Asuncion, Rachel

2014-23955
Politics in my Locale
Being tasked to write a short essay on a topic that personally daunts me
due to its ambiguity brings forth seemingly obscure familiarity to the
forefront of my mind; it [local politics] has become conventional and
mundane in any citizens life, such as mine, but I have yet to profoundly
comprehend how it works. Ive chosen to interpret the subject as an enquiry
on how I perceive and have observed the nature/manoeuvres of governance
(politics) in my immediate municipality (locale), Quezon City. The local
government unit instituted for the purpose of autonomy and governance for
executive accountability in this locale is piloted by an elected local chief
executive on top of a Mayorship structure involving a handful of other
appointed local officials; whereas legislative responsibilities are handled by
the Sanggunian. According to RA 7160 or the Act Providing for a Local
Government Code of 1991, local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines
are stipulated to be operatively decentralised, allowing local autonomy over
governing efforts and responsibilities for the purpose of promoting a fuller
sense of development within its determined scope/area. This is apparent as
administrative divisions, generally supervised by the national government,
are observed to directly relate and lead their determined localities.
Personally, I see activities/programs rendered by the Quezon City LGU (for
the sake of not overstepping my already trivial knowledge) at a dwindling
average-subpar scheme. Case in point, Mayor Bautista has given great effort
during his earlier terms of administration but these have dwindled to a
service that leaves his constituents wanting. Weve been introduced and
provided access to educational reformations (i.e. K-12), gender
mainstreaming efforts, housing installations (i.e. Bistekville), and
development programs/policies, yes, but more can be done to achieve
finesse for these programs and ultimately, with respect to the objective of
truly aiming for genuine welfare development. Activities and programs

rendered by public officials are heavily sensationalised as well; awarding

preponderance to importance of works of public officials which turn social
services and basic needs (e.g. hospital equipment, routine medical checkups) into matters of virtuous consequence rather than manifestations of
the provision of the State in line with its accountability to the rights of its
people. In addition, the politics is heavily plagued by graft, patronage-driven
systems, misappropriation of funds, and nepotism being a few of the
ramifications of the interweaving politics, context and Filipino values that
hold much impact on how governance is delivered. The politics in my locale
is tedious and unspirited. It has morphed into something of consequence, a
mundane factor in living in a community; something potent but also
something you cant quite put your finger on, it is vague and it leaves much
to be wanted.

References
An Act Providing for A Local Government Code of 1991 (Cwlth), viewed 15
June 2016,
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html