Friday, November 21, 2008 Officials say people participation key to success in running local governments
PEOPLE’S participation in governance is the key to success for any local government unit (LGU), top officials said yesterday.
“What is important is that the government should provide the enabling environment where people can participate and take charge,” Upi, Maguindanao Mayor Ramon Piang said in yesterday’s Understanding Choices Forum.
Piang said that coming from a municipality where people’s participation in politics and governance was hard to attain, it was important that the LGU create a positive environment where the public can interact with local officials.
“(It was a challenge before) that people in Upi did not want to meddle in the government. Back then, the local government did not give the people the venue for people to be part of governance,” said Piang.
After winning as mayor in 2001, Piang said he was able to change the passivity of people and get them involved in politics.
Anchor
“All initiatives now have been anchored on good governance, where transparency, accountability and people participation prevail,” said Piang.
Piang said one of the prevalent problems before he started his term was the growing rift between the three major cultural groups in his municipality, the Moros, Teduras and settlers.
To address this problem and the growing conflicts between the groups, Piang organized the “Tri-people way of conflict resolution” body through his mayor’s council.
The conflict resolution body is composed of representatives of all major groups that see to the resolution and arbitration of conflicts in their own terms.
“What we have to understand is that they have their own culture. If we follow their own culture, it is better than settling their cases in court,” said Piang.
The conflict resolution body has heard a total of 85 cases, resolving 69 of these.
While it might be a different judicial process in addressing conflicts in the municipality, Piang said it was the most effective way. It not only preserved culture and heritage, it also caused a 35 percent drop in the number of complaints filed at the police stations.
Culture
“This is the role of culture in governance. If we respect the culture of these people in governance, this approach would be the most effective way,” said Piang.
The parties agree not to commit the crimes again and then drink from a bowl filled with water and their personal nail clippings.
“It might seem odd, but that’s what they believe in. If they break their promise, they might end up with bad karma,” said Piang.
Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, meanwhile, said “difficult decisions are made easier if the people are part of the decision making.”
Robredo said the people of Naga City accepted the local government’s decision to increase by 200 percent the rental rates at the public market because they were involved in the decision-making process.
Honesty
What was important, said Robredo, was to make the public feel involved and know what their government was doing. This, he said, promotes honesty between the LGU and the public.
“We are not just being honest, but we are being compelled to be honest because the system tells us so,” said Robredo.
Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, meanwhile, said it was important that government officials put their focus on their people and start looking into helping their constituents, instead of focusing too much on their reelection.
“Obsession about the elections is even worse than polio. You worry too much about the effects that you are doing for your own benefit, that in the end, you are paralyzed,” said Padaca.
Padaca said there was still hope for good governance to spread throughout the country.
“There is truly hope for this to happen and catch on. What we have to do is to hold on to this hope and let it not slip through our hands,” said Padaca. (EPB)
