In the I LOVE DUMAGUETE platform of government and development agenda of #Kasaligan, the letter “G” stands for Good Governance.
The idea of governance is not new. It is as deep-rooted as human civilization itself. It is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
Governance can be employed in several settings and in different perspectives such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.
As in government or business, governance isn’t just about guaranteeing financial success and securing durability. It’s also about directing, supervising, and supporting the character of your business or the culture of a specific government body. The leader of the governance team should ‘set the tone’. For instance, he should always make decisions that sustain the organization’s values and help to achieve its vision.
Personally, my idea of good governance is to make sure that everyone involved in managing the organization is of good character. Good character can be summed up in three ways: doing the right thing; being honest about what you’re doing; taking responsibility for your actions and decisions.
According to the United Nations, good governance has eight key features. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It guarantees that corruption is curtailed, the opinions of minorities are taken into consideration 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.
Is the 174 project a product of good governance? Good governance is an approach to government that is committed to creating a system founded in justice and peace that protects:
Participation. This demands that all groups, especially the most vulnerable, have direct or representative access to the systems of government. This manifests as a strong civil society and citizens with the freedom of association and expression. When the 174 project was on the drawing board then announced, did the almost 133,000 Dumaguetnons have a say on its planning and conceptualization? We were even taken by surprise since there were no consultations and no hearings. There was not even a single information being floated around just to get the pulse of the people. Those at the helm of government just presumed that we will just swallow everything hook, line, and sinker.
Transparency. It means that citizens understand and have access to the means and manner in which decisions are made, especially if they are directly affected by such decisions. This information must be provided in an understandable and accessible format, typically translated through the media. Were the people behind the 174 project transparent? After it was announced, did we have an idea of how they came up with the concept? Or when did they began planning this or with whom they have collaborated with? Every one of us is, directly or indirectly, affected by this project, yet we were all caught by disbelief that such a project existed. And was there anything disseminated, whether in social media or through the conventional means of communication, anything that will at least give the people a little heads-up about this endeavor. There was none. I don’t think the men and women behind this undertaking have no plans of really taking the effort to explain.
Consensus-oriented. This is demonstrated by an agenda that seeks to mediate between the many different needs, perspectives, and expectations of a diverse citizenry. If an organization is consensus-oriented, decisions need to be made in a manner that reflects a deep understanding of the historical, cultural, and social context of the community. Did the individuals making this project ever thought of what the other Dumaguetnons might have in mind? Do they really want their Boulevard destroyed? Do they really need the condos and the yacht clubs? Has anyone been asked what this project could mean to our lives?
Responsiveness. This simply involves that institutions respond to their stakeholders within a reasonable time frame. Have the public officials at the helm been receptive to the clamor of the people? Or they cloaked themselves hoping that the outcries and the uproar will die down?
Effectiveness and efficiency. These two concepts are developed through the sustainable use of resources to meet the needs of a society. Sustainability refers to both ensuring social investments carry through and natural resources are maintained for future generations. Are the jobs being promised by the 174 project sustainable? Or the so-called benefits, can they remain? Granting that there really are substantive benefits to be gained from this project.
Equity and inclusiveness. These will depend on ensuring that all the members of a community feel included and empowered to improve or maintain their well-being, especially those individuals and groups that are the most vulnerable. Can the ordinary masses be included in high-rise buildings that will be built? Or the yacht clubs that will be established?
Accountability. This refers to institutions being ultimately accountable to the people and one another. Do the officials initiating this project act accountable to the people of Dumaguete when they endorsed the 174 venture? When they wouldn’t or couldn’t answer simple questions or give out responses that the ordinary farmer or fisherman can understand? How can they be accountable when their terms are limited?
Rule of law. Finally, this is exemplified by impartial legal systems that protect the human rights and civil liberties of all citizens, particularly minorities. This is indicated by an independent judicial branch and a police force free from corruption. In all of the 174 hullaballoo, can we honestly say that the rule of law is being practiced? Our rights to information have been trampled upon. Our rights to be heard have been ignored. Where is the rule of law there?
Now I ask again: Is the 174 reclamation project a product of good or bad governance?
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