Participatory democracy

I

S IT still achievable in the Philippines? Yes, if we get to elect people who have the vision, commitment and courage to transform our present elitist state into a truly participatory democratic government. And still do more beyond elections. The reason why elections in the Philippines have not been contributory to building participatory democracy is that our people vote for personalities and not for clearly defined agenda, and that our electoral system is designed to perpetuate political dynasties and elitist democracy, and never for building participatory democracy from the local to national levels. Participatory democracy, or that which ensures effective people’s participation in local government units (LGUS) through local development councils (LDCS) and local special bodies (LSBS) up to similar bodies in the regional and national levels, and also in elective positions in various levels. People’s participation in various local bodies as defined in Local Government Code (LGC) remains largely lip service. Most local executives representing landed elite families and clans are allergic if not contemptuous to participatory governance. They hate listening to the problems, concerns and interests of the people, especially the marginalized sectors. In many cases, the people’s organizations and civil society organizations they engaged are either the pro-mayor, progovernor groups or the elite-organized civic organizations, or simply the non-critical organizations. People’s participation in important national executive bodies like DA, DWSD, NAPC, DOLE, DENR, DOH, and even DILG, are simply taken for granted. They prefer to engage in their projects and services their favored groups, experts and consultants, whose own vested interests are more scandalous than their rhetorics. Even our justice system is ruled by personalities belonging to the families with big business interests. So most often the mastermind and culprits of high crimes can easily buy their way out of courts and prisons. The worse of course is in our electoral system, where electoral policies and rules automatically marginalized the basic sectoral and class organizations. Only the moneyed class with well- greased political machineries and paid goons have chances of winning. The partylist system, originally designed to give voices to the most marginalized and vulnerable sectors, have become a convenient mechanism for the elites to gain access to the powerful House of Representatives. In short, it has been prostituted in favor of the landed and ravenous elites in this country. In all, what we have is a huge state bureaucracy, Senate and Congress ruled by the most vicious and corrupt legislators, who run the entire bureaucracy as if it is their private business, and the executive and judiciary acting as their private enforcers.

All this have remained for a long time because our people continue to vote for personalities and not for participatory democracy. They vote for popularity, money and machinery, and in return, get the services they have never expected or imagined. Electing people who will govern us is a big responsibility. One wrong move means misery for many of us for a long time. Building participatory democracy is a strategic project whose success primarily rest on who we have entrusted the position and given the responsibility to correct the present system, and transform it into a truly participatory democratic government, regardless of whatever political form (e.g. unitary or federal or otherwise) is best for our particular conditions and unique culture. However election is just one way to building participatory democracy. The more basic requisite is building the power of the grassroots communities and organizations thru developing their capacities for building right values and culture, for economic sustainability, for building and effectively managing their organizations, for making right political decisions, for effective engagement with the state machineries. Unless that is achieved, the state would remain unstable. In civil engineering, the strength of structures depend on the right combination of framework, design and materials to withstand the stresses and pressures of their environment, and remain safe, stable and secure throughout their use. No matter how good the people we elected to run the government are, in the long run, it is still the organized strength and collective actions of the people on the ground who will determine the strength and stability of the government. When participatory democracy is in place and functioning effectively, what else can people question, or demand, or even fight for? Just a perspective, brother.*