Listen: “Assessing the Impact of Charter Change on Local Governance” | A Podcast Episode
The Program on Social and Political Change (PSPC) launches Episode 4 of the podcast, “Banyuhay: Change, One Conversation at a Time,” on 16 December 2024, 1:00 pm via DZUP’s YouTube and Facebook account, and via UP CIDS’ Spotify channel.
For its inaugural season, Banyuhay focuses on the theme, “Uncharted Grounds: The Hidden Side of Charter Change,” which covers four episodes exploring the hidden dimensions of constitutional reform. The fourth episode featured a discussion with Dr. Maria Ela Atienza from the UP Diliman Department of Political Science. She discussed the importance of strengthening local governance within the context of constitutional reform, stressing the need for enhanced local autonomy, improved resource allocation, and empowered local governments capable of effectively serving their communities (Matsuda 2011).
Episode Topics
The conversation centered on the following topics:
Charter Change and Local Autonomy: investigates the implications of proposed constitutional amendments on the autonomy of some areas. It seeks to determine whether such amendments would strengthen or weaken the region’s capacity for self-governance.
Shift in Balance of Power: analyzes the potential effects of charter change initiatives, including those primarily focused on economic reforms, on the balance of power between the national government and LGUs. It examines whether proposed amendments would lead to greater centralization of authority or further devolution of power to local units.
Addressing Local Governance Issues: critically assesses the extent to which previous attempts at constitutional reform in the Philippines have adequately acknowledged and addressed the specific challenges and needs faced by local governments.
Improving Local Government Finance and Influence: focuses on identifying and evaluating potential mechanisms for strengthening the financial systems of LGUs and increasing their participation in the formulation of national policies.
Necessity of Charter Change for Local Governance Reform: weighs the merits of constitutional amendments as a means to achieve desired improvements in local governance against alternative approaches, such as policy reforms and legislative initiatives, to determine the most effective pathway for reform.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Maria Ela L. Atienza is a Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is an expert in local governance, human security, and health policy. She has published extensively on these topics, including books on urban poverty and constitutional performance. Dr. Atienza is also a sought-after trainer and resource person for various sectors.
Host
Prof. Dennis Quilala is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science of the University of the Philippines. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Canterbury and finished his Master of Arts in Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman in 2005. He focuses on the study of peace processes and conflicts in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. His other research interests include political philosophy, local governance, human rights, and political violence. Among his publications is “Nongovernmental Organizations in Humanitarian Activities in the Philippines: Local Contributions in Post-Disaster Settings and Implications for Humanitarian Action and Diplomacy” in the Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, first published online on 5 November 2021 (co-written with Dr. Maria Ela Atienza).
Queries
For queries, please email: [email protected]
The Banyuhay Podcast is produced by the Program on Social and Political Change (PSPC) of the Center for Integrative and Development Studies, University of the Philippines, in partnership with DZUP.
The Program on Social and Political Change is one of the UP CIDS’ 18 research programs that focuses on sociopolitical issues of the Philippines. Learn more and download PSPC policy papers for free.