The 1,800 strong People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), experts in human resource and leadership development, would like the public to evaluate the presidential candidates’ capacity to assume critical roles as navigator, servant-leader, guardian of national wealth, motivator, and mobilizer.

PMAP president Grace A. Zata said that based on survey they conducted, there are five roles a president must have and this would be the focus of the organization’s information advocacy campaign in the run up to the 2010 national elections.

The five critical roles of a president are (1) navigator and captain of the ship (2) servant-leader with a genuinely caring heart and work ethic to achieve the goals of government (3) guardian of the national wealth and resources (4) captivator to inspire unity, trust and optimism among the people (5) mobilizer of concerned government and non-government and private sectors to achieve objectives and build consensus.

PMAP has partnered with SGV-Development Dimensions International, a global pioneer in the analysis and identification of job competencies, in identifying the roles that characterize senior strategic leadership.

The roles were defined as the basis for identifying the intellectual competencies, character traits and political skills required for success in the position.

"PMAP is providing a thinking tool. Hopefully, this will help voters ask the right questions and be more discerning about the candidates," Zata said.

Zata said the role of navigator is particularly important because the Philippines has a powerful presidency and weak political parties. As a mobilizer, the president must be able to build alliances with concerned sectors to achieve objectives.

As a servant-leader, PMAP said the president should be able to sacrifice personal, familial or other vested interests for the common good, display humility and reach out to all sectors, practice good work ethic and learn continuously.

“As guardian of national wealth, patrimony, and law and order, the president should be able to demonstrate strong political will and be the role model leader in the fight against graft and corruption,” Zata explained.

The association has vowed to make its presence felt in the upcoming national elections by staging a strong information campaign on the right qualities of a leader that voters should use as basis when they cast their votes come May 2010.

Zata said the association will mobilize its organization present in 23 provinces in its information campaign so that voters could come up with an informed choice.

On its 46th anniversary on September 25, PMAP hopes to gather the presidentiables to answer the questions and issues and to determine if they would fit into the roles that are necessary for somebody to lead a country. Without the proper information or guide on how to make an informed decision, voters would just depend on what they see and hear on television and what the political leaders have asked of them on who to vote.

"It has been 23 years and four presidents after EDSA and yet we have not made a dent on our vision to alleviate poverty and eliminate corruption in this country," Zata said.

Zata said that during the 2004 presidential elections, PMAP conducted an interview with the presidential aspirants but only four came. The foremost two contenders Gloria Arroyo and the late Fernando Poe Jr. did not show up.

This time, PMAP vowed to spend more time for its advocacy.

PMAP would like voters to come up with informed decision by looking at some parameters like specific action plans that a candidate has on how to increase revenues and eradicate corruption.

Voters should ask, "Why should we believe in you when you say all of these promises?"

"We have to elevate our political maturity for the sacred task of electing a national president," said PMAP executive director Jerry Plana.

Plana said that although there are also good leaders in the country, the country really has a shortage of good leaders.

"A leadership in crisis not just in the national level but even in the industry level," Plana said.