I like to push for more transparency in local government. In the Philippines, reforms for transparency often develops top-bottom. What makes my hometown peculiar is it approaches the problem through the initiatives of citizens. And what makes it even peculiar is the antagonistic relationship it has with the local government which isn't really being responsive by coming up with alternative or institutionalized feedback mechanism. The quality of relationship between the two only proves that transparency is a relatively alien concept to those working in the LGU in San Jose.
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Often, this approach to participative governance lacks rules, forms and standards, which are necessary to facilitate easier communication of complaints, comments, and request to the government, which is bound by rules, forms and standards of their own.
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Another problem is, because of lack of standards (i.e. what kind of complaints should be prioritized), open forums facilitated by private citizens are vulnerable for abuse. This often leads to unsubstantiated reports or even sensationalism of trivial matters. Without standards, profiling and priority of complaints are often left to the discretion and whims of private citizens. This could be remedied if moderators will formulate standards and promulgate them to users of the medium.
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The LGU government disconnected the citizen-initiated feedback mechanism, without offering an alternative. The LGU officials dismissed it as partisan and personality-based (which can be perceived as partly true, as the Facebook page is under the name, control and discretion of one-person). Still, partisan it might be, it is the only viable recourse for those "who are not in the know" or "connected" to air their voices.
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It's more dangerous for the government to operate without a mechanism that can facilitate transparency. Corruption thrives in information discrepancy or worst, in information black out.
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Lawrence P. Villamar
Bachelor in Public Administration and Governance
Mobile number: 0999.598.1254
Email: lawrence.villamar@gmail.com
http://www.tinyurl.com/ramillav02
