Reflections Retrospections in Facing New Challenges

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Notes from the Editor, 3 by VG Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya, Ph.D. of Leyte Province Keeping Faith... LVGP Term , 7 by Don Romero (Staff Writer) Position Paper on Gender and Development Orientation Workshop, 13 by Hon. Jesus "James" Calisin, VG Albay Common Perspectives, by Hon. Jesus "James" Calisin, VG Albay 16 A Woman's Appeal for Peace in Sulu, 18 by Hon. Hja. Nur-Ana Sahidulla VG Sulu Term Limits, by Don Romero (Staff Writer) 20 A Constitution Must Be A Living Force, 22 by Hon. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, VG Aklan On IRA...! By Hon. Alex P. Calingasan, VG Bukidnon 25 Other Matters 27 2

3 First Item Notes from the Editor 3 Reflections Retrospections in Facing New Challenges MA. MIMIETTA S. BAGULAYA, PH. D Vice Governor, Province of Leyte Editor-In-Chief National PRO, LVGP ( ) Before I proceed with my reflections, lest I forget, allow me to congratulate the outgoing LVGP Officers and Members who have gone on to be Governors in their respective provinces, Mayors in their respective cities and municipalities and Representatives in their respective congressional districts. Congratulations!!! For our colleagues who have gone back to their respective private lives. I say that you would not be less public as you think you will be because your constituents in one way or another will continue to seek you out wherever you might be. Believe you me, I ve been there. May I congratulate you for the respite from all those solicitations for grants and donations, legislative, administrative and social functions. But I assure you your desire to serve in whatever capacity will always be there. In this issue of Agenda, we have reserved the centerfold for our honorees as the honor pages. To all of you, thank you. Thank you for Cover of the Agenda at its rebirth, January- March 2005 Volume 1, Issue No. 1 the time, short may be the three years that we have been together. Thank you for being with us in this journey both for the League and Agenda. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ideas and efforts with us. Thank you for standing firm, for the ambitions, for greatness of this humble League and its publication. Your names are worthy of being called Honorable. I m not saying my goodbyes, just as yet, to all of you, rather I d say, see you because I suppose, we suppose,

4 you shall return. On this page I once wrote these words when our official publication first came out (Agenda, January to March 2005, Volume 1, Issue No. 1) for its rebirth after it has set off into hibernation for three years: The Agenda: our tool for the effective delivery of our views, activities, and undertakings hopes to reach the portals of our august halls and land on the hands of our honorable members, our partners here and abroad even as we cry with one voice. We see glimmering hopes to this publication. But the burden lies fundamentally in its very nature. As a media vehicle of a highly esteemed organization the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines, it can never pretend to level with the objectivity, integrity and everything that goes with a credible publication. Our prejudices, biases, loves and hates, all springing from the plurality/diversity of our membership and from the very fact that its publishers are public servants, will manifest in every article written on this paper. We shall nevertheless take extra effort at conforming to the journalistic values this freedom loving country has established through the years. With many things in mind, what is certain is that we hope to deliver our very best in the name of public service, which is ultimately what we do best, through the revived and reinvigorated Agenda. These marked the humble beginnings of our publication nearly three years ago. Looking back and to where we are now, I could simply say that we have sustained our publication through the past years with much of the credit going to all LVGP officers and members who enthusiastically supported Agenda through their contributed articles and advertisements. We have proven that we could objectively, decently, credibly and with integrity publish a media vehicle as public servants. Credit is due to our LVGP national leaders and members of the national executive board who trusted, authorized and gave me as Editor-In-Chief and my staff free rein to decide on the form and substance of our publication. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the League through our Agenda. We have not only conformed to the journalistic values and code of ethics but have followed the guide that the Apostle Paul has set forth: Prove all things, hold fast to what is good and have dwelt our thoughts on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, of virtue, and of praise. These I believe have truly sustained our publication. This issue of Agenda comes in a period of transition for the League of Vice Governors and I m sure by the time it reaches you a new set of officers must have been elected, perhaps with a new PRO. Allow me therefore to thank my colleagues and staff who in their own little and big ways made this paper come out as it is today. Also in this issue we will walk through the pages of past Agenda issues recognizing the contributions of our officers and members with their advocacies as well as their stand and opinions on issues. Vice Governor Jesus 4

5 James B. Calisin (Position Paper on Gender and Development Orientation/Workshop and Third Gender Conference: Going Beyond Common Perspective, Agenda Issue Nos. 1 and 3, respectively), Vice Governor Hja. Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla (A Woman s Appeal for Peace in Sulu, Agenda Issue No. 2), Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, Vice Governor of the Province of Aklan (A Constitution Must Be A Living Force, Agenda Issue No. 2) and Vice Governor Alex P. Calingasan (On IRA!, Agenda Issue No. 2). The second issue of Agenda, featuring on its cover the women Vice Governors of the League in honor of Women s Month and the daily struggle for Gender and Development. 5 Your personal thoughts and insights on the proposed shift to federal and parliamentary form of government and on the political crisis besetting the country also gave life to our House Rules Suspended column in our Agenda Issue No. 3. House Rules Suspended was a noholds barred space to share our personal thoughts and ideas. Thank you Vice Governor Anthony Jesus S. Alarcon, Province of Rizal; Vice Governor Ramon G. Lacbain, II, Province of Zambales; Vice Governor Antonio H. Escudero, Jr., Province of Sorsogon; Vice Governor Francisco T. Paylaga, Province of Misamis Oriental; Vice Governor Annabelle C. Tangson, Province of Aurora; and Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, Vice Governor, Province of Aklan. A number of Provincial Governments who have consistently supported each issue of our magazine with their advertisements deserve our recognition and heartfelt gratitude. They really helped a lot in defraying some of our printing costs. These are the Provincial Governments of the Provinces of Misamis Occidental through Vice Governor Francisco T. Paylaga, Jr. (Agenda Issue Nos. 1 to 3), Misamis Oriental through Vice Governor Julio T. Uy (Agenda Issue No. 1), Province of Aklan through Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino (Agenda Issue No. 2), Province of La Union through Vice Governor Augusto Aureo Q. Nisce (Agenda Issue No. 2), of Province of Agusan del Norte through Vice Governor Dale B. Corvera (Agenda Issue No. 2) and the Province of Oriental Negros through Vice Governor Jose A. Baldado (Agenda Issue No. 2). Thank you so much for helping make our official publication sustainable. In behalf of the League and Agenda, I extend my fondest gratitude most of all to Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the short but sweet and important message calling for a stronger partnership for better, more vibrant Philippines to BEAT THE ODDS (Agenda, Issue No. 1). To then DILG Sec. Angelo T. Reyes, we thank you for your message of the Department s recognition of the efforts of the League to improve ways in providing effective delivery of basic services to our respective constituents being the competent partners of the governor in steering the wheels of progress and reforms in the provinces (Agenda, Issue No. 2).

6 We will not also forget to thank our partners who also have responded to our call by submitting their articles as contributions to our publication; John C. Dalton (Billions of Pesos are Fiddling while the Philippines Burns, Agenda Issue No. 2), Program Manager of Growth with Equity In Mindanao (GEM) and Ester B. Batagan (An Urgent Call for a Million Hectare of Philippine Rainforest Restored by 2010), Advocacy Officer-in-Charge, Haribon Foundation. Thank you of course AJ, for coordinating Agenda s activities with the Vice Governors and my staff, and facilitating Agenda s presence in cyberspace. Jessa, our Finance Officer and No. 1 fan, thank you for being patient with soliciting advertisements for us and for being ever supportive of Agenda. To both of you, I can t thank you enough. Don Romero and Regie Duran, two of my dynamic Sanggunian Panlalawigan staff, who served as my Agenda staff writers, encoders, photographers, graphics and layout artists; your skills, talents, love and passion for the work that both of you do, have supplemented and complemented each other in every form and substance as seen through every issue of Agenda. Thank you so much for the technical assistance you have given to me and the League through Agenda. In anticipation of the 15th Anniversary of the RA 7160 or the Local GovernmentCode of 1991, Agenda had for its cover story; 14 years of the Local Government Code of Truly indeed, in Agenda s rebirth it has been sweeter and livelier (or lovelier?) the second time around. Let me reiterate, therefore my first call on this same page more than three years ago: Let us work together for this Agenda to stay now and in the future even as we come and go, even as we rise and fall. LVGP shall continue to struggle for legislative reforms and be a beacon for all Sanggunians to showcase their legislative agenda. Like a story without an end, may our Agenda inspire each batch or generation of Vice Governors and require them the ambition and inspiration to write anew. Once again, I hope you would enjoy reading this souvenir issue of our publication as you have enjoyed the first three issues because we, since its rebirth, have enjoyed preparing them for your learning and reading pleasure. 6 MA. MIMIETTA S. BAGULAYA, PH. D Vice Governor, Province of Leyte Editor-In-Chief National PRO, LVGP ( )

7 Keeping Faith... LVGP Term by Don Romero The League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) for the last three years, , has kept faith with their vision, mission and goals. The vision of a strong, dynamic and cohesive national organization of highly motivated Vice Governors whose opinions are well respected and considered in bringing about reforms in government and whose leadership is responsive in effecting changes for local and national development. The vision is coupled with a mission to continuously build a strong advocacy group, to be one voice in policy and legislative reforms through unity, enhanced capabilities and established national and international linkages. Both vision and mission is guided by the following five goals: 1. To enhance the skills of the Vice Governors as well as build capabilities of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. 2. To promote fraternal support for greater unity and cooperation. 3. To maintain harmonious relationships between executive and legislative branches of government. 4. To establish strong linkages and networks with national and international institutions. 5. To institutionalize a strong advocacy voice in policy and legislative reforms. 7

8 The officers and members of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines Term , led by its president Atty. Julius Caesar F. Herrrera, Vice Governor of Bohol, has implemented programmatic activities to realize its vision, mission and goals. The League has conducted various activities and has come together for regular quarterly national assemblies and national executive board meetings. These activities have always been enthusiastically awaited both by officers and members of the League because the national assemblies have been established as a venue for learning and sharing of initiatives and good practices of the vice governors in their respective provinces. These assemblies too has served as a venue where vice governors could share problems related to their legislative and administrative functions with each other. Topics discussed and speakers for the national assemblies have been carefully chosen in its relevance to the legislative and administrative work of the vice governors in their respective provinces. The various topics of the national assemblies have ranged from applicable Civil Service Commission (CSC) Rules and Regulations, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Survey of Issuances and Jurisprudence affecting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) relevant Issuances and Memorandum Circulars, to topics on the preservation and conservation of the environment, renewable energy, strengthened local autonomy, sustainable development and formulation of local children s codes. Through these advocacies the League has established linkages with national institutions like Haribon Foundation and international institutions like Plan Philippines, United Nations International Cooperation and Economic Fund (UNICEF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), while maintaining strong linkages with the Civil Service Commisssion (CSC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). In the words of Oriental Negros Governor George T. Arnaiz, The League s continuing effort to improve and its active participation in the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) has distinguished itself as one of the very important League among all the Leagues in the entire country. 8

9 These were the national assemblies, seminar -workshops and other activities of the LVGP Term : Special National Assembly Heritage Hotel, Pasay City, Manila June 24-26, th National Assembly & Election of Officers Plenary Session during the Special National Assembly held at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay, City Manila, June 24-26, 2004 Theme: Leadership Through Action Not Through Position Hyatt Regency Hotel, Pasay City, Manila August 11-14, 2004 An evening pose with special guests during the 25th LVGP National Assembly held on August 11-14, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Pasay City. Local Governance and Legislation: A Seminar Workshop for Vice Governors Capability Building Seminar Workshop Baguio Country Club, Bagiuo City September 16-19,

10 26th National Assembly Legazpi City, Province of Albay November 12-14, 2004 Province of Albay Gov. Fernando V. Gonzales and Vice Gov. Jesus James B. Calisin, hosts of the 26th LVGP National Assembly posed with the Officers and Members of the League. 27th National Assembly Theme: Peace and Development For A Strong Nation Isla Parilla, Alabel, Province of Sarangani February 10-12, 2005 Urban Development Immersion Sidney, Australia April 5-9, th National Assembly Theme: Convergence for Unity and Stability South Sea Resort Hotel, Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros June 9-11, 2005 LVGP Officers and Members posed for posterity at the stairs of the Capitol Building of the Province of Sarangani with Gov. Migz Dominguez. 29th National Assembly San Fernando City, Province of La Union November 17-20,

11 Asian Economic Immersion Hongkong & China February 18-21, th National Assembly Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City April 27-30, st North Luzon Legislative Summit for Children Narciso Ramos Gymnasium, Lingayen, Pangasinan July 4-6, 2006 Asian Economic Immersion 31st National Assembly Bohol Beach Club, Panglao, Bohol July 13-16, st Mindanao Legislative Summit for Children Alabel, Sarangani August 15-17, nd National Assembly Mallberry Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental October 18-21, 2006 Local Children s Code Workshop Legenda Hotel, Subic, Zambales November 27-30, 2006 Local Children s Code Workshop 11

12 Country Competitiveness Immersion Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia & Singapore November 30-December 4, 2006 Country Competitiveness Immersion Championing Change and Innovation For Multisector Organizational Effectiveness Bayview Park Hotel January 18-19, 2007 Special National Assembly & Honoring of Outgoing Members Heritage Hotel, Pasay City June 22-24, 2007 Vice Governors Edgardo Lopez of Davao Oriental, Estee Aceron of Misamis Oriental and Irma Umpa Ali of Lanao de Norte with their staff presenting their workshop output during the Championing Change and Innovation for Multisector Organizational Effectiveness Workshop Seminar. 12

13 POSITION PAPER ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION/WORKSHOP Jesus B. Calisin Vice Governor Province of Albay The Orientation/Workshop was attended by government officials - men and women representatives from various concerned agencies and nongovernment organizations. It presented a framework of development approach where stress was made on misconceptions on the capacities of women and the effects it had on development. The resource persons from the DSWD-V and DBM-V explained on the impact of Gender and Development where age-old biases should be eliminated by overhauling perspectives, i.e. to look at everyone and deal with them as human, and to recognize and stress the unequal relations that continue to exist in the Philippine society. It was pointed out by the speakers that this existing unequal relation is specifically centered on the misconceptions of the capabilities of women thereby institutionalizing a situation where no opportunity is given for women to have access tot eh benefits of development. At some point during the topic on Gender Mainstreaming and Institutionalizing, Vice-Governor Jesus B. Calisin questioned the general trend of the orientation on why there was too much stress or a tendency to underscore the oppression of women by men when gender is defined as encompassing both women and men. He made the observation that there seemed to be a tendency to follow the western concept of women s liberation indeed debunked for its extreme propositions, i.e. Shulamith Brimstone s advocacy of armed struggle by women against men and that the propositions seemed to look at one side of the coin, at one point even pointing out that there is also oppression of men. In answer, the speaker from the DBM pointed out that statistics are there and inequalities do exist otherwise why was the government pursuing the GAD policy? 13

14 ANALYSIS Because GAD works on the concept of Gender as a social construct and where genuine development has evolved as putting people at the center of all aspects of the development process to enable them to have wider choices (as defined by the UNDP), the GAD orientations should be careful that these orientations should be careful that these orientations do not become a venue for men-bashing and generally laying all the blame for the effects of skewed development on the men s propensity to abuse and oppress the women. Care must be given that the blame for the Philippine s social ills is not being laid squarely on the shoulders of the men and that if only women were given all the opportunities for access to the benefits of development, then most, if not all, that is wrong with our country now would be righted. Because GAD orientations are evolving into information venues on issues affecting women, it must be very cleat that these do not become a forum for fomenting a misguided sense of liberation where men and women are made to compete. Note statements like this, for example: Where the status of women is better, there is less poverty, population growth is smaller, education and health is better, and corruption in government is less. Implicitly, this present such a narrow view on the real situation and by implication more damaging than helpful because it does not hit the nail right on it head so to speak. Using oppression on men on women as a springboard by which to tackle problems of development beclouds the real issues behind the genuine causes of our country s continuing poverty and maldevelopment because, too often than not, human development as envisioned by policy planners continue to use the following discarded development approaches to development, namely: 1. Economic growth as development where man is sometimes viewed as merely an end to development. 2. Human welfare as development where human beings become mere beneficiaries and not participants in the development process. 3. Human capital formation and human resource development where human beings are regarded as mere inputs to production. 4. Basic needs approach where development is focused on the provision of goods and services rather than their implications on human choices. We see these discarded approaches continually rearing their heads on the propositions of the speakers in the orientation, and in the GAD policy and plan itself. We see very limited perspectives being presented and 14

15 stated as facts which may dangerously confuse, especially if presented to women and men with low levels of educational attainment, thereby muddling the effort towards genuine human development. RECOMMENDATIONS Because GAD orientations are evolving into information venues on issues affecting women, it must be very cleat that these do not become a forum for fomenting a misguided sense of liberation where men and women are made to compete. Instead, introductory topics must first be discussed on man and woman s complementarity strengthened by their innate differences i.e. biological makeup, hormonal differences, etc. and on the root causes of the inequalities prevalent in Philippine society where poverty, hunger, landlessness, ignorance and illiteracy continue to stalk our people not simply because men are plainly too oppressive of women but because we have a situation where there is an inequitable distribution of wealth and a problem with the appropriation of our natural resources. To present the oppression of women by men without clarifying the issues is to be involved in a deception and whitewash on the real culprits of our conditions of oppression which both men and women face. It is therefore, strongly recommended that new modules be added to these orientation modules on these points so that these may clarify perspectives and every participant will be educated on the true context of the problems since, as it is, the kind of perspective being given during orientation serves only to muddle the issue on genuine human development, fomenting divisions between men and women when both should be trying to find solutions to the problems confronting them. True, women suffer more but would things be better if men suffered more, instead? 15

16 Common Perspectives Jesus B. Calisin Vice Governor Province of Albay 16 When the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay amended its Rules to pave the way for the creation of the Gender and Development Committee, placing into action the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development (PPGD) , the government s perspective framework for pursuing gender equality, it was not merely paying lip-service to the goal of gender equality as provided in the Constitution and laws. It was a clear manifestation of intent and determination to take the lead to promote gender responsive development at the local level. As the elected Chairperson of the newly created committee, I clarified some points before the committee could go full-swing into its advocacy of gender-equality. I understand that the meaning of sustainable development is the expansion of choices and opportunities for all people in the locality, so they could attain a better quality of life, this is the reason why I questioned the trend in Gender and Development orientations in its seemingly undue stress of underscoring oppression of women by men, that the blame of the effects skewed development rests squarely on man s propensity to abuse and oppress women. These are the points which to my thinking, fomented a misguided sense of liberation where men and women are made to compete, instead of being made complements of each other, in order for both to be strengthened and better able to tackle the real problems of underdevelopment, which are the inequitable distribution of wealth and the misappropriation of our country s resources. When I presented my perspective to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay, it was adopted as the official stand of the provincial government of Albay in tackling issues on gender and development. If we are to be true to the definition of sustainable human development which is the expansion of choices and opportunities for all people in the locality, as things stood, the definition was, again, being limitedly applied. For while there are several fora available to articulate the concerns of women, children, the youth, the elderly,

17 the professionals, businessmen, religious and a number of others, there was no forum available for the socalled gays and lesbians or as I prefers to call them, the third gender. Thus, the Third Gender Conference and GAD Olympics was born. A first in the history of Albay, the concept is a multi-lgu effort from the Provincial Government of Albay, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay Committee on Gender and Development, and the various LGUs of the province, led by their Vice Mayors and the respective heads of the city and municipal committees on Gender and Development, and the Women and Children. To showcase the advocacy of gays and lesbians, the Third Gender Conference has the following objectives: - To provide a forum by which the skills, talents, resources, interests and advocacy of gays and lesbians can be recognized; - To transform these skills, talents, resources, interests and advocacy into a productive force to enable gays and lesbians to become positive contributors for the growth and development of the province of Albay; - To bring the generally untapped contributions of this force into the mainstream of society so they can participate and have access to the development process. While the project is controversial, the fact remains that participation in the development process should not be exclusive, rather it must include those who are marginalized by their stature in life, their faith, and even in their sexual preference. The theme, Third Gender: Albay s Partner in Development, says it all. 17

18 Indeed I fully subscribe to the wisdom presented by Archbishop Fernando Capalla, President of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines when he urged the government to initiate peace and dialogue with the MNLF faction of Chairman Nur Misuari in order not to prolong the Mindanao conflict. That the government must use the leadership of Chairman Nur Misuari among the Filipino Muslims to end the Mindanao conflict and unite them for the ultimate realization of Filipino unity and reconciliation. The ingredients of peaceful dialogue are already in place because of the Jakarta peace agreement which our government and the MNLF solemnly signed in September Accordingly, most of the provisions of the agreement are already implemented by our government. What is needed is the final touch of its implementation. The road to peace is not anymore narrow and winding. Political will and decision must be the instrument to prevail rather than military solution. 18

19 As vice governor of the Province of Sulu, I am always on the side of our government for peace and development of my people and province. I fully sympathize with the sad plight of my constituents who are now in the evacuation centers and hesitant to return to their respective homes because of fear to be caught in the crossfire. They left behind their belongings and means of livelihood. They are now depending on the food, clothing and accommodation provided by DSWD, DOH, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), some donor agencies and philanthropic individuals of our country. The people of Sulu have already suffered a lot. They are already tired of war. They are longing for peace. Peace is their dream and the dream of their children. I am now calling on our Philippine Armed Forces and the MNLF rebels for the cessation of their hostilities and allow our evacuees to return to their homes without fear and insecurity. I am asking the support of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines under the presidency of Hon. Julius Caesar F. Herrera, to support my proposition, for a ceasefire between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front, to give peace a chance to realize a dream of Filipino reconciliation. 19

20 Term Limits by Don Romero In fitting and simple ceremony, the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) honored its outgoing officers and members at The Heritage Hotel, Pasay City in the evening of June 23, 2007 during its Special National Assembly and Honoring of Outgoing Members. The Special National Assembly marked the last time that the officers and members of the League for the term met and signaled the onset of a set of officers and members composed of Vice Governors for the term In the next few days, a new set of Vice Governors shall have assumed their respective offices in the various provinces of the country. Their assumption of office shall officially start on July 1, 2007, the start of a new term nationwide for elected national and local public officials of a three-year term that would consequently end on June 30, The League will elect its new set of officers sometime in the last week of July or early August. The Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No has set the term limits of local government elected public officials to serve continuously for not more than nine years. A single term is three years. As has been oftener said, three years is so short for a good elected public official but too long for a not so good one. Which could be true in a way but good or bad is and has always been relative. The joke around town has always been; the more relatives you have the better off you will be. But seriously, it s really all about perspective. It all depends at one s point of view. As in beauty; it is in the eyes of the beholder. The same with who is good or bad, it is in the eyes of the beholder. And from what moral stand point the beholder is looking at. Or through what lens the beholder is using. 20 LVGP Officers and Members during the Special National Assembly and Honoring of Outgoing Members.

21 And as for this simple kibitzer, my lens has always been looking through the eyes of love. Forty-two outgoing League officers and members were honored that beautiful evening. Respectively, they would be pursuing and be actively involved in new endeavors and advocacies. This is expected because they have been actively involved in the advocacies on preservation and conservation of the environment, renewable energy, strengthened local autonomy, sustainable development and formulation of local children s codes of the League. And hopefully, they would be seeing each other again in some old familiar places. Forty-one are still with us and the League was deeply saddened by the loss of Vice Governor Rommel Diasen of Kalinga, who died at the height of the last national and local electoral campaign. Vice Governor Diasen died in the line of duty and in memory of his active participation and involvement in its affairs, the League, posthumously honored him that evening. They have kept the faith and the fire of hope burning in the hearts and minds of their respective constituents. They have been at the forefront of keeping alive the trust of their respective constituents in our form of government and in the administration of the President by delivering much needed basic and support services amidst national crisis. To all of you, in behalf of Agenda, our official publication, we give you our esteemed respects. On the following pages we give you honor. Mabuhay kayo!! 21

22 A CONSTITUTION MUST BE A LIVING FORCE Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino Vice Governor Province of Aklan No sooner had President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made a yahoo declaration of elation on the peso s recovering strength vis-à-vis the US dollar and the national broadsheets observation of investors coming when a few congressmen hurriedly considered contemplating amendments to the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly centered on a change of form of government, as if it is an idea and national necessity whose time has come. The methods of amending or revising the 1987 Constitution is provided in Sections 1 and 2, Art. XVII of the said Constitution. Jose N. Nolledo, in his work The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Explained, makes these explanations, thus: The Constitution may be amended or revised (1) By the Congress by a vote of three-fourths of all its Members; (2) By a constitutional convention, either called by two-thirds vote of all the Members of the Congress, approved by the electorate (in a referendum) as when (in the latter case) the question of calling such convention is submitted to the electorate by a majority vote of all the Members of the Congress; or (3) By the people through a system of initiative under the conditions set forth in Section 2 of the instant Article. In any of the ways mentioned above, the revision or amendments must be submitted to the people for ratification and the same shall be valid only when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite. (Sec. 4, Art. XVII). As a matter of recollection, a May 2002 national political summit was conducted and studied. It felt an urgent need for constitutional reforms. The compelling need for constitutional reforms had been based on the fact that our country has not moved ahead in economic, political, social and governmental development as a consequence of continuous political instability, rampant graft and corruption, huge foreign debt, kidnappings, prolonged military skirmishes in Mindanao and Sulu and the seeming lack of proper direction in economic development. In addition, the U.P. Law Center and the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) found more than 100 errors and inadequacies in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 22

23 On that year, the House of Representatives of the Philippines conducted a series of nation-wide public hearings and opinion surveys in selected cities on the issues whether the people are in favor of amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution and their recommendation on the procedure of amending the fundamental law. Thereafter, there was the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives call for a Constitutional Convention for urgent constitutional reforms. Advocate of constitutional amendment through the constituent assembly should remember the admonition of Rep. Herminio Teves, the oldest member of the House of Representatives of amending the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly. He recalled the failed constituent assembly in May 1957, April 1966 and in June Be the foregoing as it may, in a democracy such as ours, one should consider the vital import of a constitution, or if you will, its sacredness which should not be trifled with. Some Filipinos have the mistaken notion that we imported our constitutional tradition. A lot of our nationalists believe so. Somewhere in 1970, profused with the thought that a constitutional convention was about to be called preceded by the election of delegates to the constitutional convention, I scribbled some notes on the studies of some authors on constitutionalism. One of the authorities that I studied was Jorge M. Juco. Juco, in his work The Citizen and the Constitution writes thus: We did not import our constitutional tradition. Men speak of transplantation of systems. But the Filipinos did not need to import his constitutionalism. Filipinos demanded the limitation of government representation, not because of encroachments of foreign powers, but because they saw in the mirror of their national history how political life could not prosper without them. What was imported, at times, were not the thoughts or the aspirations, but their verbal presentation. It is an act of political masochism to say that we do not have a constitutional tradition. We do have one. We have imported constitutional processes, it is true, but the operations of these processes in practice are peculiarly ours. In this lies the national dilemma, for we are ourselves a different kind of people and theory and practice vary not because constitutions vary, but because the people who must live them are different in temperament, discipline and in attitude. Juco sites that what is demanded of the citizenry in the remaking of the Constitution is awareness, knowledge and discussion. The Filipino must inform himself (and others) about what the constitution that he is to change already contains. In order that he may better know what changes he is to institute in the fundamental law, he must know what options confront him, and the consequences of his choice. It, too, demands discussion this is the keystone of democracy; matter must be discussed openly and open-mindedly. Beyond this, the remaking of our constitution demands reasons. Popular passions and prejudices, while they may sway 23

24 a mob and inspire demonstrations, cannot constitute a stable basis for democratic government. Constitution of countries are not judged by their appeal to the vices of a people, but to their virtues, and to the capacity of the people to look beyond present needs towards the aspiration of the future. A constitution must be a living force. And men must live by it if that constitution is to continue and flourish. Otherwise, that Constitution would be treated merely as a scrap of paper without value. Let me quote a constitutionalist whose name had escaped in my memory when he said; Formal documents in their actual application reflect the strengths and weaknesses of a society. Where the citizenry is apathetic and permissive, the walls of the human institutions tend to splinter and crumble. Where a citizenry is unwilling to permit their erosion, these institutions will continue to flourish and evolve into more perfect instruments for the attainment of the common good. Thomas Babington Macauly once said that a good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot. 24

25 On IRA...! Hon. Alex P. Calingasan Vice Governor Province of Bukidnon 25 To you who think the people of this country have no dreams. You, who know our people vote and complain about politics, but do not really participate in political process. You who understand that the system is so valuable, yet so fragile, that an attempt to erode the essence of local governance weakens the whole nation. Let our people dream. Lest you forget, time was when Marcos tried to bring development to the nation using strong-arm tactics. Short of twenty years, the national government was bankrupt and the military regime was ended by EDSA Revolution. Then came Aquino and Ramos who were somewhat a disappointment at the least and the worst is the Estrada administration. Their NGOs and Cooperatives respectively were loser forerunners in the quest for national development. If not for the Local Government Code of 1991 authored principally by Senator Aquilino Pimentel and Congressman Hilario de Pedro III, governance would have been irrelevant. For only the local government units (LGUs) stood for our people and held the fort in their terrible predicament. And, they advanced where the national government has retreated. They have kept the government s colors high. Accordingly, as reported by the rapid appraisal of GOLD, the LGUs were the true vanguard of the nation. They are your winners. You know that devolution came about because national government has failed in its central goal and policy to deploy the nation s resources effectively and productively. It has failed to scale down the structural poverty and has not created programs that increase the income of small farmers and owners of small businesses. It has failed to deliver basic services. It has failed to protect our natural resources. And, worst, it has failed to enhance the national competitiveness. You know that devolution is a change and development strategy. It is to plan, decide and manage at the local level rather than from the central government. It is a function of democracy the transfer of power from the groups who dominate the center to those who have control of the local level. Indeed, it is the basis of true democracy-direct participation of the people in making decisions and management of the government.

26 Consequently, although in varying degrees, you would have observed that LGUs have taken on bigger and more demanding responsibilities. Assuming the power, authority, or responsibilities transferred to them, they have formulated their own development policies and priorities; managed their own resources, and augmented their IRA share by improving their local revenue stream. As a corporate unit given government functions, you have seen LGUs as very innovative. The barangays have served as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, and programs. The municipalities have governed and coordinated the delivery of basic services to the inhabitants. And, the provinces have provided the dynamic mechanism for developmental processes and effective governance of LGUs. You know very well that effective local government is a prerequisite to sustainable development. This is specially so in the fields of environmental conservation, poverty reduction and employment generation. So much of your national programs and projects have gone to waste. But, you choose not to see these things. You would rather see that LGUs are still dependent on central government sometimes acting like mendicants. You would rather divide and create new provinces, municipalities and barangays to weaken the LGUs and become their patron. And, even when the smaller local government units are able, you would rather opt that national agencies implement the projects. You would not stop until you have reduced the capabilities of the LGUs. As you have already known, the Local Government Code of 1991 is actually a declaration of a national policy. You are to work within its framework. That is the process for devolution to proceed from the national government to the LGUs for genuine and meaningful autonomy. Supposedly, it should have been a continuing process of mandatory review every five years through legislative enabling acts and also by administrative and organizational reforms. This you have not done. Yet, you have chosen to effectively withhold or reduce the IRA for LGUs rather than increase it. To you who are our leaders whom the LGUs seek for leadership so that government can do more than wait for the trickledown effect of development. Look at change as creative opportunities to bring vision when there is no purpose; bring plans and strategies where there is no action; help where there are needs; and bring about creative transformations. You can understand that this is not just a matter for the LGUs, but for our people. Make their dreams come true. This is for you to pursue the necessary results where the national government has failed to achieve. 26

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