MANILA, Philippines – In an interview with Rappler on April 15, Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson talked about his frustrations as well as the things he would have wanted to do. At the time, the so-called Napoles lists had not become an issue and Lacson’s focus was on post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts, which were perceived to be moving at an excruciatingly slow pace.

Burdened by too much bureaucracy and too little authority, Lacson admitted to Rappler he sometimes thinks of resigning.

Lacson, whose job is to coordinate rehabilitation efforts after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), said his responsibilities outweigh the mandate the President gave him.

The former police chief, for one, has no “whip” with which to punish “incorrigibly uncooperative” colleagues. (READ: ‘Uncooperative’ officials derailing Yolanda rehab?)

His authority as a “CEO without a budget” also pales in comparison with that of Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, his Indonesian counterpart who got “near absolute powers” when he successfully led rehabilitation efforts in Aceh and Nias after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Excerpts from the interview follow, translated from a mix of English and Filipino responses.

RAPPLER: What’s your biggest frustration so far?

LACSON: My biggest frustration is not being able to do what I have wanted to do, to implement. Because if I had an implementing authority, if I had a budget, just like what Dr Kuntoro had, I think I could have done more, if I was given that kind of authority. Because my biggest frustration is, it’s like you want to move but you’re bound by so many – bound by my mandate, because it’s a memorandum order. Coordinative, overall manager – it’s like there’s so much responsibility but not enough authority. And that’s a big frustration, because I learned that in the military school: Responsibility must be compensated by commensurate authority. Because if the responsibility is bigger, and you don’t have authority, you’re bound to fail. But you know, right now, my option is not to fail. So I’m doing the best that I can to really come up with good results before 2016 ends.

RAPPLER: Can you give us a few examples of things you would have wanted to do over the past 5 months, if you had more power?

LACSON: First, since there are available funds, the first thing I would do with that is to download it to the local government, and then I’ll be a watchdog. I will watch over their shoulders. I will really supervise what they will do, if the money is wisely spent. Second, if I had authority to implement, I will make it simultaneous. I will get all their needs assessments – just what I’m doing now. Because it’s complete. I now have the rehabilitation plan of the province of Leyte. Governor [Leopoldo Dominico] Petilla submitted it as early as, I think, 3 weeks ago. Then Cebu is here. The other towns are also with us. But we cannot implement because I cannot implement. We’ll have to plead with, say, [the Department of Public Works and Highways]. I will have to plead with [the Department of the Interior and Local Government]. I will have to plead with [the National Housing Authority] on what can be done immediately. But if I were to implement it myself, and if I had authority to call upon all the agencies, then I’m confident, at least, that I can do it in a shorter period of time.

RAPPLER: Of course the question in people’s minds, especially those of survivors: Why is it taking so long?

LACSON: Well, because this is the perception created by those lambasting us or criticizing the efforts of government. Actually it’s not really slow. As I mentioned earlier, we’ve been [here for] 5 months. Last April 8, 5 months from November 8. So by any standard, it’s not slow, it’s not slow. Especially when rehabilitation and implementation go into full swing, the people will really feel [the improvement]. But right now, it’s not as if nothing’s happening. Many things have been happening. If you go there, especially in areas where the mayors are faster, more gallant, and more competent in looking for private sponsors, you will see the big difference.

RAPPLER: Is it fast? Could you call it fast?

LACSON: Well, I wouldn’t call it fast, but we’re not lagging behind either…. Let’s put it this way: We’re right on track. And I won’t describe it as slow, the government efforts. But that’s the perception, that’s why I would like to think it is more of a communication concern than anything else, because when you are drowned by persistent propaganda, line, that government is not doing anything, government is very slow, then people tend to believe or perceive that that’s really the case. But that is not the case. It just so happens that the noisier ones are those who say the government isn’t doing anything. Even the participation of the private sector, they call it privatization. Where’s that coming from? What privatization? The private sector in fact is helping us. If the private sector isn’t there, then the areas there would’ve been stumbled. But why are there schools now? Some of the houses start getting constructed, too. There’s also livelihood.

RAPPLER: You always say you have no other option but to succeed. Given the limitations that you have, is there a point when you would consider quitting?

LACSON: Honestly, yes. But you know, that’s just a (snaps finger), it’s just like a snap of a finger, that it looks overwhelming. But when I look forward or beyond what I’m doing, and I see images of devastation, I see images of destruction, and I see images of suffering, people suffering, it awakens me that it couldn’t be. I couldn’t quit from this. My conscience will bother me.

RAPPLER: So you wouldn’t resign?

LACSON: I wouldn’t resign. But you’re right, there are moments, especially when I wake up in the middle of the night. It often happens to me, because when ideas come in, or start to come in, you cannot go back to sleep anymore. The problem is, I have a meeting at 8 o’ clock and I set my alarm at, say, 6:30 or 6 o’ clock, I anticipate the alarm…. In those moments when I see the big responsibility and I don’t have authority, it’s like, what did I get myself into? For a moment, it makes you think, why don’t I quit? But that’s just a tick, like a split second. It couldn’t be. Then you recover immediately. It doesn’t even take one minute to think or to entertain resigning or resignation. – Rappler.com