Indices, ratings, and other numbers are guide posts of our successes and failures.  Our country’s global competitiveness standing, for example, is gauged by two major annual studies – the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY). For 2024, for example, we were ranked at 54th out of 137 economies by the WEF and 52nd out of 64 countries in the WCY.

In his speech at his assumption as Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC) chair, Bill Luz cited the Philippine rating of 0.52 in the Human Capital Index (HCI).  The HCI is “an annual measurement prepared by the World Bank” to measure a country’s capability in mobilizing their human capital. . .The index measures how much capital each country loses through lack of education and health.”

Among the other prominent indices used globally include the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) which explores the dimensions of long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living; and, the Global Peace Index that is presented annually by the think-tank Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP).

All indices and ratings are measured using a system of indicators.  The Global Peace Index, for example, is analyzed using indicators classified into the three domains of peacefulness.  The three domains are ongoing domestic and international conflict (with measures like “number and duration of internal conflict,” “deaths from internal organized conflict,” etc.), societal safety and security (e.g. “number of refugees and internally displaced people,” “political instability,” “number of jailed populations,” etc.), and Militarization (e.g. “ease of access to small arms,” “military expenditure as a percentage of GDP,” etc.).

The WCY, on the other hand, uses 338 indicators to evaluate national competitiveness.  The 338 indicators are classified across four main factors with five sub-factors each.  The four factors are economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure.

The indicators are important to OPAPRU in at least two ways – first, they provide a reference in determining priorities, and second, a certain degree of validation at a grander scale can be seen in the measurements although our interventions are delivered to regions and the localities. 

The challenge is how to overlay the grand indices in the strategic and work plans of OPAPRU.  Although we cater to local and regional areas, our activities should contribute to the national interests.  We respond to questions like – are we creating employment that contributes to the relatively high ranking in the Employment sub-factor (10th)? How much impact do we generate with the infrastructure development we deliver to BARMM given that our current ranking in Infrastructure (61st) is at the bottom?  Are our programs for healing and active awareness of gender in line with our good performance (16th) in the Global Gender Gap Index?

With PGS, we are positive about the direction that our journey is headed to.  Our strategic objectives shall be steered with the aid of metrics developed with key principles of managing information.  The “right” use of the “right” technology will apply in setting our plans.  The “right” use of the “right” technology will also apply in working and monitoring our plans.  At the foundation, the determinants of our decision-making process are information and information systems. We are currently reviewing, organizing, and stocktaking to kick off this task that we have set for us. 

In the late stages of my military career, I saw and experienced how PGS reinforced the mindset of our soldiers.  The adoption of individual and organizational scorecards and the monitoring and evaluation of a third party (as embodied in the PGS) proved to be effective in instituting positive change.  Both individual and collective change in our members and co-workers are of the utmost importance as the human capital is the most valuable resource of any organization.

We are privileged that our new MSGC has been formalized.  Every member who accepted our invitation brings their expertise to provide strategic guidance in the pursuit of our agency’s organizational transformation. 

Again, our profoundest appreciation to Guillermo ‘Bill’ Luz for agreeing to chair the MSGC.  His renowned leadership especially for causes that are very critical for building a nation will surely result in synergies among and between the other members of this team.

Vice Chairman Austere A. Panadero, now in the private sector, was undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).  He is our champion in capacity building and localization of convergence efforts. Ms. Amina Rasul-Bernardo, is one of the leading Muslim leaders in the Philippines and has always worked to strengthen peace and development as she promotes human rights, justice, and democratic practices in Muslim Mindanao.

Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral will surely provide the perspective for infrastructure development among her other areas of specialization.  Professor Jasmin N. Galace, PhD will lead us to a robust program of peace education.

Evaristo S. Francisco played a key role in the rollout of our Covid vaccination program.  As the top executive of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia, the organization that introduced PGS as a flagship program, Titoy shall be a mentor to all of us. Dr. Cameron P. Odsey’s vast experience with the Department of Agriculture brings a deep knowledge of the primary industry that creates livelihood and provides food to our focus areas.

Professor Manuel J. De Vera, PhD. of the Asian Institute of Management is a public policy expert and a leadership advocate. He molds the minds of both business and public managers.

Peace is the foundation of development and our PGS journey will institutionalize the gains of peacebuilding.  The work for peace and development is intergenerational and transcends administrations and political priorities.  That is the thought that went with the aspiration to institutionalize peacebuilding through the establishment of a stable Department of Peace.

(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity. He advises the President on the implementation of the Philippine Comprehensive Peace Process.)