The culture of subsidiarity

CEBU, Philippines - Serious look into the federal form of government could fast track restructuring. “But the move to genuine change can only start in change of character,” this was further pointed out.

Federalism could redistribute powers to empower 17 regions, 80 provinces and 120 cities; 219 districts; 1,514 towns; 146,000 villages/barangays; and an estimated 2,000 people per village.

Philip Camara of Subsidiarity Movement International tackled the principle of subsidiarity and its application in the Philippine context. Subsidiarity is an organizing principle that empowers the smallest unit within the system to respond to problems, challenges and issues directly with the requisite resources to act appropriately. The centrist perspective adhering to and promoting the core value of human dignity is tied up to this principle.

Centrist democracy shall make the government work for the people: empower the people by bringing the decision-making process closer to the grassroots; ensure accountability, competence, professionalism, and transparency from our leaders through the development of institutional systems that uphold good governance; and establish proper and just representation of the people.

According to Camara, this principle opens up extremely interesting permeations on governance, fiscal autonomy, social relations, and the economic landscape.

Subsidiarity, as an opposing organizing principle to the centralist/unitarist principle, seeks decentralization of fiscal resources.

According to Camara, “juicy taxes, like VAT (Value Added Tax), corporate and customs taxes go to Malacañang, with very little left to trickle down to LGUs. Look at China, it’s a communist country, but 75 percent of its fiscal resources are channeled locally. Only 25 percent goes to the national coffers. In the Philippines, 84 percent go to centralized spending. Financial resources must be decentralized because the latter starves the creativity of the community.”

“Power must be devolved not only horizontally but vertically in the principle of subsidiary,” he added. “This way we could move genuine change - from superiority to subsidiarity. People empowerment starts with the individual - from household to community. Subsidiarity upholds human dignity.” (FREEMAN)