Current
Situation
The
Philippines
is a
signatory to
the United
Nations
Millennium
Declaration
where it
agreed to
achieve the
following
goals by
2015:
eradicate
extreme
poverty and
hunger;
achieve
universal
primary
education;
promote
gender
equality and
empower
women;
reduce child
mortality;
improve
maternal
health;
combat
HIV/AIDS,
malaria, and
other
diseases;
ensure
environmental
sustainability;
and develop
a global
partnership
for
development.
National
government
agencies,
local
government
units, and
the private
sector
implemented
programs,
projects and
activities
towards the
attainment
of these
goals.
In 2006, the
number of
poor
Bicolano
families
reached
422,278 or
approximately
41.8 percent
of total
number of
families,
making Bicol
the fourth
poorest
region in
the country.
In terms of
total
population,
more than
half (51.1
percent) of
Bicolanos
were living
below the
annual per
capita
poverty
threshold of
P15,015.
About 25.5
percent of
Bicolanos
experienced
hunger,
barely
meeting the
annual per
capita food
threshold of
P10,174.
Masbate was
the poorest,
followed by
Sorsogon,
Camarines
Sur, and
Camarines
Norte.
Catanduanes
had the
lowest
number of
poor
families
(37.3
percent).
Albay had
the lowest
number of
poor
families
(46.2
percent).
The
achievement
of
development
goals is
challenged
by the
threats of
global
economic
slowdown,
the food
security
crisis, and
climate
change. The
responsibility
is shared by
the three
actors in
governance:
government,
civil
society, and
the business
sector.
Government
handles the
bureaucracy,
security,
and justice.
Civil
society
promotes the
advancement
of
knowledge,
clarity of
values, and
protection
of public
interest.
Business
sector
handles
production
and
distribution
of goods and
services.
According to
the 2009
World
Competitiveness
Yearbook,
the
Philippines
ranked low
in
government
and business
efficiency
due to
corruption,
inability to
adopt new
technologies,
and weak
local
government
units. It
has also
been
attributed
to low
productivity
and poor
compliance
to
international
standards.
Another
report
prepared by
the World
Economic
Forum showed
that the
Philippines
dropped from
71st to 87th
place in
global
competitiveness
index. The
report cited
corruption
as the
biggest
problem for
the
Philippines.
This was
followed by
an
inefficient
bureaucracy,
inadequate
infrastructure,
policy
instability,
access to
financing,
and tax
regulation.
Good
governance
has eight
major
characteristics.
It is
participatory,
consensus
oriented,
accountable,
transparent,
responsive,
effective
and
efficient,
equitable
and
inclusive
and follows
the rule of
law. It
assures that
corruption
is
minimized,
the views of
minorities
are taken
into account
and that the
voices of
the most
vulnerable
in society
are heard in
decision-making.
It is also
responsive
to the
present and
future needs
of society.
The absence
of or
deficiency
in any of
these
characteristics
can lead to
corruption
and there
have been
allegations
of such on
all actors
of
governance.
Bad
governance
is regarded
as one of
the root
causes of
all evils in
society. Bad
governance
is due to
corruption.
Corruption
has been a
way of life
among many
and has
undermined
the moral
fiber in the
household,
barangay,
municipality,
city,
provincial,
regional and
national
levels.
People at
young age
are exposed
to corrupt
practices.
Governance
issues that
have to be
dealt with
to make
local
government
units
responsive
to the
demands of
the global
economy are:
high cost of
doing
business,
corruption,
high cost of
utilities,
infrastructure,
peace and
order.
Local
government
units have a
major
responsibility
in good
governance.
Local
autonomy was
granted to
them through
the Local
Government
Code of
1991. The
code
devolved to
LGUs the
delivery of
basic
services:
health,
welfare
services,
environment
protection,
agriculture,
public works
funded by
local funds,
school
building
program,
tourism
promotion,
and housing
projects.
Elected
local
government
officials
and local
department
heads
formulate
development
strategies.
Ideally, the
decision on
whom to vote
is based on
experience,
performance,
and
political
platform.
But the
reality is
that for
majority of
the voters
elections
are the
colorful
streamers,
posters,
flyers, and
campaign
jingles of
candidates.
Vote buying
has
proliferated
over the
years making
election
expenses
big.
Recovering
election
expenses
from local
government
operations
is the main
cause of
corruption.
The
challenge
for citizens
is to make
elected
officials
concentrate
on
implementing
strategies
for
development.
The
education,
experience,
management
skills, and
morality are
success
variables in
managing an
LGU. These
qualities
produce
skillful and
innovative
leaders. LGU
officials
use tools
that promote
effectiveness
and
efficiency
in managing
its
resources
and in
responding
to the
challenges
of the
global
economy. The
basic tools
are the
comprehensive
land use and
development
plan from
which
priority
programs
projects and
the annual
budget are
derived. Few
LGUs have
updated
their
comprehensive
land use and
socio-economic
development
plans.
LGU income
generating
capability
is generally
low. Except
the cities
of Naga and
Legazpi,
most of the
LGUs in the
region
depend on
the Internal
Revenue
Allotment
(IRA) to
finance
local
projects.
About 68
percent of
the 111
municipalities
are
classified
under the
third,
fourth, and
fifth income
class. These
municipalities
are cash
strapped and
ill equipped
to deliver
basic social
services,
implement
projects,
and attract
investments.
National
government
support to
local
development
should be
carried out
through line
agencies and
local
government
units.
However,
there are
many
projects of
line
agencies
that LGUs
did not have
any
community
participation
prior to
implementation.
Another
concern is
the control
of central
offices on
the budgets
of line
agency
regional
offices.
Central
office
proposals
prevail and
many
regional
priority
projects
have not
been
implemented.
Non
government
organizations
and peoples’
organizations
have been
organized in
the region.
Local
government
units,
national
line
agencies and
the regional
development
councils
accredit
these
organizations
to
participate
in
development
activities.
But it has
been
observed
that the
sustainability
of civil
society
organizations
is not
ensured due
to weak
leadership
and lack of
funds.
Civil
society in
the region
has been
characterized
as
complacent,
socially
indifferent,
and mainly
reactive. It
has limited
capacity to
hold
governments
accountable.
There is a
need to
examine the
attitudes
and values
of the
people, the
quality of
cooperation
between
local
governments
and non
government
organizations,
and the
level of
empowerment
given to
communities
and civil
society.
The current
highly
centralized
government
is
ineffective
in dealing
with the
problem of
local
governments.
Decentralization
was
introduced
to bring the
national
government
closer to
the people.
After more
than a
decade of
implementation
there is
little
success in
the
implementation
and
effectivity
of the Code.
Political
leadership
and
governance
were the
success
variables.
Scholars,
politicians,
and
management
experts in
the Bicol
region are
looking into
the federal
system of
government
as an option
for
effective
governance.
They argue
that
federalism
is the next
logical step
after
devolution.
Advocates of
federalism
believe that
the
structure of
the federal
system is
suited to
the
geography,
culture, and
temperament
of the
Bicolanos.
