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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Speak out: Mega-regions: hope or futile exercise?
By Paul Villarete
City Planning and Development Coordinator, Cebu City
The purpose of sub-dividing a whole into parts is to focus on the individual circumstances of each part and determine relative priorities in the distribution of resources.
A country is divided into regions so we can see the “regional” disparities and comparative advantages of each and thus reorient and focus development strategies and the distribution of resources to achieve maximum gain without sacrificing relative equity.
This can only be done with the proper implementing mechanism devoid of political agenda.
In the Philippines, it is worth noting that the political subdivisions exclude the regional level.
It is only in the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays where the democratic principle of citizens choosing their leaders is set by the Constitution.
Regions exist for the purpose of demarcation of the national government, and each regional office is but an extension of a national line agency. Thus, a regional office is not accountable to anybody in the region but to its national leadership.
The flaw in the present set-up is lack of accountability at the regional level and the mismatch of political and economic boundaries.
Why do the two provinces of Negros belong to two different regions when they are in one island and one ecosystem and governed by one economy?
Why is Palawan lumped with Luzon when its economy is alien to Luzon but related more to that of Panay Island and the rest of the Visayas?
And if we dig far enough, we would realize that there is no solid basis for the creation of existing regions other than political expediency.
Now here comes the proposal to divide the Philippines into mega-regions.
At the onset, the idea is definitely a sound one and worth venturing into.
However, whether it would work or not depends a lot on how determined the administration is in working against traditional political lines.
First, this idea is not new.
A few years back, there was the Integrated Area Development (IAD) approach, whose entire concept hinges on transcending political lines and focusing on eco-system and/or development basin domains.
Today, only a few remembered them.
Later, the “corridor-approach” was invented, and we remember these terms: Cagayan (de Oro) – Iligan Corridor; the Northern Cross (grouping in Luzon); the Cebu-Cagayan-Iligan Triangle; the Southern Crescent (obviously a Mindanao grouping), etc.
Where are these “mega-regions” now?
More importantly, did the move to “regionalize” development succeed?
So will the mega-region proposal of the present administration make a difference?
I believe it can. But only if a sincere and real approach to development is instigated.
First, abolish the existing regions.
We have to contend with the fact that the existing regional sub-divisions, while lacking solid basis for its existence, have become antiquated and irrelevant.
Besides, placing mega-regions without dismantling the existing regional machinery will only add another bureaucratic layer and expenditure.
Scrap the existing regional offices and you know what will happen?
Nothing!
(To be contiued)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 21, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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