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League of Municipalities of the Phillipines (LMP) Secretary General Gerardo V. Calderon outlined the LMP advocacy of developmental governance before some 200 regional directors participating in the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) Management Committee Meeting at Trades Hotel in Pasay City the other day. Continue below.

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The theme of the meeting was " Enhancing Regional Integration for Development and Trade."

While development of the country's economy is a responsibility of the national leadership, in practical terms such development can only take place at the local level.

But given the perennial financial constraints faced by the municipalities, local executives should learn how to be less politicians than the economic managers, giving full play to their individual capacities to creativity, innovation and resourcefulness in their respective drives for development," said Calderon.

"Above all, kailangang may tapang kang harapin ang mga demanda," stressed Calderon, citing the fives lawsuits he has already from the DENR.

Acording to Calderon, this approach to local governance was initiated by the Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon N. Guico Jr. who upon assuming the LMP presidency in 2001 urged the league members to discard the patronage system of traditional politics in addressing multifarious needs of their constituents.

"True, our share in the IRA (international revenue allotment) and the doleouts from the CDFs (countrywide development fund) of our legislators are a big help, but still for purposes of long term development they remain lamentably inadequate," said Calderon.

As a case in point, Calderon cited the heavy siltation of the Agono River which until 1998 had been the perennial cause of flooding that deterred the economic development of the town.

"We needed some P2.5 million to dredge the river. But for a municipality that operated on a measly P36 million budget, there is no way to get the amount from local funds." Explained Calderon.

" So what I did was hail every gravel and sand truck that came by, offering to the owners free filling materials. Of course they had to dredge the river to get the materials, still they took the offer as a bargain. Now the river has gone to a depth of 15 feet has widened even.

Calderon said the LMP has taken cue from such individual experiences of each member municipalities and has decided to focus on tourism as its theme for its forthcoming 2005 General Assembly: "Lakbayin ang Magandang Pilipinas, Showcasing Exemplary Practices in Local Governance.

The Assembly will be held at the Westin Philippine Plaza from November 14 to 16 in which on top of the traditional plenary session and fellowship the member municipalities of LMP will be conducting exhibits in various forms depicting the development they have the undergone over the years.

October 23, 2005.

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