Using communication as a tool for realizing reforms/changes in the bureaucracy

Corruption has long been an unyielding issue in our country, from one administration to another. Many times our country has ben dubbed as the ‘Sick Man of Asia’ and was even entered Guinness Book of World Records for allegedly the biggest corruption of all times during the time of former president Ferdinand Marcos (Moratalla, n.d.). But what really is corruption. Corruption is the use of public fund, materials and goods in enriching oneself, family and acquaintances. In addition Samura wrote that, corruption is the illegitimate use of office by public officer for personal intention (2009). Furthermore, Quebral added that corruption exists in any society but it is more prevalent in developing countries (2012). Corruption deters development, aggravate poverty and heighten social injustices. In fact, poverty has long been used by politician as their vehicle and ‘glue’ to power.  I’d say, in the Philippines corruption is a way of life. Hearing and watching news about a public official from national or local office charged for violating RA 3019 or ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT is not a surprise to us anymore, we are so accustomed to it that we don’t do anything to counteract this problem. But I guess, we ordinary people can still do something as the former president of India Pratibha Patil said, “Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective (2012).”  I totally agree with her since behind the different scams done by the past and present administrations were the courageous whistleblowers. They brave themselves to stand among others and tell the nation what they know and witnessed against these public officials. But what instigate them to do it, when in fact their lives and the lives of their families were at risk. Is it because they were not given their part of the bargain? According to them they wanted to vindicate themselves especially their conscience, they claimed that they can’t sleep at night feeling that it was not right to just shut their mouth and do nothing. Therefore, the whistleblowers’ moral values and fear of the Supreme Being hammered them to tell the truth.

Photo Credit [Miranda, J.]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=453481268188268&set=a.141864556016609.1073741827.100005791953734&type=3&theater

Hence, what can we Development Communicators do to create reforms in our government? First of all, it is must that we have a deep sense of commitment and acceptance of responsibility (Quebral, 2012). That is to make sure that the changes we are aiming to make will be realized.  Secondly, we need to understand that development means more than economic development. According to Lagerway, development is a total approach. It does not only involve economic programs. The development of people is the main focus (n.d.). Thus, as communicators of development, we motivate and empower people, we help people recognize their potential; we open their eyes into something that they don’t clearly understand, we stimulate their interest, Thereby, the approach is more on human development. And if we can do that then there’s a probability of behavioral change then a course of action. Ong added that for economic development to happen we need to better our social structures, have relative peace and order, highly motivated people, a skilled labor force, a minimum of GRAFT AND CORRUPTION, and so much more. Furthermore, he said that when talking about social justice we talk about moral values (n.d.). Therefore, in my opinion moral development is crucial to help combat corruption. We need to dig deeper our inner selves and remind ourselves again the values and morals our parents and our church had taught us. We need to change our attitude and get ourselves involve. The Moral Recovery Program (Proclamation No. 62) initiated by former president Fidel Ramos in 1992 is a profound development program that aims to inculcate following virtues for national development: teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, and respect human rights. It stated that there is a need of moral recovery in order to eradicate the social ills that have afflicted us for the past several decades, such as graft and corruption, patronage politics, apathy, etc. It further added that moral recovery is an integral aspect in ensuring success in the government’s economic development and people empowerment programs and projects (GovPh, 1992). I believe this is a holistic approach in helping minimize if not eradicate corruption.

In development communication there are various communication tools used by communicators to empower the people; the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC), photography, mass media, and the internet and social networking sites. So how can I use these communication tools to create reforms in the government? With enough budget and support from stakeholders, making and distributing IEC materials such as leaflet, newsletters, brochures, posters, comics, flyers, t-shirts and caps with anti-corruption messages or information would enhance people’s understanding about corruption. One good example is to inform the people about the Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act using leaflets or brochures, writing newsletters on the stories of the whistleblowers on what motivate them to come out and disclose the corrupt practices of public officials, and printing short bible verses about corruption on t-shirts, caps and even umbrellas. On the other hand, I can also use photography to instigate awareness as 65 percent of us are visual learners (Brown, 1998). This only mean that we easily learn and pick-up an information through our eyes.  Moreover, photography has the power to bring about change. They evoke emotion and deliver information that can provoke people to action (Transparency International, 2015). Photography enables me to show the people a scenario created by the government not only in my community but also in various places I go to. To mention few, difficulties of farmers due to inaccessible road, traffic rules not totally regulated such as cars parked in each side of the road, unfinished projects or projects that are taking too long to finish such as roads or bridges, the many faces of ubiquitous poverty in the community, and more. Additionally, since most of us use smartphone to shoot videos and capture I would also encourage participation in Social Networking Sites to share their photographs of corruption thus showing the nation what is our government doing. It reminds me how Janet Napoles and the senators involved in the PDAF scam obstinately denied their involvement together; but their partying photographs showed the nation they were liars.  Another useful communication tool is the mass media. Utriainen professed that the media can employ investigative journalism to reveal inequities, and violations and, in an educational sense, reinforce social values that reduce the incidence of corruption in government and business (n.d.).  Therefore, radio and television are the watchdogs, the gatekeepers that can monitor the government and the voice social injustices. The radio, it is commonly described as a mass medium because can reach millions of people anytime of the day and can surpass boundaries. And so, creating meaningful scripts and dramas incorporating corruption or anti-corruption laws and making gag shows that mock the wrongdoings of the corrupt public official are another way of forming awareness and educating people. One good example is I can’t help to share is the ABC 5 show ‘Bayaw’, it is a perfect way to ridicule the politicians and other public officials in our country. Last but not the least; I can also employ the services of the internet and social networking sites. These have been a common ground to communicators who wanted to educate and inform, and a channel to many who wanted to vent their dismay and fury over the government and public officials. As we Filipinos are very social and we love meeting in various social networking sites, I guess it’s perfect to circulate photos and actual videos of personalities and politicians creating news due to grave misconduct. They say fish is caught by its mouth, as the nation once again witnessed how Napoles and her family lavishly lived in California when the blog and videos of her daughter went viral. In addition posting short bible verses and quotes about values and good morals would remind the people what is good and bad. Spreading visual art parodies and information on corruption and anti-graft and corruption laws would give them ideas and therefore guide them in guarding our so called ‘Kaban ng Bayan’.  And again, encourage the participation of the people as the internet and social networking sites are one fast and effective way of mobilizing social issues and information.

As a closing remark, I am truly grateful on the advancement of communication technologies as it has always been steadfast in spreading significant information. From the time of the Estrada’s administration to present, we transparently see what they have been doing to our country. To fellow development communicators let us give our unwavering support to fight corruption and continue to educate and inform the people in our community and our country.

May you have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!!!

Cheers!

Diaz, Gemma P.

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References:

QUEBRAL, N.  (2012). Development Communication Primer.  Southbound, Penang.

Samura, B. K. (2009, January 25). The Negative Effects of Corruption on Developing Nations: A Perspective on Sierra Leone’s Effort. Retrieve from http://www.carl-sl.org/home/articles/125-the-negative-effects-of-corruption-on-developing-nations-a-perspective-on-sierra-leones-effort-to

Moratalla, N. N. (n.d.). Graft and Corruption: The Philippines Experience. Retrieved from http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN019122.pdf

Ong, G. V. (n.d.). A Theory of Development Communication. Retrieved from http://cfamedia.org/main/?p=2417

Lagerway, F. (n.d.). Introduction to Development Communication: Its Philosophy and Approach. Retrieved from http://cfamedia.org/main/?p=2427

Utriainen, T. (n.d.). 8^th International Anti-Corruption Conference. Retrieved from http://www.8iacc.org/papers/utriainen.html

Transparency International. (2015, May 5). Capturing Corruption: Global Photo Competition. Retrieved from http://www.transparency.org/news/feature/capturing_corruption_global_photo_competition