WITH all the circus going on in the national scene such as the political bickering of the Dutertards versus anti-administration, it would seem that our country is on very shaky grounds. There’s this tension looming between us and China over territorial claims and of course our tarnished relationship with the United States with this administration. Then we have our internal problems as well with the direction and priorities of the present administration from rice liberalization to possible sugar import liberalization. And of course the drug war and its casualties. Are we okay as a nation?
You see, one good thing about how our government was structured is that the real drivers of social change are actually on the grassroots level; the local government units (LGUs).
It may seem that our provinces, cities and municipalities have very limited resources but after the devolution of power there is actually nothing that an LGU cannot do.
Three truths about LGUs and their powers:
1. Everything can be done in an LGU. No program is too ambitious that it cannot be implemented. The system in the LGU is designed to make the impossible possible. No budget? Not to worry, there are mechanisms to tap other resources. You have already reached your limit to hire employees? There are ways to outsource services. Your workforce is polarized by politics? There are HR systems to ensure performance management. Your office structure is not responsive of the real needs, reorganization is very much allowed. Name a problem and it can always be addressed. If you have not found a solution to a problem yet then you probably have not explored the scope of power that is bestowed in the LGU.
2. All it takes is a political will. At the end of the day, LGUs are leadership driven. As much as structures and mandates are in place regardless of periodic change of leadership, LGUs are still maneuvered by the strategic priorities of whoever is in power. And since all things are possible, there are no valid excuses for an LGU not to be successful. They may differ in phase and momentum depending on the readiness and the chemistry of the leaders and the workforce, but still, success lie on the hands of all elected officials and their political will to bring about progress and development. If you want change and you truly mean it, it can be delivered.
3. Inclusive development is the only authentic way to progress. Any society will always have people who cannot catch up with the fast changing world. We call them the marginalized, the people below poverty line, the unemployed, the illegal vendors and peddlers, the irritants, the sore to the eyes and undisciplined populace. And sometimes it can be tempting to just expedite progress with pure infrastructure leaving them behind. But if we ignore the growing gap of the haves and have nots in a community, it will always have a social implication that may eventually drag the community down such as crimes of poverty. Progress and development is always a community effort, it is always a team work where no one should get left behind. The secret is to strike a balance.
So yes, our local government units are our hope.