Government in our neighborhood

When voters go to the precincts today, they will elect no ordinary government officials but leaders who are expected by virtue of their proximity to be the most responsive in providing them with basic services.

Barangay polls like today’s were designed to be shielded from the partisanship that marks higher levels of government so that persons may be served regardless of their political persuasion.

But, all too often we have seen governance in our neighborhoods bog down as barangay captains and councilors move to the groove of their puppeteers in city or town halls and political parties.

The time has come to choose candidates who are not too self-absorbed to represent well their constituents.

Beholden to no one, such leaders can exercise creativity in finding ways to make the barangay function unperturbed amid the calisthenics of political titans.

They will be so connected with residents that in true bayanihan fashion, their barangay will have a working development council that pursues a democratically crafted and well thought out path to progress.

This new breed of barangay leaders will have the moral ascendancy to attract government and private sector resources because they will seek neither padrinos nor personal aggrandizement.

Since they are no one’s yes-men, they will not waste time winning over or finding out the political leanings of those who visit the barangay hall to avail of services.

Just as it should be.

We want prompt service when we claim our senior citizen’s cash gifts, report a drainage problem, call attention to uncollected garbage or seek to improve disaster resilience.

We want streets free of illegal vendors, robbers, drug addicts, drunkards and street children.

We want high barangay tanod visibility.

We want schools that are secure, health centers that are adequately staffed and adequately equipped and neighborhoods that are orderly and safe from floods or fires.

We want nights when fiestas, karaoke joints and ad hoc discos do not have to deprive us of sleep.

We do not need barangay councils that cannot help but demonstrate a homegrown variety of the ineptness that eats away at the larger branches and divisions of government.

Let us reject candidates who only seek to build their little political dynasties, rule only for the benefit of their sycophants, or worse, treat their barangay offices as sidelines while they operate illegal numbers games, arbitrate cockfights or liaise with drug lords.

Let us reject so-called leaders who have no agenda other than to raid our coffers, taking advantage of the pork barrel system to implement shoddy projects and enrich themselves while gaining a foothold to higher public office. These hoodlums are also known as vote buyers.

It is no coincidence that people often say change in the Philippines must start from the barangay all the way up.

Today’s elections are an opportunity for voters to effect change where it should begin.

Go out and vote.