Man of the Year 2014

COMPETENT. DARING. Caring. Beyond sheer sloganeering, Atty. Arthur P. Tugade redefined the Clark Development Corp. by living up to that corollary meaning, therefrom the Clark Freeport Zone highly profiting.

“We want to make Clark a logistics hub but this cannot be done without a business environment and a habitable society,” Tugade told Punto in April 2013, some four months into his term as CDC president-CEO, in his first ever interview with media.

“So basically what’s the direction? Set the predicate for business here and once it is there you can pursue the logistics hub and effect a habitable community. The trust gained, the total persona of the businessman - pleasure, education, leisure and enjoyment – attained.” The road map set there.
“I can do all that but I don’t know how long I will last here, I can be fired next week or next year,” Tugade said then, with a laugh. “That’s why I strike, with full force, at the culture - respect, honesty, smile and punctuality because that can be brought home unlike if I make a road which you can’t bring home after work.”
Core values impacting on a work ethic rather alien, if not absurd, in a governmental corporate setting.   
Thus, one Clark worker articulating the freeport community’s first impression of the new boss: “Tugade's intentions are good but his style is out of place. He has this habit of uttering expletives and he likes to call employees insulting words. That's why instead of getting support in his crusade against corruption and his many good plans, the others are shying way.”

Thus, Punto bannering in February 2013 “Cussing president riles CDC workers, locators.”

Subsequently – in and by Tugade – affirmed the validity of findings in human behavioural studies that “People who use a lot of swear words tend to be more honest and trustworthy.”

“I believe one of my significant achievements at the CDC was not about bringing in big ticket investments but rather, striving to change the core values and culture within the corporation,” matter-of-factly Tugade saying. The whole Freeport firmly believing.

Grateful CILA

First to recognize Tugade’s advocacy was the Clark Investors and Locators Association.

In February 2013 letter, CILA President Rene Philip Banzon wished “to express our gratitude for your quick response to our proposition regarding the yearly renewal of our Certificate of Registration and tax exemption now extended and given a validity of three years…[which] is certainly a big first step towards working together in increasing the efficiency of services provided by the [CDC] and decreasing the red tape and other typical inconveniences relating to government requirements in operating at Clark.”

And hailed Tugade’s “…leadership and deep understanding of the business…a definite plus for any investor doing business in the Freeport and we at CILA certainly look forward to working with you in the continuous development and success of Clark.”

CILA Chair Nino Enriquez followed with a laudation to Tugade for “the changes [Tugade] instituted” that made it “easier to do business now with the CDC” and his authoritatively definitive “No Receiving of Gifts” policy that put finis to the  practice of dinner dates with prospective investors.

Obtained in Tugade there, the Bedan ideal of virtus. Arguably, it is that no-nonsense straightforwardness valued in this CDC president,  and that credibility and trustworthiness vested in him by the freeport community that allowed, aye, spurred Tugade to succeed where his predecessors failed – the recovery, make that voluntary surrender, of lands investors contracted but never used totalling 240.9 hectares; and the imposition of contractual timetable on lease agreements definitively precluding the land speculation of scheming locators.    

  

$200-M investments  

As it turns out, Tugade’s mission assessment of “…not about bringing in big ticket investments” is the year’s biggest understatement.

In the first eight months of Tugade’s presidency, the CDC raked in more than $200 million in investments from new and revived projects, and secured $31.42 million in committed investments from eight major projects signed from April to July 2013.

Among the new projects were Aderans  Inc., a hair implant facility with committed total investment of $1.9 million and will hire some  1,000 workers upon completion; Pishon Corp., a garments manufacturing  firm investing $3.9 million and to employ  1,500; garment manufacturer L & T’s expansion project worth $6.5 million and requiring 5,000 workers; MSK Corp., with investment of $8.57 million will hire 1,360 workers when finished; Preferred and Proven Therapies, Inc. (PPTI), a distribution hub for dengue and malaria medicines which has committed $8.25 million investments and will hire some 200 workers, with a bonus – wrangled by Tugade from the company – to make its products available in the local market at a much reduced price to help stem the dengue and malaria problems in the country.
Other projects are Wind Tunnel International, a full service gasoline station investing $0.3 million; Mt. Carmel Medical Center, which signed up as a tertiary hospital, has invested $1.43 million and will hire 80 workers; and Stotsenberg Medical Center, Inc. with $0.57 million investments and 80 workers.
Projects that were revived were Global Clark Assets Corp., developer and international sports complex, which signed a contract in 1997 has renewed a commitment of $47.62 million with 4,000 workers; BB International Leisure & Resort Corp., which signed a contract in 2006 has invested $47.62 million for a hotel/resort, water park, and retirement villas and will hire 400 workers; Ritzville Corp., a luxurious retirement estate which signed a contract in 2007 has invested $4.76 million with 50 workers; TIEZA, a wakeboarding, tourism sports complex which signed up in 2009 will be completed in time for the APEC in 2016 has invested $1.19 million; Eaglesky Technology  Amusement & Gaming Inc., which signed a contract last year for the construction of Hotel Midori with an investment of $35.71 million and 350 workers; Taiyo Phils. Inc. (Ingasco), an air separation plant facility which signed up last year invested $30 million with 20 workers; and Y&K Dev’t Corp., a hotel and language institute which also signed a contract last year with $8.24 million in investments and 352 workers.
From its current workforce of 71,713, CDC is “determined” to raise this to 100,000 by 2016,  

Corporate conscience

Brusko on the outside – the batang Tatalon occasionally resurfacing, Tugade is all mushy pusong mamon inside. His compassion translating directly to action. As befits his formation’s patron, Beda Venerabilis, thus: “He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbour.”

As in his initiative of the first-ever-in-Clark jobs fair for indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities drawing over 400 applicants.

Of them, Tugade said: “Many times you will find the most efficient and the most hardworking [employees come] from people who have been forgotten and forsaken, if only you give them the chance... [as] this breed of people lived in the arena of hardship and survived.”

With the harsh reality that not all the applicants would be taken in on the spot, Tugade made the assurance: “The CDC will still provide you opportunities such as this. Come back and look for a job that will suit you well. Don’t be afraid. Don’t falter. Don’t lose hope.”

As promised, the CDC launched in December the “Aeta-preneur” project – a livelihood program in partnership with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority aimed to fill in on a sustained basis the economic needs of IPs here and PWDs employed inside the freeport.

“Christmas is a time for giving. And what better way to give back to our Aeta brothers and sisters than to teach them new skills and new methods to earn a decent living,” Tugade said during the project launch. “(They) are often seen peddling native wares and products. But we at the CDC are not content in just seeing them as mere vendors. No more selling of golf balls. There should be more.”

The CDC has provided Aetas and PWDs livelihood trainings under the “Kabuhayan para sa may Kapansanan at Katutubo” program like wellness massage, electrical and plumbing, negosyo karts, desilting and hollow blocks making, among others.

Complementary to the training is the CDC construction of a wellness, coffee and snack bar. The proposed venue is already cleaned and painted. The rooms have also been equipped with used air-conditioning units. A KKK committee was also formed to look for potential concessioners to employ Aetas or PWDs for sustained income.

The CDC’s livelihood program also includes a desilting project for Aeta communities along the Sacobia River which used to be a lahar channel from Mount Pinatubo. The project will initially involve some 50 members of the Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association.

To maximize the desilting project, Tugade said Aetas will also run a small hollow block-making business with the training for its operators already started last Dec. 4. It was reported that the first Clark locator to have committed to order hollow blocks from this Aeta-preneur project was the BB International Leisure and Resort Development Corp. which is developing the P2.5-billion Clark Valley View Leisure and Resort Corp. and the P2-billion Midori Hotel, reputed to be the first 5-star hotel in the freeport. 

Yolanda aid  

Tugade’s soft spot for the proverbial lost, last and least goes beyond the Clark Freeport. At his initiative, CDC donated a total of P2.45 million to victims of Super typhoon Yolanda.

Initially, CDC donated more than P1 million out of that saved from the cancellation of the company’s traditional Christmas party.

The second tranche of P1,249,650 was raised through the CDC’s “Bangon Bayan” donation drive. Aside from cash, the CDC also donated two tons of assorted supplies. In cooperation with Clark-based locator Seair and the Philippine Air Force, the CDC brought in relief goods loaded in at least five 6x6 trucks.

Straight path

At the start of his Clark tenure, Tugade said he was asked to sign the CDC Integrity Pledge but declined, as he was beset with doubts.

“After more than 11 months I have already earned the ascendancy to urge fellow CDC employees in saying: Let’s go for the integrity pledge. Let’s go and make a vow on no corruption,” Tugade proclaimed, confident with the warranty that today, each CDC employee has taken to the administration’s “straight path.”

A proud declaration: “We are now ready to shout to the whole world, not only within the Freeport zone that we can live by the no corruption law. We can all take pride in saying that Mr. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, sa CDC po, daang matuwid kami!” 

Competent. Daring. Caring. Tugade has indeed done the CDC proud of its new meaning.

His mindset of “I don’t know how long I will last here, I can be fired next week or next year,” notwithstanding.  – With reports from Ding Cervantes, Ashley Manabat and the CDC Public Relations Department