Decentralization, A Way Out. Part 1

History repeated itself too soon. In her 2002 SONA, PGMA said, “"Meanwhile, one shocking corporate scandal after another severely eroded public faith in the most promising system for conducting economic activity-the free market." She was then referring to ERAP's time. Now she can repeat the same words and refer to her own, except that hers is more intense. Most newspaper columns, including the web, agree that reasons for going to the streets are more compelling now than in EDSA 1 & 2.

Ironically enough though previous successes in people power are the very reasons why people remain glued to their seats. The people never found relief in people power. Therefore, they are not interested in another power grab. What for? Let them who want power work for it!

Perhaps sensing that the situation is hopeless, Senator Nene Pimentel proposes federalism to preempt any move by any sector to initiate a movement that could lead into a full grown revolution. He said that federalism would prevent too much concentration of power and resources in Imperial Manila. throwing a towel into the ring via a proposed federation! He wants to multiply a thousand fold the flaw in his otherwise brilliant Local Government Code of l991- an overly expensive local legislative body. How many sacks of palay seeds, artesian wells or even school buildings is the equivalent of the total allotment for Sangguniang Bayans? Instead of reducing the number of greedy lawmakers, he proposes that we allot scarce funds for more of them – 35 Senators and 350 congressmen!

Crazy or outlandish though it may seem, Senator Pimentel has a point in making the proposal. We have to go beyond fault finding because each time we point an accusing finger we stop being productive, unless we earn our keep by doing so. After a 2010 or earlier exit of PGMA what? Another shot of opium, as Communists call elections? It gives nothing but delusions of relief and false hopes. So does an EDSA or people power! It brings nothing but Marcos, Cory, FVR, ERAP, Gloria and Oligarchy. Our government has never been by the people, with the people and for the people.

I tried to sound off some of our Senators but only three has a kind of answering machine. The rest are dead silent. So, of what good is an NBN? I was hoping to fire up Senator Pimentel, at least, because my proposal concerns Local Government Units, but out of his disheartening silence came this thing about a federation, an exact antithesis of what I had in mind - a strong republic through decentralization or strong LGU’s. Why not?

What’s with this idea? Actually it’s not anything new. It is provided for in the Local Government Code of 1991 – visit the act every five years. It’s been 17 years hence. Some people might react: our hands are full with scams after scams, with the rice crisis, with widespread hunger for food, education and truth, etc. This thing about local governments can wait. I think not. I think that this very thing is probably the best prescription for all our ills.

Under our present system, the fate of the country lies in the hands of the President. She can spend P5 billion to feed selected hungry mouths. She can import rice and channel it through favored traders who make a killing by selling them as commercial rice. In the same manner, she can subsidize foreign farmers and starve local ones. She can distribute fertilizers and control Quedancor. She can borrow as much as she can to prop of a regime that is bankrupt in cash and in morals. She controls the purse even of Congressmen and Senators. Why? Because she is President! And whoever succeeds her can do the same.

The problem lies in a system that existed because Congress was remiss with its job. Local autonomy is supposed to be dynamic. It is supposed to regularly devolve more and more powers to LGU’s. Having renege on its job, it now proposes a total overhaul of the Constitution itself. Senator Pimentel himself should know that through local autonomy we can have the benefits of a federal state without its attendant problems. How could this be possible? He need not look far for the answer. It is in his mind. It is in his local government code.