A two day seminar was held from October 21 to 22, 2013 for the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) at the Alnor Convention Center here in Cotabato City. For emphasis the seminar was subtitled: The Lessons for the Bangsamoro.
Majority of the members of the BTC were in attendance including the chairman Hon. Mohagher Iqbal and the staff of the other commissioners.
Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, the German think tank that offers political education and conducts scientific fact-finding research in many parts of the globe and the local Institute for Autonomy and Governance sponsored the seminar.
In his welcome message, Chairman Iqbal emphasized the relevance of the knowledge imparted by the international experts to the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law specifically the asymmetric relation of the GPH and the Bangsamoro on the first level and the relation of the latter with local government units on the second level that will hopefully bring about cohesive effective environment for good governance in the future political entity.
Three internationally acclaimed experts were invited lecturers to impart their knowledge on the subject matter the role of local governments in ministerial, decentralized and federal systems with focus on the future Bangsamoro government everyone is awaiting to be born anytime soon.
Professor Dr. Ulrich Karpen of the University of Hamburg, Germany, an International Expert on Constitutional Law and former member of the Hamburg State Parliament discussed the topic the Role of Regional Governments and Local Governments and their Relations to Each Other in Different Models of Decentralized and Federal States.
Dr. Karpen says unity in diversity can be a source of beauty of federal democracies as shown by the German experience, thus, it is also highly recommended for societies with many ethnolinguistic groups like the Bangsamoro, where decentralization is best approach.
Professor Edmund Tayao, Executive Director of the Local Government Development Foundation, Department of Political Science, University Santo Tomas, Manila, handled the topic: The Role and Powers of LGUs under the Local Government Code of the Philippines.
He emphasized that decentralization improve delivery of basic services, afford significant autonomy for the local government units, and develop local economy as economic activities are enhanced, thus empowering the people.
Professor Tayao also recalled that former President Ramos instituted reforms package ideal for empowered society but Congress chop up the package to be acceptable to the members. He farther said that decentralization not done in practice is as good as we call it because while there is form there is no substance.
Asked on the present state of corruption he blamed the present system for failing to institute measures to prevent massive misuse of funds, liquidating these funds takes too long and auditors are beholden to the powers that be, local government units have to lobby for funding as there are no automatic allotment.
The Role and Powers of Local Governments in the ARMM was handled by Atty. Anwar Malang, Regional Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG)-ARMM.
He says that the present ARMM has the mandate but there is no money, while local government units have money because of IRA but not the mandate. He also cited the need to clarify the relation between the regional government and LGUs, the need for ideal and functioning bureaucracy, and fiscal autonomy for real autonomy.
Asked why performing LGUs are those run by non-Moros, Atty. Malang says that some municipalities like Parang and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao that are led by Moros have recently been awarded the seal of good governance by the Civil Service Commission. He also advised to take the lesson of the Chinese of olden days who excelled in business and prospered among the majority Moros in the past.
Commissioner Pete Eisma suggested the return of no-IRA towns to their mother municipalities, but Atty. Malang says the ARMM cannot do it on their own as there is need for someone to start the same.
Dr. Peter Koeppinger, a political scientist from Germany and International Expert on Government Systems and Institutional Mechanisms in Democracy, and the Resident Representative of the Konrad- Adenaur-Stiftung in the Philippines discussed: The Positions of the FAB on the Role of and Legal Framework for LGUs: Challenges for the Future Role of the Powers of the Bangsamoro Regional Government and LGUs in Bangsamoro and their Relations to Each Other.
He says in a decentralized arrangement states enjoy full statehood, only supervision by the federal government is needed, thus a good example for local government units in Bangsamoro.
Pressed to give specifics Dr. Koppinger cited the need to communicate with local governments, involve them in dialogue, utilize existing political movements/parties for the process, institutionalize cooperation with future legislative councils and not force anything on them, and finally he mentioned the role of money to finance projects and development.
Atty. Ben Bacani synthesizing the lectures and discussions stated that decentralization is now the worldwide practice, so that only those that cannot be done below by the local government units where the central government comes in. He says that in the envisioned Bangsamoro we can choose what will work for us and reject what does not work.
Atty. Bacani maintains that charter change was the big elephant before and still is ahead of us in the peace negotiations.
Commissioner Maulana Alonto says once the Bangsamoro Basic Law has been enacted and operational, everybody must follow.
In closing Chairman Iqbal made use of similarities and dissimilarities saying the seven colors of the rainbow make it beautiful and the different instruments of the orchestra produce the rhythm and music, and say that diversities are as beautiful as unity. Citing the European experience that rose from the ruins of past world wars into the present democratic and successful nations. He concluded by saying let us enjoy our dissimilarities.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/621-forum-on-the-role-of-local-gov’ts-in-ministerial-decentralized-and-federal-states-held
Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, the German think tank that offers political education and conducts scientific fact-finding research in many parts of the globe and the local Institute for Autonomy and Governance sponsored the seminar.
In his welcome message, Chairman Iqbal emphasized the relevance of the knowledge imparted by the international experts to the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law specifically the asymmetric relation of the GPH and the Bangsamoro on the first level and the relation of the latter with local government units on the second level that will hopefully bring about cohesive effective environment for good governance in the future political entity.
Three internationally acclaimed experts were invited lecturers to impart their knowledge on the subject matter the role of local governments in ministerial, decentralized and federal systems with focus on the future Bangsamoro government everyone is awaiting to be born anytime soon.
Professor Dr. Ulrich Karpen of the University of Hamburg, Germany, an International Expert on Constitutional Law and former member of the Hamburg State Parliament discussed the topic the Role of Regional Governments and Local Governments and their Relations to Each Other in Different Models of Decentralized and Federal States.
Dr. Karpen says unity in diversity can be a source of beauty of federal democracies as shown by the German experience, thus, it is also highly recommended for societies with many ethnolinguistic groups like the Bangsamoro, where decentralization is best approach.
Professor Edmund Tayao, Executive Director of the Local Government Development Foundation, Department of Political Science, University Santo Tomas, Manila, handled the topic: The Role and Powers of LGUs under the Local Government Code of the Philippines.
He emphasized that decentralization improve delivery of basic services, afford significant autonomy for the local government units, and develop local economy as economic activities are enhanced, thus empowering the people.
Professor Tayao also recalled that former President Ramos instituted reforms package ideal for empowered society but Congress chop up the package to be acceptable to the members. He farther said that decentralization not done in practice is as good as we call it because while there is form there is no substance.
Asked on the present state of corruption he blamed the present system for failing to institute measures to prevent massive misuse of funds, liquidating these funds takes too long and auditors are beholden to the powers that be, local government units have to lobby for funding as there are no automatic allotment.
The Role and Powers of Local Governments in the ARMM was handled by Atty. Anwar Malang, Regional Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG)-ARMM.
He says that the present ARMM has the mandate but there is no money, while local government units have money because of IRA but not the mandate. He also cited the need to clarify the relation between the regional government and LGUs, the need for ideal and functioning bureaucracy, and fiscal autonomy for real autonomy.
Asked why performing LGUs are those run by non-Moros, Atty. Malang says that some municipalities like Parang and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao that are led by Moros have recently been awarded the seal of good governance by the Civil Service Commission. He also advised to take the lesson of the Chinese of olden days who excelled in business and prospered among the majority Moros in the past.
Commissioner Pete Eisma suggested the return of no-IRA towns to their mother municipalities, but Atty. Malang says the ARMM cannot do it on their own as there is need for someone to start the same.
Dr. Peter Koeppinger, a political scientist from Germany and International Expert on Government Systems and Institutional Mechanisms in Democracy, and the Resident Representative of the Konrad- Adenaur-Stiftung in the Philippines discussed: The Positions of the FAB on the Role of and Legal Framework for LGUs: Challenges for the Future Role of the Powers of the Bangsamoro Regional Government and LGUs in Bangsamoro and their Relations to Each Other.
He says in a decentralized arrangement states enjoy full statehood, only supervision by the federal government is needed, thus a good example for local government units in Bangsamoro.
Pressed to give specifics Dr. Koppinger cited the need to communicate with local governments, involve them in dialogue, utilize existing political movements/parties for the process, institutionalize cooperation with future legislative councils and not force anything on them, and finally he mentioned the role of money to finance projects and development.
Atty. Ben Bacani synthesizing the lectures and discussions stated that decentralization is now the worldwide practice, so that only those that cannot be done below by the local government units where the central government comes in. He says that in the envisioned Bangsamoro we can choose what will work for us and reject what does not work.
Atty. Bacani maintains that charter change was the big elephant before and still is ahead of us in the peace negotiations.
Commissioner Maulana Alonto says once the Bangsamoro Basic Law has been enacted and operational, everybody must follow.
In closing Chairman Iqbal made use of similarities and dissimilarities saying the seven colors of the rainbow make it beautiful and the different instruments of the orchestra produce the rhythm and music, and say that diversities are as beautiful as unity. Citing the European experience that rose from the ruins of past world wars into the present democratic and successful nations. He concluded by saying let us enjoy our dissimilarities.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/621-forum-on-the-role-of-local-gov’ts-in-ministerial-decentralized-and-federal-states-held
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