Is Sustainable Development Possible?

IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE?

by Antonio C. Antonio

January 8, 2013

(Personal Note:  Reading “Economic and Environment in the Philippines: Issues and Imperatives” made me feel nostalgic.  During the Aquino and Ramos Administrations, I was working for government as the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator for the Province of Tarlac and Committee Secretary – Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises respectively.  It was then that I took notice of the brilliance of Dr. Cielito F. Habito especially when he was the Director-General for the NEDA and the Socio-Economic Planning Secretary.  I also attended the Economic Summit which he organized during the incumbency of President Fidel V. Ramos.)

This report will answer the question “Is sustainable development possible in the Philippines?”  The main reference used is the paper “Economy and Environment in the Philippines” authored by Dr. Cielito F. Habito.

Before joining government in 1988, I was connected with the U.S.-based management company for the consortium of gas and oil exploration companies that did a gas and oil exploration project in Victoria, Tarlac.  As part of our CSR (corporate social responsibility), we conducted a survey to determine if the Philippines was prepared for “sudden wealth”… in the event that the consortium indeed discovered oil or gas in the area.  Unfortunately, the survey results indicated that we are not prepared politically, socially and morally for such an event.  And because of this seeming unpreparedness, the success of the project might even mean more harm than good if not handled properly.  For the same reasons Dr. Habito stated (lack of political will, poverty and failures in law enforcement, legal and coordination), the Philippines will be hard-pressed for long-term solutions to sustainable development.  The drilling and exploration project in Victoria, Tarlac, however, turned out to be a dry hole and a failure.

After the Victoria project my personal view on the possibility of sustainable development in the Philippines was also on the negative side.  My involvement in developmental planning for the Province of Tarlac, however, shifted my paradigm.  At present, I should say… Yes, sustainable development is possible in the Philippines.

Dr. Habito outlined the track that should be taken towards Philippine economic development and mitigating the ill effects on the environment.  He mentioned the various plans and programs to address our problems in the areas of forestry, fishery, waste management, mining and air pollution.  Most of these are embodied in Philippine Agenda 21 and the Enhanced PA 21.  With Dr. Habito’s assertions, at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The primary concern of President Fidel V. Ramos during his term as leader of this nation was “people empowerment.”  He firmly believed that when the course of development (economic and social) is placed in the hands of “the people” themselves, they would always pro-actively react since it is their lives and future that is at stake.  Getting people aware of their duties and responsibilities in nation-building and in charting their own future is the ideal way in creating a ground-swell of involvement from the populace.

There is no easy way to get things done.  Development can only be sustained on a long-term basis.  We just can’t do things today and expect positive results tomorrow.  Economic and social development, like environment-focused plans and programs, have long gestation periods and there will be many challenges to hurdle.  Dr. Habito was generous enough to share a “to do” list for success:

1. Political Will – Getting the national and local officials to understand and internalize the need for sustainable development as the only way to progress.  Political will also entails the curbing of corruption in government.
2. People Empowerment – Getting people involved through the different LGUs (local government units), NGOs (non-government organizations) and POs (people’s organizations).  Example of which would be the various People’s Economic Development Councils.
3. Law Enforcement – A no-nonsense enforcement of the laws on forestry, waste management, mining, fishery, etc.  We actually have an abundance of laws to cover a broad spectrum of economic activities.  They just need to be implemented.
4. Philippine Agenda 21 – There should be a roadmap to sustainable development of the economy and the environment.  PA 21 should be seriously re-visited and integrated in present-day implementation of economic and environmental undertakings.  Where PA 21 works, it should be promoted and/or calibrated to fit present challenges.
5. Harmonize Laws – We do have an abundance of laws but some of them are duplications and contradictions.  Duplicate and contradictory laws should be repealed or integrated to prevent waste and confusion in implementation.
6. Harmonize Systems and Procedures – Government agencies often crisscross functions making it oftentimes tedious to get things done because of too much intervention from the different functional departments of government.  The circuitous systems and procedures in government only breed corruption.  This should be streamlined to allow for speedy processing, resolution and implementation of tasks.

If the above-listed “to do” list is diligently followed, I have no doubt that sustainable development is possible in the Philippines.

Just my little thoughts…