Polegov

How can you ensure that the project will be sustainable? This is the common question to local government units (LGUs) presenting their programs for evaluation in the search for Galing Pook programs. The common response: Institutionalization by means of policies and ordinances. Indeed, institutionalization is one of the ways to sustain the programs and projects. In the Philippines, however, while policies and ordinances may set the tone and the environment for sustainability, they do not guarantee that the projects will continue after the administration that initiated them. This is because of the lack of strong political institutions and the highly personality-oriented system of politics and governance in the country.  Cases in point are the city and municipal development plans which are literally shelved when a new officials are elected. At the national level, there is   also the Bottom-Up Budgeting Program (BUBP) initiated by the Aquino Administration (2010-2...

In my years of consulting work, I came to realize three things. First, there are resources that remain untapped because the resource gatekeepers cannot connect with the communities that needed them most. Second, information is the key in connecting the resources to those that need them and that include an understanding of the interests not only of the gatekeepers but also of the possible beneficiaries. Third, there are still a lot to learn and one way to start is jotting them down. Many are drawn to socialism because of the first. When resources are wasted because they do not reach those that need them, capitalism becomes the whipping boy. But only a few would propose a change, or a system shift. The rest would prefer the status quo but at the same time beat their backs and wail. But why would they do so? This is because of the second – information, and the uneven distribution of the same. Information is power so it is expected that those who would like to take hold of that powe...