PEACE-BUILDING STATE-BUILDINGUNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND THE BANGSAMORO INITIATIVE

EDMUND TAYAO LOGODEF

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

Partisanship

Personality-based

Weak State

Vibrant but Confused Civil Society

Popularity almost always trumps policy

GOVERNMENT THAT IS MORE ON POLICY AND PROGRAM Government works as a

system of institutions

Role of individual is significant but tempered by standards

Process matters, short-cuts are minimised as it is replaced by long-term approach

Flexibility and not Rigidity, Collaboration and Cooperation, not Competition and Division

FUNDAMENTALS OF POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS

Hard Power (Coercion, Penalties)

Soft Power (Incentives, Enticements)

Institutionalism - focus on formal institutions of government

New Institutionalism -sociological view of institutions (impact on society)

Political Software -Programs/Policies -subjective relationships between leaders and followers

Political Hardware -Framework/Structural Design

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AS MEANS Structure of Government is the System Design

shapes relations between different govt. offices at different levels and even between govt. officials and political leaders;

serves as tool not only for implementation but also for monitoring as well as setting and complying with standards.

As a means it also provides strength and character to the State.

LACK OF PEACE SUGGESTS WEAK STATE

The Philippine State, Society and Revolution

Envisaging Bangsamoro is strengthening the still incomplete democratization in the country

Parochialism is due to distrust of govt and not because of culture

Need for State-Nation approach

THIRD WAVE DEMOCRATIZATION, THE CASE OF SPAIN AND THE PHILIPPINES

Common stateness problem (ethno-cultural diversity, civil war, ETA, insurgency and separatist movements)

Spain established legitimate state power and authority while the Philippines established freedom without strengthening institutions

Spain devolved powers and institutionalised devolution, the Philippine decentralised but its implementation has been dependent on an incumbents support.

BANGSAMORO AS OPPORTUNITY FOR REFORM

We have yet to have a real constitution

Establishing the Bangsamoro, one real autonomous government is an opportunity to see a working system without undergoing difficult process of charter change

Intergovernmental Relations is key but should be institutionalised and its authority clear with respect to national-regional relations (distinguish policy-making/legislation from implementation/executive function).

GUIDEPOSTS TO CONSIDER

Clear delineation of functions but not rigid to be interpreted as one essentially on its own or that one is clearly superior to the other

Identify areas of collaboration especially during transition as a way to build confidence and help strengthen institutions

Fiscal autonomy is key but only with adequate transparency and accountability

Inclusivity and sensitivity is key to all parties if it is to get to a good start.

IN SUMMARY, WE NEED A SYSTEM CHANGE AND WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE TO EFFECT SYSTEM CHANGETHANK YOU