Mga pangakong hindi napako

Sa kasagsagan ng kampanya, sangkaterbang pangako ang inihahatag ng mga kandidato. Alam naman nating hanggang salita lang naman ang mga ito. Mga pulitikong pansariling interes lang ang nasa isip oras na maupo. Pero di naman pala lahat. May mga pulitiko din naman palang may silbi.

It is very refreshing to read stories of local government units taking the initiative of really making a difference in their localities. I've heard of GALING POOK before but I didn't really pay much attention about it. I thought it was just another attempt of the (national) government to prop up its image. But I guess I was wrong.

After downloading their KAban Galing 2006 Edition ebook, I was enlightened on various LGU initiatives that have made an impact on the lives of oridinary Filipinos. From a wide ranging list of initiatives, the common goal is to lower, if not, eliminate poverty in their respective localities.

Many of the LGUs mentioned in the book are never heard of. I don't know where in Iloilo province the town of Concepcion is but this town has an ambitious goal of eliminating poverty by 2020 considering that in 2002, 86% of its familles live below the poverty threshold. In the same town, it launched the program Harnessing Synergy in Integratged Population, Health and Environment Planning. A program that aims to control its population growth, better health service and saving the environment.

Negros Oriental, in partnership with civil society, improved the delivery of health care services by taking various initiatives. In 1998, the provincial government launched a program called the Barangay Agricultural Development Center which aims to make upland barangays to be more productive and to minimize external migration.

In Pasay City, the local government, in partnership with a local NGO, came up with the Bayanihan Banking Program. This program provided financial services to poor borrowers coming from 10 cooperatives, 10 people's organization and 35 barangays. The city government also improved the delivery of its health services by upgrading its health centers and partnering with the health programs of PhilHealth.

The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has turned its people with disabitlities (PWD) from mendicants to self sufficient individuals.

Education is a major trust in the City of Naga and the Province of Bulacan. The province of Bataan has been quite successful in its intergrated coastal management (ICM) through its kontra kalat sa dagat program.

Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City took the initiative of solving the inadeguate water supply in the barangay.


Waste management are the success stories of Los Banos in Laguna, Sta. Barbara in Iloilo, Carmona in Cavite and Linamon, Lanao del Norte.

The Quezon City government established the Molave Youth Home for minor offenders. Muntinlupa City had an effective anti drug abuse campaign program.


Women power is the battlecry in Compostela Valley, Capoocan in Leyte, Davao City and Cebu City. Child rights are the focus in Alicia, Isabela, Maitum, Sarangani and Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

The better news is that these programs initiated by local government units can be replicated by other local government units. Considering the wide ranging initiatives from health, education, waste management, gender rights, productivity, peace and order, other LGUs can easily adopt which initiative would most likely fit their locality's immediate needs. But then again, this requires political will and lots of it. Local government must be able to inspire its constituents to be part of any programs they undertake. Partnership with NGOs is also very vital in the success of these initiatives. These programs are the exact opposite of the street lights, waiting sheds and basketball courts that politicians are very fond of spending on where there is zero participation from the constituents.

That is the sad part. The above mentioned success stories are more of exceptions to the rule.