BY MARISA LERIAS

[Columnist Harvey Keh asked his colleague at the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to write this piece in his place.]

LAST May 25, 2011 I attended a forum at the Crown Plaza Hotel sponsored by the DILG and the World Bank. Various NGOs, CSOs [civil society organizations] and members of the academe gathered together to discuss ways to uplift the quality of governance in our country. The forum was aptly entitiled “Good Governance is Everybody’s Business.” It was heartwarming to see that there are many organizations eager to take part in the transformation process and propelling this country to greatness once again. We have to get rid of the old notion that our role in governance as citizens end after casting our votes.

Undersecretary Austere Pana-dero discussed the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH). It is similar to a report card that is given to the citizen’s in order to rate the performance of their Local Government Unit (LGU).

In my understanding, there are three major components. First, the COA report: to ensure that there are no “adverse” findings on the report. This is a clear sign of corruption in the LGU. Second, the Full Disclosure Policy: to ensure that LGUs comply with the law that compels them to disclose their expenses in public places and thru their public website. People should exercise their right to know. Third, the Performance: to see the tangible economic gains and signs of progress within their areas once these are implemented. The World Bank is prepared to give a reward to the LGUs that attain the seal.

Statistics were flashed on screen and our performance all over the country is dismal. The percentage of LGUs that actually passed the mark was nowhere near ten percent. However, if viewed from a positive side, there is much room for growth. Active participation is the key to all of these. I’ve spoken to some cause oriented groups from Mindanao and realized that we, all Filipinos, are partly to blame for creating impoverished areas like Maguindanao, Cotabato and Samar.

We allowed it to happen. We stayed in our comfort zones and ignored the state that our fellowmen in other provinces were in. So, we contributed to the breeding of monsters because we didn’t care. Today, many of our provinces, cities and municipalities are at that tipping point. If we let them go and turn our backs once again they will fall into that abyss governed by people whose intention for seeking office was never public service. We have to pull them back into the fold and walk with them on this road to progress albeit tough and riddled with frustration.

The intention is not to constantly criticize your LGU but to help it attain that passing mark. We ask, we get involve, we participate, we report. After all, we are not asking for any more than what the law requires.

Mr. Bert Hofman, Country Director of the World Bank, mentioned in his speech that when he first came to our country a few years ago he had heard about so much graft and corruption. But, when he visited Naga City, he witnessed that good governance existed in some areas in the Philippines. What better opportunity is there than now when the former mayor of Naga City, Jesse Robredo, who made his city an outstanding example of good governance, is the secretary of the DILG? The trust and faith of the international community in his leadership was clearly manifested through the support of The World Bank, USAID, AusAID, GIZ, CODE NGO, and various other cause oriented groups.

Let us constantly remind each other that we did not create this government on a battlecry of transformation and change to watch it fail. We promised to help achieve the goal of a better nation for all of us. Therefore, the burden of responsibility on each and everyone’s shoulders should be just as heavy as that carried b y our government officials. Good governance should not just be preached but practiced; it should be a way of life.

When I asked the panel what we were supposed to do if our local officials would not cooperate, Mr. Hofman candidly said “If they don’t perform, chuck ‘em out.” I couldn’t agree more.


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