THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

Did President Bongbong Marcos Jr. leave out the local government sector in his latest State of the Nation Address (SONA)?

This was the question we got from colleagues in the local government sector, as well as friends, following the President’s SONA on the 23rd of July.

Some of them commented that the President did not talk about the “usual” local government concerns such as “greater autonomy,” “decentralization,” and “devolution.” They noted that these items continue to matter to local communities despite their apparent relegation to the proverbial backburner.

We disagree with this view.

Our view is that the President, without fanfare, did two things for local government units (LGUs) in his latest SONA.

First, he cited the vital role of LGUs in a number of crucial national government projects.

Second, he highlighted several projects that will further spur development at the local community level.

All these respond to the aspirations of our countrymen at the grassroots level.

In 2018, we came across a study by Professor Mendiola Teng-Calleja. At that time, she was the director for organization development and human resources solutions at the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development. In her study, she named the most important problems facing LGUs in our country. Among them are “poverty, peace and order, social vices, environmental change, and natural disasters.”

It is from the perspective of Professor Teng-Calleja’s framework that we looked at the President’s local government agenda and vision for our sector.

Poverty at the grassroots level is often the result of the lack of access to services and opportunities. In his SONA, the President underscored that these concerns are part of his priority list.

For example, he reported what he aptly called the “railroad renaissance” in the country, referring to the massive investments that are now being poured into ongoing rail-based transportation projects. These include new light rail transit systems and the extension of existing ones. He also highlighted the push for the expansion of internet connection and the improvement in the speed and quality of existing information technology systems. He underscored the efforts of the national government to achieve energy security and sufficiency, as well as the completion of the program to connect the remotest barangays to electric power sources.

Transportation, information technology, and electricity connect people at the grassroots level to economic and social opportunities. When our countrymen are able to get to their places of work efficiently; when they are able to sell products and tap the online market; when they have reliable and affordable electricity supply to run their gadgets and machinery, and to light their homes so they can read and study – all these helps them generate income and rise from poverty, strive for higher goals, and build the tomorrow that they dream of.

The President also pointed to the initiatives of his administration in the area of health services. Here, he underscored the important role of local governments. At the top of his list, he mentioned the “Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services” or BUCAS centers. He said these centers aim to decongest public hospitals as they cater to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged whose conditions may not require hospitalization.

He also bared plans to create so-called “Super Health Centers.” He said this is where the support of LGUs is needed. He expects us to help ensure that there will be doctors and nurses who will man these centers as he looks forward to expanding their number. He also assured provinces in the country that he aims to provide all of them with mobile clinics where constituents can avail of laboratory and primary medical services.

The President also cited the launching of the “Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas,” a massive clean-up drive that we believe is the brainchild of Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr.

The clean-up drive calls for the widespread participation of our barangays. After Secretary Abalos launched the program, some 40 tons of garbage have been collected from the more than 22,000 barangays in the entire country.

Again, these national government initiatives show the importance that the President is giving to the needs of our local communities. Health is not just a goal – it is also the means to help people and communities remain efficient and productive. When people are healthy, they can study, think and work well. This is proof that the President has a firm grasp of the root causes of the problems of local communities and knows how to address them at the core.

The President also reported the success of the national government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign and the strengthening of its capabilities to handle disasters. In conclusion, the President has, without fanfare, laid down solutions to the pressing concerns of our local communities. We are in the national leadership’s priority agenda and the focus is on connecting people to economic and social opportunities, as well as on helping them remain productive and efficient.

On these parameters, the state of the nation is, indeed, good.

(Dr. Jun Ynares is the current mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary and LLDA general manager. Email: [email protected])