FINDING ANSWERS

“We are up to the challenge. We are committed and passionate to bring about transformation in the next 10 years.”

That’s the assurance Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, co-convenor of the newly-formed Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), gave at the recent Kapihan sa Manila Hotel which I co-hosted with former Press Secretary Sonny Coloma.

Other Kapihan guests who gave thought-provoking insights on the various challenges confronting local government units were Mayor Agay Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan, Mayor Eunice Babalcon of Paranas, Samar, and Dr. Alex Brillantes Jr., former dean of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance.

Local governments and good governance are topics that are certainly close to my heart, having been governor of Laguna, DILG secretary, founding president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and head of the Governors’ League (League of Provinces).

I told my guests how happy I am for this new movement that focuses on the pursuit of good governance and ethical leadership. I really wish M4GG becomes truly successful in its vision and mission because its success will certainly benefit the entire country.

As I’ve always been saying, the whole is only as strong as its parts – comprised of 82 provinces, 148 cities, 1,486 municipalities, and 42,027 barangays. If we are able to strengthen each of the parts, even by just 50 percent, then the entire country will be much improved.

And leadership at the local level, especially by the mayors who at the grassroots, is crucial. If quality of leadership is beyond reproach, it inspires cooperation and support of all sectors of society in the pursuit of good governance.

But what exactly is good governance? Among the insights that came up during our discussion was the notion that many Filipinos have the impression that elected officials ought to be very helpful even in personal matters. Many believe that being approachable is the number one quality that gets them elected.

But can the poor be blamed for such mindset? The percentage of the population living below the poverty line usually hovers around 25 percent, and for such people who are malnourished and frequently suffering from the pangs of hunger, good governance could simply mean getting some money for food and other basic necessities from politicians they expect to be approachable.

Mayor Agay has a point when she said that people approach their mayor for personal needs not because they want their elected official to be corrupt to be able to provide, but simply because they just do not have a clear understanding of what should and should not be expected of the public servant.
Thus, the prevailing culture needs transformation. Structural transformation has to set in. If the delivery of government services is excellent, without the constituent having the need to personally approach the mayor for help, then that’s good governance.

Local officials can indeed provide efficient and effective governance through Section 16 of the 1991 Local Government Code that authorizes them to use their vast powers in undertaking activities “essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”

The general welfare clause specifically mandates the local chief executives to, among others, “enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.”

The law says that LGUs are clearly tasked to reduce joblessness and promote livelihood activities that will enhance economic prosperity in the communities. If all LGUs adequately perform their vital role to promote the general welfare of their constituents, then that’s good governance.

Another criterion of good governance is value for money, taxpayers’ money. How it is spent could be part of a checklist for good governance. Are the accomplishments worth the amount of public funds? It’s a reality that some LGUs have so little to show for the huge funds at their disposal, while others with meager resources have terrific accomplishments.

Thus, the mission of M4GG is vital. If resources are used wisely to benefit the greater good, and if corruption is reduced significantly within the next 10 years, then M4GG would have contributed immensely to the pursuit of good governance.

Mayor Magalong and all the M4GG leaders need all the support they can get from all sectors of society, especially the youth whose sense of idealism can help a lot. With so many young people behind the movement, commitment and passion shall be in abundance to enable M4GG to meet all challenges ahead. ([email protected])