Thursday, September 01, 2005
Antalan: Public governance
By Roger P. Antalan
Dateline Igacos
"The arena for good public governance will not be Edsa anymore, but in the countryside. We will have a spectacle of a thousand flowers abloom all throughout the land."
IN BASKETBALL, the nation's favorite pastime, there is a saying that goes like this: If the team wins, it is because the players are good. If the team losses, it is the fault of the coach.
More often than not, this thinking is applied to public governance. Governance is a much-used word nowadays. But is being used mainly to lament the seeming hopelessness of the governance of our nation.
It's all the fault of our national leaders. For too long a time we have been focusing on the inability of the national government to get the nation out of endless crisis and paralysis. We have gotten used to these non-stop controversies, and have even promoted the perception here and abroad that we cannot do anything right, or clearly and correctly.
There is another side of governance however. Last August 10, 2005, the Institute of Solidarity in Asia (ISA) headed by Dr. Jesus Estanislao, held a conference in Manila to present the bright side of public governance. The conference, with mostly Manila participants, were told to forget the national government for the meantime but to look at what is being done and accomplished in many local governance units, in cities where city mayors are making a decisive and positive differences for progress.
Eight cities namely: Naga, Marikina, Cebu, Iloilo, San Fernando-La Union, Calbayog, Tagbilaran and Samal, took center stage. These initial eight cities have passed the scrutiny of the Public Governance System criteria of the ISA. For 10 minutes each, the city mayors presented their plans and programs, their road maps to progress and development, and their achievements.
"Is this the Philippines?" was one recurring comment heard from the Manila participants. And there are 35 to 40 more other cities that are proving that Filipinos can do things right, clearly and correctly, and that things can be all right here in the Philippines.
The delegation from the cities was composed of the city mayor, key department heads, the DILG local representatives and the civic and professional leaders.
As summarized by Dr. Estanislao, these cities have been declared "promising cities" because their achievements are founded on a few common key ideas: Firstly, public government is a matter not only for city mayors and public officials alone. Responsible citizens need to get deeply involved.
Secondly, public governance is not only about money and jobs, livelihood and IRA allocations. In addition to the financial economic, it is also about the spiritual and moral; about the family and social; about the professional and organizational; about the cultural and educational; about physical and environmental. It covers all aspects of life.
Finally, public governance is not only about words, but mainly about actions. It is not only about promises but mainly about redeeming those promises. It is not only about commitments, but mainly about ensuring that those commitments are made good.
We may never become world champions in basketball, no matter how brilliant the coach and how good the players. This is a game of the giants.
Public governance however is not only about players and coaches. All the spectators are part of the game. And so, instead of everyone standing out there in the sidelines gaping at and being entertained by the endless circus being played out played out in metropolis center, everyone should get deeply and actively involved in specific initiatives at improving their local community.
We can still make it to the victory stand. We are blessed with many groups and sectors with many projects and initiatives. The arena for good public governance will not be Edsa anymore, but in the countryside. We will have a spectacle of a thousand flowers abloom all throughout the land.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 1, 2005 issue)
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