Ombion: The beauty of localization

Ombion: The beauty of localization

THE focus and dynamics of life and the lever of power have shifted to local. Everything is practically local now. Outside of one’s locality, life is either extra business or leisure.

After three and a half decades, from the enactment of the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, most of our citizens seem no longer fascinated with the national government nor a centralized government. Their common and day-to-day focus is their locality, their local governments, whom they depend so much for their living.

Even in electoral politics, citizens from all walks of life are enamored with local currents, events, and power players. They are more concerned with local leaders who can take care of their needs and even their future.

Those not contented with the facts of life in their locality or see no chances of moving up the socioeconomic ladder have the option to move to another locality where the situation is better.

Or if one has to move to another locality, he/she sees no interest or concern with national officials; all he/she has to be concerned about is who to deal with in the local government, and who can help her/him find a placement for a good life.

Manila or even the greater Manila has been reduced to another locality, of lesser interest probably to people who live in other cities outside Manila. Why move to Manila if for the sake of living everything is practically available in one’s locality, say Bacolod or Iloilo, with less hassles and dazzles.

In the case of Bacolodnons, for example, why move to Manila or Cebu, when everything is here, and life here is even more livable in terms of accessibility, connectivity, inclusivity, safety and security – except of course for those living underworld life.

This sociological fact and dynamics brought by national laws, and recently by PRRD’s Executive Order 138 and Supreme Court Ruling on Mandanas-Garcia challenge, is something the incumbent leadership under Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia has understood quite well and appreciated.

The reason why the city under him has been relentless in steadily scaling up the urbanization and smartness of city governance, steadily raising revenues to meet the yearly growth impact demands with the aim that eventually, no one is left behind, no one not taken care of.

Just like other top cities outside the National Capital Region, like Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, Bacolod is forced by national, regional and provincial circumstances to stand firmly on its feet, to become competitive as the rest, without sacrificing the needs of its people now and the next generations.

Furthermore, to protect highly urbanized cities (HUCs) from political intervention and manipulation by provincial vested interest groups and political dynasties, the LGC 1991 has made the HUCs independent from the provincial government and given special autonomy powers.

This is the beauty of localization. Every LGU is compelled to strengthen its capabilities, harness its potentials, use its local resources and talents effectively and creatively, mobilize various stakeholders, and be sensitive and responsive to the needs and problems, hopes and aspirations of its people.

Unfortunately, LGUs under the rule of oligarchs and political dynasties, like a number of those outside Bacolod City, have been governing LGU as if it’s an extension of their private haciendas, businesses and other objects of interest.

One needs no theories and statistical measurements to evaluate the sorry state of their local economies, environment and the plight of their people. What you see is what you get.

Other LGUs in poor provinces like Samar, Masbate, Aurora, Siquijor are worse.

In my next series, I will discuss the downsides of localization.

Related Stories

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph