children. My only concern aside from the overpriced hardware is that this won't be utilized to its full potential unless there's a designated Czar to oversee it and know the business side of it. Politicians and decision makers involved would talk about it in their usual Braggadocio fashion but I doubt if they know how and where to strike the gold. Voice traffic is just one function. You have to create a business model to generate revenue a stream. The allocated bandwidth is for multi media use. You have to develop a market and implement its applications. They are more concern of setting this up, Get their slice of the pie and take their wives to the fashion Mall in Paris or Milan. Either that or take their family and waltz with Mickey and Minnie in Disneyland. For the more ambitious one it's a good source of funds to fill their war chest for their next campaign.
Now that it is suspended indefinitely, it's not a question of Deal or No Deal anymore but rather To Be or Not To Be. All the bets are off, yet the witch hunt continues and persons involved are now politically contaminated. It's either they gather their acts and clean the mess or feed their interest at the expense of taxpayers. So far I've read three casts of characters claiming they were the ones that advised the President to shelve it. Now its time to shine their "Mojo" all over again.. With a fraction of this $329 Million, the country could finance a nationwide catechism classes for the new generation so they could lecture Lolos and Lolas on Ethics and Morale Values. These virtues seem to dissipate in thin air in our generation. This has become a shameless society where the Leaders acts like bunch of clowns. Even the question asked lack technical substance. What the public needs to know is where and how can the Government get the ROI. The scope and material plan needs to be laid on the table.
My empathy goes to an old associate who spent five years working on this project. His firm did the engineering, material planning, researching for the best technology, finding a proponent and financing. Just as he wished this is the project he could brag in life, everything changed. The approving Government agency got switched from DILG to DOTC. Little did he know a former insider who introduced them to their proponent has realigned with new players. With higher stake in mind, this International wheel dealer was booted out of the partnership and his participation was limited. I guess he wanted more of the cut so he brought in a new proponent in ZTE that are willing to pay the inducement. He did his marketing pitch to the most powerful of the power brokers who see it as an excellent proposal delivered in a golden platter. The due diligence of my poor friend got blown away from his table at a stroke of the magic wand. His proponent was even less mentioned in favor of new players that can't even present a plan. Why are the technical scope barely discussed anyway? They presented the least expensive budget so they lost it. Beside they were not even informed there was a bidding process. As far as they know they have it clinched. They were all dumbfounded when they read the papers that there was MOA signed in China that awarded the project to ZTE. They were never aware that two Groups with political muscles are battling for it in the front end. I know these two families have built Political alliance in the past. I guess when it comes to business "The Winner Takes it All" .
As the show in the senate goes on, here comes a curtain call for all the spin masters. I hope they could defend their action on the technical and business side of the equation. I feel sorry for the people who were put in the frontline answering questions from the blue ribbon committee. They look like pushovers struggling in defense of the Government. They are career professionals with a pedigree resume in their belt. Chances are, they will wind up as escape goats to protect the actual culprits whose finger prints are well define in the forceful maneuver and hijacking of this venture. Poor ZTE executives and Juan de La Cruz .It looks like they have to chase those Four Musketeers from Wack Wack fairways who took the GOLD before the ink made its mark on the dotted line in Boao, China. What a bunch of carpet baggers they are. As the saying goes " HOCUS POCUS"