Convergence

San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu – Nothing beats writing a column while basking in the cool breeze, the wide expanse of the beach and soothing sound of the gentle waves at Santiago White Beach. It is one of the very few public beaches remaining in Cebu. Against the backdrop of solitary fisherfolk in their bancas a few meters away, kids are playfully laughing and strolling, while families enjoy the picnic in the thatched nipa huts. Some are belting karaoke songs, while others just laze in the wooden lounging chairs, so at peace with the world, as we, their visitors, are.

The past two days in Camotes Island had been another enriching experience for my family, friends, law students from the University of Cebu, Cebu Daily News reporter Candeze Mongaya and this columnist. We are, once more mesmerized by the warm hospitality that Filipinos are known for and the richness and diversity of our natural heritage hailed globally as unique, but which we have taken for granted, far too long.

My students in the local government course planned the learning tour in San Francisco as their culminating activity. Collaborating with the municipality’s knowledgeable program coordinators and the steering leadership of the officials, they were amazed, as we all are, with the Purok brand of governance, now widely known as the SanFran System. They observed the solid waste management implementation, visited the Central Materials Recovery Facility and planted endemic species of seedlings near Lake Danao, in support of the Two Million Trees Campaign of San Fran.

San Fran Vice Mayor Al Arquillano led a tour of the 600-hectare Lake Danao, which is the habitat of the endemic duck called gakit. We did not realize that such a vast waterway, with two islands to boot, exists in Cebu. The freshwater lake offers an enormous potential for sustainable eco-tourism and related activities such as fishing, kayaking, camping and related recreational activities.

The Bukilat cave in Tudela, with its underground river, was another surprising revelation. The wide-eyed visitors did not realize that Camotes Island has a mini-version of Palawan’s St. Paul underground river.

In between visits to must-see destinations, one marvels at the pristine land and seascapes of Camotes Island. Greenery abounds. Birds and butterflies are happy in their still protected habitats. No litter in sight. Residents are responsible for their segregated wastes. San Fran imposes charges for garbage collection. Community service awaits solid waste law violators. Most amazing, in San Fran, participatory decision-making is taking place.

The celebration of the 26th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution yesterday was thus a highly significant event for us. We were in the place where the essence of People Power is being lived out through San Fran’s Purok Governance System. After San Fran was given the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), stakeholders at the international, national and local level, started to converge in the LGU. An experiment in genuine grass roots participatory process is underway.

While our Constitution and Local Government Code declare the barangay as the smallest political unit, former SanFran Mayor and now Vice Mayor Al Arquillano institutionalized puroks, the sub-political units in barangays, as the most effective and responsive governing entity. The San Fran purok system proves that long-standing issues on health and sustainability are best resolved by residents who take ownership of the programs that they crafted, implemented, evaluated and monitored.

It was heart-warming to see posters on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) in the purok hall. While officials and citizens in most local government units don’t have a clue what MDG and HFA are, the San Fran constituents know that HFA is their action plan towards achieving MDGs.

The purok hall which the people built contains the records of the minutes of each committee’s meetings, financial statement, a heritage area where relics of the past owned by residents are displayed and a fruit and vegetable garden.

The purok members are articulate, empowered and beam with distinct pride at the fact that the country and the world are looking at their inspiring mode of governance as perhaps the best approach in building resilient and empowered communities in this most-challenging time.

Indeed, ecological integrity and sustainability can only be attained when grass roots communities make the courageous decision for their present and future. But, it cannot be done without sincere leaders who inspire constituents to take ownership of their rights and responsibilities, as citizens. The sustainability of programs and ecosystem management require the concerted efforts of both the political authorities and the people.

San Fran is among the20 LGUs targeted to be a showcase of best practices in responding and adapting to climate change and disasters.

The San Fran system, if replicated, will put an end to big-ticket and unsustainable projects like the Cordova reclamation that political authorities concoct and collaborate with the DENR, without public participation and transparency. These highly destructive activities are in collision course with the goals of the Philippine Medium-Term Plan, National Climate Change Action Plan, MDG and HFA, of reducing poverty and providing food security, biodiversity protection and climate resiliency for this generation and the next.

The San Fran visit found stakeholders converging, albeit unintentionally, at the internationally-acclaimed municipality as we inter-acted with the visionary sustainability leader, Al Arquillano, Commissioner Nureyev “Yeb” Sano of the Philippine Climate Change Commission and Ms. Arlene Donaire, of the World Bank’s Bus Rapid Transit Program. It was another case of glorious serendipity.

We thank Mayor Aly Arquillano, Vice Mayor Al Arquillano, the dedicated team of the SWM and DRRM Programs of the Municipality and the Barangay and Purok officials and members for the stirring and transformative learning experience.

Think Big, Start Small. Mabuhay!