Over the weekend, I was in my hometown of Cagayan de Oro and was able
to witness the last two days of the barangay elections campaign. As a
student o f governance and politics, as I observed what was happening in
Barangay 31, where our ancestral home is located, I was fascinated by
the passion and seriousness of candidates, their supporters, and
ordinary citizens. I noticed a few excesses of course, including the
intrusion of partisan politics, but by and large I saw essentially
democracy in action.
This is a good thing – that people take the barangay and these
elections seriously. Because, the barangay is our basic political unit,
where participation by the people in governance is direct and
immediate, where, the “rubber hits the road” to reform governance in
this country. All the people I talked to in my hometown told me that the
barangay is far more important and real to them than any other local
government unit or national government agency. The latter is hardly
felt, the former from time to time, but the barangay is an every day
reality. However, in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized areas, for
most of the middle class at least, the reality is different.
According to the Local Government Code, “the barangay serves as the
primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans,
programs, projects, and activities in the community, and as a forum
wherein the collective views of the pe ople may be expressed,
crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably
settled”. This is consistent with the policy laid down by the Code as
mandated by the 1987 Constitution: “It is hereby declared the policy of
the State that the territorial and political subdivisions of the State
shall enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy to enable them to
attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities and make
them more effective partners in the attainment of national goals. Toward
this end, the State shall provide for a more responsive and accountable
local government structure instituted through a system of
decentralization whereby local government units shall be given more
powers, authority, responsibilities, and resources. The process of
decentralization shall proceed from the national government to the local
government units.”
Consistent with devolution, the barangay is responsible for quite a
number of basic services. These include: (i) Agricultural support
services which inclu de planting materials distribution system and
operation of farm produce collection and buying stations; (ii) Health
and social welfare services which include maintenance of barangay health
center and day-care center; (iii) Services and facilities related to
general hygiene and sanitation, beautification, and solid waste
collection; (iv) Maintenance of katarungang pambarangay; (v) Maintenance
of barangay roads and bridges and water supply systems;
(vi) Infrastructure facilities such as multi-purpose hall, multipurpose
pavement, plaza, sports center, and other similar facilities; (vii)
Information and reading center; and; (viii) Satellite or public market,
where viable.
The Code also provides that “there shall be in each barangay a punong
barangay, seven (7) sangguniang barangay members, the sangguniang
kabataan chairman, a barangay secretary, and a barangay treasurer.” Each
barangay also has a lupong tagapamayapa which is in charge of dispute
resolution, so far a very effective means of mediation that has
prevented thousands of cases from getting into an already congested
judicial system. In addition, the sangguniang barangay may form
community brigades and create such other positions or offices as may be
deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the barangay government in
accordance with the needs of public service.
All these services, programs, and offices are paid from the share of
the barangay of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in accordance with
the criteria prescribed by law. As in the case of provinces, cities, and
municipalities, some barangays have huge IRA funds while others have
bare enough for their basic services. Like all local governments,
barangays do have the power to create its own sources of revenue and to
levy taxes, fees, and charges that are consistent with the basic policy
of local autonomy.
Three years ago, my Ateneo colleague Prof. Joy Aceron and I wrote a
paper entitled “Building on the Basics: Leadership, Local Governance and
Nation-Building”. Yesterday’s elections reminded me of the core message
of that paper where we argued that devolving power to local governments
has been good for the Philippines. But as we pointed out then, the
best-practice cases in local governance are only a start in reforming
the Philippines and are inadequate when they remain confined with the
limits of their respective local government units (LGUs). We said:
“Unless these local successes are scaled up and connected, their impact
will be limited and isolated.
Professor Aceron and I proposed a nation-building process, “to
change the country from the base—place by place, island by
island—wherein local reform leaders are conscious of the need to connect
their efforts, share a common vision for the country, and eventually
execute a coordinated strategy of capturing power at the national
level.” This includes leaders from barangays all over the country, those
which we elected yesterday.
Last Sunday, in Cagayan de Oro, I was happy to be in a Eucharist
presided over by our Archbishop Tony Ledesma SJ, a Jesuit who has
influenced me and generations of social development workers. In his
homily, he explained why the barangay elections is supposed to be beyond
partisan politics – because we know our neighbors well enough to be
able to decide who can be the best leaders. He emphasized the four
qualities – the 4 Cs – voters should consider in making their choices
for the elections next day: conscience, competence, compassion, and
commitment. I hope the voters of my city and the country voted on this
basis. After all, nation-building is a formidable challenge and we must
start with the basics.
Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina
Twitter: tonylavs
source: Manila Standard Column of Dean Tony La Vina
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