Empowering Filipinos Through Innovation and Transparency in Governance
Manila, Philippines - With the 2016 National Elections looming, it is critical to promote fair, clean, and transparent elections through citizen empowerment and engagement.
Last November 25, 2015, Asia Society Philippines in partnership with the International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov) organized the forum Transparency 4.0: The Road to An Empowered Citizenry at the Makati Diamond Residences. On its fourth year, the forum focused on citizen engagement and voter empowerment, and was attended by representatives from the youth, academe, business, civil society and government.
Innovations in governance
Innovation and technology have both played an integral part of improving not only lifestyle but also government efficiency and service delivery.
The first session, moderated by Prof. Edna Co, featured a panel of international and local speakers. Rogier van den Brink, a lead economist from the World Bank, discussed about important interaction cycle of citizens-politicians-organizations and the strong accountability that must exist among them in terms of transparent policy-making. Van den Brink stressed upon the importance of amplifying good relations within the loop of accountability between the government and its citizens.
Indonesia’s LAPOR!, a public complaint handling online portal, was recognized as one of the best open government innovations in the 2013 Open Government Partnership Summit in London. Agung Hardjono, Senior Adviser of the Executive Office of the President, discussed its achievements and challenges as well as highlighted the key principles of the system namely its ease of access, interconnectivity with official government channels, and the transparent response indicator.
Sanghak Lee, a Senior Policy member from Transparency International Korea, talked about South Korea’s Government 3.0 and its transformation from a government-led, restricted participatory to a people-oriented, active disclosure and participatory program. Lee stressed the importance of inducing citizen participation and communication in strengthening the links between government and citizens in order to impact society.
The three speakers agreed that citizen participation is vital towards achieving government transparency. “It is an unfinished business if there is no amplification of citizen empowerment,” said van den Brink. Enabling public participation endows achievement of people’s happiness. In this note, it is important to take into consideration how an easily accessible, open, transparent, and continuously improving e-government system can help the Filipinos become informed citizens.
Deputy Executive Director for e-society, Bettina Quimson of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) expressed the importance of harnessing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) towards an empowered citizenry and transformed society. Quimson presented the nationwide project, the 2015 Free Wifi Program, specifically catered to the far municipalities outside Metro Manila in creating, “an inclusive, integrated, and equitable countryside.”
The Supreme Court’s Public Information Office Chief, Atty. Theodore Te, also gave a brief overview of the Supreme Court’s utilization of ICT in fostering judicial reform through the “e-court” and “e-subpoena.” The e-court allows the public to become part of its hearings via live streaming. With automated hearings being implemented, both programs help with the speedy resolution of cases and cutting down the relay of transcription of orders.
Electoral Transparency
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Andres Bautista emphasized on the unparalleled role of social media and the youth as the game changer for the 2016 Philippine national elections. He also talked about the COMELEC’s “mall voting” scheme for the upcoming elections for easy accessibility to Filipino voters. COMELEC will also hold televised and livestreamed debates for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao.
National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) Council Member Damaso Magbual challenged voters to observe electoral integrity whereby voters must know how to assess the performance of their candidates and make well-informed decisions to become an enlightened electorate. “An election is transparent if different stakeholders open themselves to scrutiny,” stated Magbual. He ended that success does not rely on the election bodies alone but it also needs the support of all election stakeholders through shared values and strength.
Because of the Philippines’ long ballot – the longest in the world at 27 inches – automated elections are necessary. However, Magbual stressed “Before you automate, there should first be voter confidence.” The second session on transparent and credible elections was moderated by Jaime Garchitorena.
Be involved
The last session presented various tips and tools by local movements in order to promote citizen empowerment and accountability, and was moderated by Atty. Eirene Aguila.
According to COMELEC Director James Jimenez, "We should look at elections not as a one-off but as part of the rhythm of democracy.” With this, Jimenez shared his sentiment that citizen empowerment through harnessing technology is vital in the promotion of active participation in national elections.
Richard Amazona of Young Public Servants described everyone in the audience, as part of the youth who must believe on their distinct voices. He also introduced the “change scorecard,” that allows the public to rate the candidates on a scale of 1 to 3 (3 being the highest) – the candidate with the highest total deserves the vote.
Movement for Good Governance’s Quintin Pastrana introduced two complimentary tools to hold government accountable – WikiPangako and the MGG Scorecard. The MGG Scorecard (mggscorecard.com) is a simple guide to evaluate candidates based on three key leadership criteria, and has been in use since the 2010 elections. Meanwhile, WikiPangako is a new online platform that features the profiles, promises, and performance of candidates.
Amazona engaged everyone in the audience that they have the power to change the political landscape of the country and that they only need to act now. “The right time is not tomorrow or yesterday, but the right time is today.”
Transparency Forum 4:0: The Road to An Empowered Citizenry is presented by Metro Pacific Investment Corporation and is supported by Integrity Initiative and Go Negosyo. Media partners are ANC, Bloomberg TV Philippines, Eagle Broadcasting, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Times, and The Standard.
Text by: Celine Mercado
Photos by: Adones Buhayan