Friendly Observes
By Arthur Keefe
Seminars or junkets?
I begin this article with an admission. For 10
years I was Chairman of the Social Welfare Committee of my city. Our purpose,
as is the case here, was to help people in distress, most of whom were poor.
Yet every year, I would go to a big conference, sometimes in
other European countries, stay in a fancy hotel, and eat excellent expensive
food. The purpose was to exchange ideas and I did bring back plenty of ideas
for improving our services. However, I often pondered on why it was necessary
for us to live like 'fat cats,' even for only three days, when the people I was
elected to serve, could never enjoy such pampered luxury.
Despite these occasional pangs of conscience, I continued to go
each year.
Why this admission now?
It is prompted by a conversation I had with a barangay captain,
who told me of two upcoming events. The first is a seminar for all barangay
captains in the province and a number of kagawads from each. This is an annual
event to update officials on government policies, administrative proceedings,
and the like. The cost has to be met from barangay funds and will be around P
20,000 for each contingent (travel, accommodation, food and daily allowance).
My thought was why the information could not be transmitted in
writing or even on a cheap DVD which could then be used as a reference when
needed.
My captain friend suggested little information was retained
from the seminar and half the delegates fall asleep anyway!
Couldn't the P 20,000 of barangay funds be better used for
local projects, perhaps creating local employment too?
He then explained the President is also convening a conference
of the 4,000 or so barangay captains in the country prior to the elections, the
purpose of which sounds quite similar. This is to be held in Manila and will
involve even higher costs of over P 20,000 per delegate.
Again the question has to be asked. Is this the most efficient
way to transmit information? Is its purpose really administrative or political?
Couldn't the total of P 80M (more or less) be better spent on urgent barangay
projects?
I may be acting unfairly in pointing to the barangay activity.
Much the same (and at higher cost) applies to all levels of government, up to
and including overseas trips by senior officials and elected members.
I know from my own experience highlighted above, that some
benefits do accrue. Ideas on good practice are spread, useful contacts are
made, and horizons are widened. These benefits are real.
However, I also know that for many participants these jaunts
are no more than welcome freebies. The opportunity to stay in good hotels, see
friends, and generally have a good time!
Perhaps the answer is to focus more clearly on the purposes of
such gatherings and to ask the question: "Could these purposes be achieved
more effectively and with less cost, by other means such as the DVD suggestion
above?"
Many private companies in the West have severely curtailed travel
of their staff as the recession hits their bottom line. In their place, they
have instituted tele-conferencing and video conferencing. I personally used
this extensively when I was chairman of a UK NGO. Our board saved thousands of
pounds on travel and accommodation costs and the outcomes were just as good!
I am not suggesting all such gatherings should cease. Personal
contact has value. In my example above, we tele-conferenced six times per year
and met face to face twice to conduct our business.
What I am suggesting is that many fewer large-scale gathering
take place and that modern technology is used much more widely for such
communication.
Doubtless many councilors and officials, senators and
congressmen will bemoan the loss of these enjoyable jaunts, but they have to
remember that it is public money they are spending and living high on the hog
when other options are available is not in the public interest.
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