Local Government and Civil Society
(August 3 - 10, 2003)
by Col. Ernesto G. Dionisio
The seminar puts emphasis on the importance of decentralization
for effective governance. Decentralization calls for the devolution
of certain national functions to the Local Level/Local Government
Units (LGUs). Such practice would help the government find effective
solutions to the diverse/varied problems affecting the grassroots
level in each and every specific area within its jurisdiction.
Hence, the specific need within each specific area would be addressed.
The advantages and disadvantages of decentralization as against
centralized structures in government were taken into account.
There are those who view and maintain that centralization and
the increased regulation it entails could also be effective. Concentration
of decision-making on the top management could be more efficient
and entail less time.
Different types of local financing were also presented. Without
independent and reliable local financing, local government could
never be efficient.
On the part of the LGUs, privatization and civic participation
were discussed. Without involvement of citizens/constituents,
there will be problems developing an effective and efficient community.
Several models/methods for privatization were presented along
with their advantages and disadvantages.
The seminar was conducted in such a way that the participants
were divided into several working groups. Variations in each participant’s
country, as to their government structure, were taken into account.
The participants were asked, based on their experience, which
models/methods would address their present problems and what advantages
their present government structure offers.
Participants were asked leading questions such as:
- What have local government politics and civic society got
to do with liberalism?
- Is the development or strengthening of the local level a solution
for our problems and which particular problems can be solved
by them?
- Is privatization at a local level an appropriate measure?
- Which responsibilities can be taken over by the citizens themselves
without state or local help?
- Which means of local funding do we have in the country?
- Which could be introduced or changed?
- What participative elements are there in local politics and
what should civic participation be like?
Participants gave diverse answers depending on what specific
situations their countries were in at the time. Solutions were
given for specific situations. Unanswered problems were presented.
Favorable conditions were declared. Practical answers to predicaments
were given. However, no specific formula or solution was offered.
Conclusion
Each and every input of all the participants was taken into account
and deliberated into by the group. Thereby, giving each participant
a bird’s eye view of what could be applicable or not to his own
country/nation. Specific formulas or solutions for problems were
not presented. However, each participant gained from each and
everyone’s knowledge, expertise and personal experience to further
improve his own understanding of the problems within his community
and how to effectively address them.
At the end of the seminar, each participant had become better
equipped and more capable, having gained valuable knowledge, as
well as relevant and reliable information to face the current
predicaments in their own countries, and offer effective, efficient
and timely recommendations on how their respective governments,
with the aid of civic society, could further improve the system
and offer solutions.
