MANILA, Philippines — For FOR most of us, “subsidiarity” is a new word. Many of us cannot give a good guess about its meaning.

Nonetheless, because of our grounding in democracy, we all have a broad idea and great fervor for its meaning, once this has been explained to us.

Subsidiarity means avoiding centralization and promoting initiatives at the lowest possible level. Thus, many of us would like to see many initiatives and a lot of responsible and informed decision-making at the barangay level. Many of us would not like the national government to be making all the decisions for us, when families, business enterprises, and civil society groups are in a better position to decide on matters that most directly affect them. In other words, those on top should not try to micro-manage those at the middle and at the bottom: These should be given as much and as wide a leeway as they can take full responsibility for.

These pointers on subsidiarity need to be understood in that light:

* Cascading and delegation are the key challenges to those vested with authority and the duty to coordinate. They need to cascade knowledge of the strategic direction being pursued for the common good; and they need to delegate responsibility down to the last unit and individual within their institution or community.

* Those in authority govern best when they do least, by giving free reign to the last unit and individual, who should be made to decide and act as much and as best they can.

* Good governance leads to the flowering of diverse initiatives and undertakings at all levels, including at the front lines and at ground level, where everyone is given wide discretion and opportunity to use their talents and show their wares in pursuing the strategic direction those in authority had set.

* As much diversity as possible with regard to actions and undertakings; but as much unity as possible with respect to the common strategic direction, by observing the core values, pursuing the mission, and realizing the common vision.

* Participation and sharing of responsibility are the key challenges for all those below those exercising the highest level of authority. We all have to do our fair share of the work for change and transformation. Each one of us in our respective places, carrying out our day-to-day duties, need to contribute to the common good.

* We should have the freedom of spirit to take initiatives, to confront problems, and resolve issues at our level without waiting for signals from the top. We never run away from responsibility: On our own, according to our best lights and with our own resources, we add value and contribute to the pursuit of all the priorities in the strategy map.

* We nurture a deep sense of responsibility to push the cart in the same general direction where those in authority are pointing it towards, and to give a shove for the realization of the common vision we share with all others.

* Subsidiarity brings the freedom to decide and act down to the lowest possible level, seeking to encourage, reinforce, and help those who are in the front lines, who have to do most of the heavy lifting for the different priorities set for our institution or community.

It is to be hoped that with these pointers on subsidiarity, not only would its meaning be much clearer to many more of us, but also its substance we would honor much more in its observance.