After a two-week absence to attend a seminar on local governments in Germany and a brief visit to Oslo, Norway, I reported for work last Monday and wade right back into the many problems that never cease to flood the Capitol.
I managed to recover from the jet lag quickly while attending the general assembly of the Provincial Administrators League of the Philippines at the Bayview Plaza Hotel in Manila on Dec. 7 and 8. Now I feel recharged and refreshed, ready to tackle the issues and problems facing the province.
I learned a lot from the Germany seminar sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. It was a rare opportunity for me to be picked and join the small group of participants from all over the world. I was the only provincial administrator and I believe I stand to gain the most in terms of applying the ideas to the real world among the three Filipinos who participated. The two other participants, Dr. Jennifer Ortega and Patrick Poncianos, come from the academe and the legislative branch of government in that order. I will have to sort my notes and develop a working framework to guide me in the work that needs to be done.
The week-long seminar showed that there are many common problems facing governments in general. One problem that really stands out is corruption. Almost all countries experience corruption at varying degrees or level. In South Africa or Israel or Argentina, there is corruption. The situation is worse in Southeast Asian and African countries. This usually happens when there is an over-concentration of power in the national government. The solution? Decentralization. Give local governments the power to administer the basic services. Most advanced countries have shown that decentralization is an effective way to make governments function better.
I took the opportunity to visit Oslo, Norway where the eldest daughter of my dear departed friend, Nene Zulueta, and his wife, Councilor Perla Zulueta, now lives with husband Jerry Aromin. It was only a short stay — four days — but, oh boy, what a terrific four days! The Aromins rolled out the red carpet for me and treated me like royalty, taking me on a grand tour of the must-see sights in Oslo and dining in great restaurants. I will write more about the Oslo visit. But I must say that my visit there far exceeded my expectations, and words are not enough to express my gratitude for this young couple.
I am going back to work with renewed vigor and energy, bursting with new ideas and eager to work harder for the service of our people. I feel rewarded each time I am able to do something for our people. Being in public service is reward in itself.
