Representative Abet Garcia has filed House Bill 6145, or the Public Governance Meritocracy Act. The bill seeks to institutionalize a modified Human Development Index as an official performance tool for national government agencies and local government units. Its goal is direct and far-reaching — to reward those who deliver measurable results and hold accountable those who fail their constituents due to neglect, inefficiency, incompetence, or corruption.

The proposal reflects the governance model that Bataan is known for. As governor, Cong. Abet helped move his birthplace from the tragic memories of the Fall of Bataan to a province recognized for its rising economic activity and honest service. Today, his legacy continues under his brother, Gov. Joet. 

Bataan reports zero unemployment and now brings in workers from outside to meet demand because there are more jobs than workers. Its informal slogan says it clearly, “Bawal ang Tamad sa Bataan” (The Lazy are Banned in Bataan).

HB 6145 is not just a reform idea. It is a structural reset that will compel all government offices to adopt Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as a standard measure of effectiveness. With the country shaken by a massive corruption scandal involving powerful lawmakers, urgency demands that KPIs begin in Congress, where accountability is often ignored.

Skeptics will ask for a control system to make sure that Congress, long used to mangling the national budget to its advantage, does not reduce the KPI process to another exercise with token compliance. A safeguard must be explicitly included in the bill that will keep the measurement of performance honest and prevent the metrics from being “Mickey-moused” or ignored.

KPIs are widely used by successful organizations. They measure effectiveness, track progress, and enforce responsibility. They show what works, what fails, and what turns promises into outcomes. A KPI is simply a scorecard or dashboard that tells whether goals were achieved. In business, KPIs include sales growth, customer satisfaction, and the prudent use of resources. When they are met, organizations succeed. When ignored, failure follows.

The government should operate in the same manner. For too long, some legislators have relied on speeches, name recall, and media attention while results remain invisible. True performance must show in laws that improve lives, oversight that stops corruption, and budgets spent with honesty and restraint. Without metrics, mediocrity spreads unnoticed.

Some lawmakers inflate their records with symbolic bills that go nowhere. Others skip hearings yet enjoy the perks while being called “Honorable.” Citizens are left to guess who works and who only performs for the cameras. HB 6145 opens the door to change all that.

KPIs will show who delivers, who shows up, who protects public funds, and who crafts laws with lasting value, instead of only renaming streets, adding more holidays, or proposing wage hikes completely detached from economic reality. Discipline in lawmaking will improve economic policy and raise the quality of public spending. KPIs are not tools of harassment. They are the price of rebuilding the public trust damaged by years of scandals.

If Congress wants respect, it must earn it through work that is visible and verifiable. KPIs offer a shield against corruption and a path toward a stronger republic. Making KPIs a permanent part of Congress would help level the political field. Performance would matter more than name recall or family lineage, and there may be no need for an anti-dynasty law since merit would rise above pedigree.

It is time for the entire country to follow the Bataan standard: “Bawal ang tamad.”

Admittedly, introducing KPIs to a Congress whose reputation has been badly damaged by the floodgate scandal carries real risks. Systems, after all, can be manipulated. Yet many Filipinos continue to believe that within the institution are many leaders who are truly honorable, competent, and imbued with love of country. One day, HB 6145 will pass, and they will champion and build a transparent KPI rating system that truly serves the people and restores public trust.

The road to success is never free of setbacks and failures, but the moment for fear and excuses has passed. The time for reckoning has come and our lawmakers will not only reclaim the public trust, but also demonstrate that accountability and progress can march hand in hand.