By Harvey S. Keh

While the election fever heats up in our country, the World Bank-Knowledge Development Centers together with the Ateneo School of Government and the Asian Institute of Management-Center for Development Management recently held a governance forum entitled, Panibagong Paraan for Good Governance 2009. This event brought together leaders from local government units, academic institutions, civil society groups and international agencies to discuss best practices that promote transparency, social accountability and effective delivery of basic services to the people.

During the first day, multi-awarded Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City shared with the participants how they are able to promote transparency through their i-Governance program which enables ordinary citizens to easily access information pertaining to how their city budget is used by simply logging on to their website. Robredo also shared how they institutionalized through a city ordinance the formation of a People’s Council which sits in the different committees of the city government. This council serves as a partner in implementing government programs and at the same a watchdog as well to ensure that the local government continues to be held accountable to the people for their actions. Robredo stressed that by getting people involved in governance, they will also co-own the programs and by doing so, they will also continue to support the leader that has empowered them. This way of governing has enabled Robredo and his team to win the past 5 local elections without spending enormous amounts of money or resorting to illegal means. The people’s council model has since been replicated in Quezon City through the efforts of QC Councilor Bolet Banal and Mayor Sonny Belmonte.

Former Mayor Baby Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija and Mayor Florante Gerdan of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya also shared that the leader who is able to deliver basic services effectively will usually win the elections. Congco, a 3-term mayor in her town, shared that in the past elections, her opponents would spend more than 5 times the usual amount that she would spend and yet she would still come out on top because her constituents easily feel the impact of her programs and projects particularly in education and healthcare. Gerdan, who used to be part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said that he works as if every day is an election day wherein he always goes out of his way to ensure that the important needs of his people are served. Although limited by resources, Congco and Gerdan continues govern effectively by finding private sector partners such as Gawad Kalinga, Ateneo de Manila University and the Zuellig Family Foundation to help them in their projects.

Mayor Fermin Mabulo of San Fernando, Camarines Sur sums it up well as he modifies a famous quote from the movie Spiderman by saying that, “With shared power comes shared responsibility.” Further stressing that good governance thrives when people are empowered and participate in the government’s efforts to ensure public welfare and development. Their experiences all show that an aspiring leader need not have millions of pesos to ensure winning an election. When people see that a leader practices good governance and provides opportunities to get their constituencies involved, it is the people themselves who will work to always ensure that this leader will continue to win the elections.

Be part of Panibagong Paraan 2009 and be updated with our future activities by adding us up at Facebook or sending us an email at panibagongparaan2009@gmail.com.

Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo School of Government.