Effective, responsive governance and politics

From this month of July till the next elections, can the Filipinos expect to have effective and responsive governance and politics from those newly sworn into office last June 30? We sincerely pray so.

We also pray that traditional politics and the trapos (traditional politicians) will prioritize the public's welfare and interest, not their own personal and family interests.

The priorities are conspicuously clear to all.

During their campaigns, the politicians promised better lives for the voters. Will the newly-installed officials keep their word during their term of office?

Is it too much for constituents to expect steady, accessible, affordable healthy food, clean drinking water, decent housing, and jobs within the first three years of their new term of office?

Provision of basic needs, hopefully, will be on top of the list of services for the people from the newly installed officials. In turn, we hope that constituents will be vigilant in reminding public officials to provide for the basic needs of all.

How can basic needs be provided within the next three years?

Political will can do so much to usher in the positive winds of change within the area of responsibility of proclaimed officials. 

How can they secure ample healthy food supply for their constituents? Shall we all try to brainstorm and give our ideas and suggestions to the public officials?

For example, shall we have a food sufficiency campaign or contest throughout the cities and the whole province of Cebu? The town and barangay with the most sustainable supply of food for their area gets awarded cash, the food producers to be given regular wages, the whole barangay given bigger budget and so on.

The same campaign can be done for the provision of clean healthy drinking water. Within three years, would you not like to be in a place where clean healthy water and food are assured?

To have sustainable, healthy, accessible food and water, everyone will have to ensure their cooperation with government and assume their responsibility for effective sanitation, drainage, and waste management as well where they are.  

Can everyone in each sitio and barangay be encouraged to do their share to have even just the most basic of needs provided, under the leadership of the newly proclaimed leaders?

Newly-elected Governor Junjun Davide comes from a family that proved and continues to prove to one and all that food can be sustainably produced with everyone's hard work and collaboration. Will Governor Davide lead this campaign to prioritize healthy food production and provision for Cebu?

Coming from a family that appreciates and values the important role of a protected natural environment for people, will Governor Junjun Davide also restore the forests and other natural resources of the province?

Will Governor David consider planting a forest within his term? We see before our eyes now the conversion of the provincial lot intended for the Ciudad Project into a forested well managed eco-park instead. Effective management can bring in not only the so-called much taunted cash revenues for the use of the lot. Planting a forest during his term within this provincial lot will convert to precious carbon credit, a significant contribution of Cebu to the rest of the world and for the sake of the Cebuanos across succeeding generations.

If properly managed, the eco-park can provide outdoor healthy alternatives for families, for children and for other visitors. It can be a knowledge center about ecological protection and balance. It can sponsor training and educational sessions in the area to spread and disseminate best practices about food sufficiency and other important issues related to a better life for all. It can generate livelihood as well for those who will tend the trees, plants, flowers, and herbs that can, in turn, be managed and produced sustainably to be  sold to other plant growers or be made into organic salad, herbal medicines and tea or other drinks as income-generating sources. An eco-museum can be set up in that eco-park that will showcase the rich biodiversity of the province.

May we hear more of your suggestions about what the newly-proclaimed officials of Cebu can do to make governance and politics more effective and responsive, starting with the provision of the basic needs of their constituents within three years?

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