Isko Moreno urges professionals: Guide your leaders, speak truth to power

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday, October 14, urged Filipino professionals to take a more active role in guiding public leaders, saying that while elected officials may have “the guts to do it,” professionals possess the expertise to do it properly.

Speaking before the 14th Philippine Professional Summit at The Manila Hotel, Domagoso called on members of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the country’s professional community to exercise moral courage in holding leaders accountable and in helping shape better public policy.

The Mayor said effective governance requires a balance between political will and professional competence.

“I will be better to be surrounded by professionals in terms of delivery of services and programs and planning, because the guts of doing it belongs to the leader, but the proper way to do it belongs to the professionals,” Domagoso said.

“Guide your leaders. Don’t be afraid to tell them, ‘Boss, mukhang sablay ’yan,’” he said.

Domagoso, who returned to City Hall in June after a landslide victory, told delegates that he sees the summit’s theme — “Future-Proofing Filipino Professionals for Glocal Economic Growth” — as aligned with his own governance philosophy of meritocracy and competence.

“In Manila, we practice meritocracy. We respect our professionals,” he said, noting that the city’s new Go Manila digital system and modernization initiatives were designed and managed by local experts.

Domagoso lamented that corruption persists because professionals are often silent in the face of wrongdoing.

“The more professionals we have, the fewer corrupt politicians we’ll have,” the Mayor said in Filipino.

“We can’t undo what has happened before, but we can plan what we do today for tomorrow. Always way forward,” he added.

He also urged the country’s experts not to give up on leadership, saying that not all leaders are “BBS” — short for bilib na bilib sa sarili (too full of themselves).

“There are still those who have guts and focus, but who also know how to listen when it’s time to listen,” he said, adding that humility and openness to expert advice are hallmarks of good governance.

Closing his address, Domagoso reminded professionals that public service is a shared responsibility.

“The country needs you. The world will see the Philippines, especially the City of Manila, as a community of professionals,” the Mayor said.

“One day, when you’re old and looking back, you’ll ask yourself, ‘Why didn’t I do it when I had the chance?’ So do something today. Always way forward,” he said.