The D Spot

This was written by one of m kids–who wants to remain anonymous.

The Local Government Code of 1991

One of the most revolutionary pieces of legislation in recent history is The Local Government Code of 1991. Its enactment was mandated by the 1987 Constitution to provide for a more responsive and accountable local government structure, and decentralizing the powers given to the national government. It gave the local government units a great degree of independence in deciding on how to govern, and even gave them their own powers of taxation. Local officials are more accountable since results and effects of their projects are more immediately felt as they are implemented only on the local level. Aside from this, it’s a way of inspiring local communities to strive to make their surroundings cleaner and better, and for the people to become more disciplined and socially conscious, after all, it’s nice to be able to say that “My barangay is better than yours!”.

Implementation
It is very difficult to implement nationwide undertakings since it is very time consuming, and to most people, trying to make the whole country a better place seems like a Herculean task. It is also very difficult to keep track of where the money and other resources go, if they are being handled properly, and if deadlines are being met. On the local level, it seems easier because, first, the geographical area is a whole lot smaller, and small changes are easily seen in small places. Also, there seems to be more accountability because it is easy to point out who is in charge. It is much easier to keep track of details, and since results are almost instant, residents are inclined to keep up the good work.

The Galing Pook Foundation is an independent organization to sustain and institutionalize the Governance Award Program, which aims to promote innovation, sustainability, citizen empowerment and excellence in local governance through recognition and supporting of efforts to replicate the best practices in local government. In a sense, it is like the Academy Award for Best Performance in the Community Level. One goal is to replicate the winning programs (no copyright infringement here!), and translate them into case studies, teaching materials, and presentations so that other less developed communities can follow suit.

It can be seen that the trend really is decentralization, and that some cities are becoming cleaner and lovelier by the minute (hello Marikina). However, some cities and municipalities do not seem to be following suit. Crime rates and incidences have gone up, poverty is not alleviated, men still walk around half-naked while drinking alcohol, and not using deodorant (Oplan Pogi). While some local government units seem to be on their way to becoming “developed”, some still remain, not only “developing”, but “undeveloped”. Although local governance is a good thing, it is, in a way, a selfish sort of governance. You may renovate your own house, but not your neighbor’s! Thus, the national government still has to step in and help with those areas that remain dark and dirty.

Since local government projects seem to be very effective, the central government can adopt some of their strategies. What is good for the local unit can also be good on a nationwide level, although more work and more funds have to be put in. The program’s good effects may not be as easily discernible as those in the LGU’s, but we can do it one step at a time.

The “Eradicating Poverty Completely by 2020” project in Concepcion, Iloilo headed by Mayor Raul Banias is one of the top awardees of the Galing Pook Foundation. In their efforts to free the fourth-class municipality from poverty, they have adopted measures that earned them the distinction as a “living university” and a “laboratory of replication” of pioneering initiatives. In a span of four years, poverty was reduced in half, incomes were increased and infant mortality was also reduced.

More students attended school, and more importantly, the completion rate was increased. The literacy rate was almost 93 percent, and more several new public and private schools, and also day-care centers, were established. More female students were enrolled at the college level, and there were 17 women associations as of 1995. There was in increase in access to not only reproductive health services, but also family planning methods. And although there was zero incidence of HIV, AIDS, TB, malaria and other major and life threatening diseases, they still conducted counseling and education and information campaigns to prevent acquiring such diseases.

The community was able to achieve these things through convergence strategies with a vision of creating a highly competent and dynamic local government that would act as an agent of change in partnership with civil society. The mayor believes that aside from money, the best resources to help them reach their goal of zero poverty are committed and responsible local government unit personnel. After all, the money that we have is only as good as the people who spend it. If financial resources are in good hands, no matter how small the amount is, we can make great things happen.

The bureaucracy of the Concepcion LGU’s was reengineered, programs were redirected, management was decentralized, strategic partnerships with institutions were made, and there was focus on community empowerment.

Households were given access to micro-finance for their micro-enterprises which resulted in an increase in income. Such practice could be done on a national level. Sometimes, all that people really need is a little help and a push in the right direction. A lot of Filipinos remain impoverished because of debts and their high interest levels, or because they don’t have the proper start up capital to fund small businesses and bright ideas. Most of these people couldn’t get loans because they don’t have enough collateral. With microfinance, only moderate amounts of money are involved, which are just enough to help these people in getting started.

They also established marine protected areas to regulate fish cash and replenish marine resources. People have a tendency to abuse marine resources, as the ocean seems like a vast and endless source of livelihood. However, overfishing and pollution can lead to extinction of valuable species, and may cause imbalance in the marine environment. It has been reported in the news that there is a dwindling supply of bangus or milkfish in some areas because aquarium owners have dumped species alien to our waters (such as janitor fish), which prey on the bangus. Now, some bodies of water are filled with these inedible and useless fish, depriving local fishermen of their livelihood and income. If there is a national program protecting our seas, our fishermen will not only be happier, our stomachs fuller, but our entire country will become more beautiful (and with no ugly fish species swimming around).

Their strategies have resulted to a very high degree of program ownership. Programs must not only be effective, but sustainable. Community members were allowed to participate in every stage of the projects – from assessment until implementation. The success of these undertakings should not simply be left in the hands of the government officials. The citizenry should be empowered help make their country a better place and be allowed and encouraged to participate.

We can make our country a whole lot better not by looking outwards and trying to emulate our more developed counterparts, but by looking inward and appreciating the improvements that the local units have made on their own. By adopting their practices, we are one step closer to achieving our nation’s goals.

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