Tags: Government Offices, Politics
By Marjorie Gorospe
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA- Since local government units or LGUs are at the forefront of governance, the national government needs to take a deeper look on their capacity to grow, according to Local Government Development Foundation (Logodef) director Edmund Tayao.
Logodef is a non-government organization working closely with both government and non-government organizations, academe and even international organizations that promote decentralization and capacitating local government in the pursuit of good local governance.
According to Tayao, LGUs are responsible in whatever happens to their respective communities, be it disaster or education—primarily anything that has to do with the delivery of public services.
Decentralization, he says, is one way of empowering every local government to be independent and be as prosperous as other big cities.
According to Tayao, decentralization is not a new concept and was adapted since the time of former president Corazon Aquino. During that time, Filipinos are “democratizing” and departing from the dictatorship led by former president Ferdinand Marcos.
“Decentralization is seen as promoting further representation and empowering local communities. They do not only participate in the policy making process including implementation of programs of government but also at the same time, they are given the chance to examine what they think is best for them and promote local cultures and ways,” Tayao says.
One of the more remarkable LGUs, according to him, is Naga City, which has become prosperous not only because of a sound taxation system but also due to the resourcefulness of its local government despite being land-locked, geographically.
Makati City is considered one of the richest cities in the country, but Tayao says Naga’s case is entirely different. Aside from Naga, he also cited Marikina City, Quezon City, Olongapo City and Sultan Kuradat.
In Logodef’s more than 20 years of existence, Tayao, who’s working hand in hand with international institutions, shares that the Philippines is still perceived as a relatively young country by foreign organizations and that the country is a work in progress that still needs assistance.
“Although we are the first republic in Asia, we’re struggling to rebuild these institutions. Unfortunately, the same institutions have not been strengthened especially with the outgoing administration basically abusing most of its options,” he says.
With regards to the mistakes of the past government, Tayao says that the blame should not only be put on a specific person or administration, but rather the assessment should always be an institutional approach to allow Philippines to grow as a nation.
“It’s hard to assume that there’s always wrong with the system, what remains to be done is strengthen the processes, precisely because we’ve seen how potent institution is in shaping our governance,” he says.
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