After the elections, barangays need reforms!

Come Monday, Filipinos all over the country would once more go out and vote… this time for their barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders. Wait! Did I get myself mixed up? Did I say barangay and SK leaders? Hmmm, no wonder politics in this country is so f__ked up! Everyone wants to be a leader, but no one wants to be what he ought to be… a public servant in order to serve our people. Of course, every single person seeking a barangay post claims or promises that he or she would serve the constituents if elected.

Supposedly in this democratic world we live in, the leaders who we elect into office are there to serve our basic needs. Yet once elected, the governor, the mayor, provincial board member or municipal or city councilor suddenly isn’t as easy to get in touch with, unlike during the days of the campaign. I guess this also happens even in the barangay level where after the election, they are no longer as easily available unlike during the campaign. Call it human nature if you will, but if this is the reality in your own barangays, then it is time to change.

I have always batted for a complete overhaul of the barangay system and have written extensively on this subject and last August, we wrote that article supporting the idea of Vice President Jejomar Binay who wanted to abolish the SK and appoint the barangay officials. Again, I bring you back to the article we wrote yesterday in The STAR… that what’s dragging our nation from moving forward to catch up with our Asian neighbors is politics, politics and too much politics. That includes our lowest form of politicians!

But then the Constitution says that the barangay elections are supposedly “apolitical” but anyone who believes this yarn must be totally naive or suffering from some kind of mental disorder. The fact remains that all political parties are supporting their favorite barangay leaders who in turn support them during the elections. So I guess it is time to call a spade a spade and accept the reality that the barangay elections are a political exercise and therefore these are not apolitical as others insist that it should be.

Because it is too late to stop the juggernaut of the barangay polls, then let this circus proceed. However, after the elections, it is time for Congress to take a serious look at the needed barangay reforms and how we can save money for the government and still give basic services to our people. I fully subscribe to the idea of appointing barangay leaders so that they won’t need to spend in having themselves voted into office, the way many of them are spending and overspending right now.

Incidentally, I missed publishing this e-mailed response to our Aug. 13 article on the barangay and SK elections because I didn’t write again about this subject until now… so here it is:

“Dear Mr. Bobit, I fully support VP Binay’s idea of scrapping the SK and appointing the barangay chairs (Shooting Straight, Philstar, Aug. 13, 2010). If given the opportunity, I would like to add that barangay chairs/captains be renamed barangay managers and they perform really as such effective and efficient managers of the basic units of society, which for me must be strengthened as they form the very foundation of the nation.

“Having professional development managers running the affairs of the barangay say for a renewable three-year contract will result in better quality of life. Non-performing managers will be fired immediately since they are contractuals anyway. Let the position be competitive. The mayor appoints yet subject to confirmation by the municipal or city council just to check that only the best managers are appointed for the position.

“We have AIM and prime business schools (ADMU, DLSU, UA&P, etc.) that produce trained and skilled development managers for this kind of work. The Philippine government should tap them instead of letting them go abroad or work in the UN, WB and other international NGOs. Give them opportunities to be of service in building the nation other than through partisan politics.

“Pay is secondary mostly to committed Filipino managers who love their country. Look at this possible scenario: the Liga ng mga Barangay would become a convention and network of our best development managers not of incompetent third-rate politicians. Regards, Tim Gabuna.”

Thanks, Mr. Tim Gabuna, for your letter and your thoughts. Unfortunately, people like you and me who are pro-active and find money-saving solutions to our country are never given any important or any attention at all. This is because we’re just too contented with the status quo or our comfort zones, even if the rest of our Asian neighbors have already left us behind. We have been given by God some kind of wisdom to help our country, but what good will that do if no one listens or even cares?

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected] or [email protected]. Avila’s columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.