Conference to highlight importance of servant leadership in public service

There is a pressing need to address corruption, greed and incompetence in public service.

This was what Radyo Veritas president Fr. Anton Pascual said on Wednesday, citing ongoing investigations on corruption in the government.

In a press briefing to promote a pastoral conference, Pascual quoted a book by Barbara Kellerman entitled “End of Leadership,” saying many people no longer trusted leaders whether in the government, business sector or even the Church.

(From left) Fr. Anton Pascual, Bishop Broderick Pabillo and organizers Leonardo Sanchez and Tommy Carrasco hold posters promoting the Servant Leadership in Public Service Conference. PHOTO BY NESTOR CORRALES

He, however, said society still needed leaders.

“An organization will not move forward without a leader,” he said during the briefing at Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros.

But the question, according to him, is what kind of leaders do we need?

“When we talk about leaders, we talk about power,” he said. “What kind of leaders do we need?”

He said the public needed leaders who serve for the sake of others and for the sake of the common good.

“Public service is a vocation to serve the common good of all,” he said, stressing the country’s need for real public servants.

In line with this, a Catholic charismatic community has organized a pastoral conference that aims to address corruption and promote transparency in public service.

Serviam CCC Foundation will lead the Servant Leadership in Public Service Conference, which will be held on July 2-3 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

The second of a series after the one held in 2013, the conference will impart the meaning and relevance of servant leadership in public service.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, said real public servants should serve for the common good and not for their personal or family interests.

“They are leaders and yet they lead by serving,” Pabillo said.

He stressed the importance of transparency, saying public servants are there to serve the truth.

“Part of serving the truth is transparency,” he said.

Pabillo also said public servants should be easy to approach at all times, not only during elections, and should possess the kind of leadership that empowered the people.

A leader should not patronize people just to get their sympathy or votes during elections, he said.

They also should be able to make sacrifices and “not (only) protect themselves,” he added.

Leonardo Sanchez, chair of the conference’s organizing committee, said keynote speakers during the conference would include noted individuals from their respective fields.

Among the speakers will be Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Amando Tetangco and broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez.

The conference is open to politicians, government officials and employees, the business sector and nongovernment organizations.

Interested participants may contact the conference secretariat at 8972143, 09084109759, or through email at [email protected].