Who Do You Need to Convince?

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Rey Cordeniullo with a colleague

Political feasibility is the probability that a reform would be acceptable.  Acceptable to whom?


There is an idea that reforms need to be acceptable to policy-makers - only.  Once policy-makers officially adopt the appropriate policy, everybody would comply with it, and the reform would be achieved.


Certainly there are policies that need only the approval of Congress and the Senate - and then implementation follows.  My guess is that these are economic and finance-related policies like the “Sin Tax” law, and my other guess is that these are the kinds of policies that are implemented by a national government agency.


And then there are reforms for which laws have been passed, but implementation leaves much to be desired.  An example is the provision in the Reproductive Health Law that shays teenagers should have access to birth control information and resources.  This has not happened broadly.  It might be because of the norms of Filipino parents, who don’t even want to talk about sex education with their teenagers.


It appears that reforms also have to be acceptable to the people who will implement it, and the people who will be affected by the new policies.  


Some years back, Rey Cordenillo worked in a Municipal government, where he reported directly to the Mayor.  Whenever he thought something needed to be done, he only had to convince the Mayor, his recommendation would become policy.


Now he is in a power cooperative, where his former boss also holds a position of authority.  Now when he wants to recommend a policy, he makes it a point to consult with his colleagues, specially the implementors.  He says it is important to get their support and approval.  When the policy is issued, he can count on his colleagues to support it.   Rey has learned that when a policy is not acceptable to the people who are affected by it, implementation becomes harder.  


Who would you need to convince to have your reform idea turned into policy?  Do you think implementors of your proposed policy would be willing to implement it?  What would probably be the response of those who will be affected by the new policy.


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