Gov 101: Because knowing is half the battle

In a recent conversation I had with college student leaders from a top-notch university in Metro Manila who will be voting for the first time in the upcoming 2013 elections, I asked them if they knew what positions they would be voting for. Many of them were able to answer correctly saying that they would be voting for 12 Senators, a Party-List Representative, a District Representative and the various local government positions. I asked another follow up question that made almost all of them scratch their heads, do you know what a city or municipal Councilor or even a Vice-Mayor is supposed to do? These are supposedly the brightest young leaders of our country and yet like many of us, they do not even know the basic roles and responsibilities of our government officials whom we entrust our votes to every elections.

 

Do you know what your Congressman or Councilor should be doing?

 

Many international organizations such as the World Bank and even civil society groups in our country always tell us that we should always demand transparency and public accountability from our government leaders but the problem is, how can we demand accountability if we don’t even know what they are supposed to be accountable for? The common belief is that all our government officials regardless of what position is tasked to do projects and activities that will benefit their constituents but is that really the main job of a Congressman or a Councilor? The answer is no. A Congressman’s main duty is to propose laws that will address key concerns and issues in our country while a Councilor’s main duty is to develop municipal or city ordinances or laws that cover a particular local government unit. When one knows that main duties and responsibilities of our government officials then we can easily evaluate whether or not they are doing their job. For example, even if Councilor X has done so many projects in his city but he hasn’t even proposed or passed an ordinance then we can consider his stint in the City Council as a failure. If he or she wants to do projects and programs then he or she should run for Mayor and not for a legislative position whose main duty and responsibility is to enact laws for people to follow. Thus, if Councilor X runs again for re-election and we need to think twice if we will still support him or her given that he failed to live up to his main duty as a City Councilor. Moreover, by understanding what we must expect from our government leaders, we can also choose properly the kind of people that have the right set experiences, competencies and skills for a particular position. Having the right kind of leaders in these different government positions can then lead to better services for their constituencies.

 

Gov 101: A New Voter’s Guide to the Philippine Government

 

It is with these reasons in mind that the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government, the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership together with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has developed and launched Gov 101: A New Voter’s Guide to the Philippine Government. Gov 101 is a booklet that contains the different roles and responsibilities of our government officials and their offices. Aside from this, it also contains how much our government officials are receiving monthly as their basic salary. By sharing this information, many of us can also check whether our government officials are still living within their means and are not using their current position to enrich themselves or their families. The booklet also aims to help encourage ordinary citizens to hold their local government officials accountable for their actions or lack of it by empowering them through the knowledge that will be provided by the booklet. If and when we know what our Mayor should be doing, it will be easier for all of us to see if he or she is really doing his or her responsibilities. Finally, by providing information as well about the duties and responsibilities of our various government offices, ordinary citizens will know where to go to if they need to avail of particular services that our government offers.

 

In this current administration that promotes “Ang Matuwid na Daan”, the promotion of good governance begins by making ourselves informed about the kind of services and duties that we must demand from all our government officials. As G.I. Joe which is one of my favorite cartoons of all time would always say, “Knowing is Half the Battle” and after all, as President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has said in his inaugural speech, we have the right to demand because we are their bosses.

 

Gov 101: A New Voter’s Guide to the Philippine Government will officially be launched on November 22, 2012 (Thursday) at the Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. The launch is open to the public and free copies will be given to those who will attend. For more information about Gov 101, you can get in touch with Wendell Balderas at (02) 990-3282 or send an email to knmovement@gmail.com .

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Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com .

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Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government and is also the Lead Convenor of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.