Kaya Natin!

WHEN the Ateneo School of Government initially convened the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership last July 2008, we began with the belief that despite all the bad stories we hear about poor governance and rampant corruption in our government, there are still many government leaders who are doing good and genuinely serving the country.

Kaya Natin! was started by three outstanding local government leaders, two of which are Ramon Magsaysay Awardees (known as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize) then two more local government leaders (Mayor Sonia Lorenzo and Gov. Teddy Baguilat, Jr.) joined the movement and more recently, seven new Kaya Natin! leaders were formally inducted into the movement. By the end of the year, the movement aims to have at least 100 government leaders in its fold.

Kaya Natin! selects its new set of champions based on the criteria of Effective, Empowering and Ethical Leadership. A leadership scorecard using these three main criteria is used to gauge whether a past or present government leader can be eligible to be part of this movement.

What sets the movement apart from other similar good governance groups is that we also serve as a leadership sanctuary to government leaders who want to do what is right in their respective areas.

The sad reality of our current government is that it is often those who do good that are marginalized and mistreated while those who choose to be corrupt are often the ones which are rewarded. Aside from being a sanctuary and an advocate of good governance, the movement also aims to become a learning circle where the likes of Mayor Jesse Robredo can share with his peers how he was able to transform Naga City from being a third class municipality into a first class city which is now the center of commerce in the Bicol Region. Kaya Natin! Champions can also learn from Gov. Ed Panlilio and Gov. Grace Padaca on how they were able to win against well-funded political dynasties in their respective areas despite having meager financial resources.

Kaya Natin! champions recently signed a covenant of good governance wherein they all pledged to work towards the eradication of illegal gambling and illegal logging in their areas. They also agreed to work towards pushing for greater transparency and social accountability in their local government units.

Aside from these, the movement also objects to any form of Charter Change before the 2010 elections while supportingpro-poor advocacies such as the extension and reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARPER). With the 2010 elections just a year away, the movement also called for genuine electoral reforms to ensure clean and honest elections.

Since the movement began almost a year ago, it has already visited more than 60 colleges, universities, institutions and organizations all over the Philippines to share their inspiring stories on good governance.

One of the main problems that our country faces today is that many Filipinos have become very cynical about our government leaders thus, the Kaya Natin! movement aims to show the Filipino people that we still have many leaders who are committed and are trying their best to deliver effective and efficient basic services to their constituents.

By doing this, the movement aims to encourage more Filipinos to actively take part in electing and supporting better leaders for the country starting with their own municipality or city. Hopefully, when people ask if it is still possible to elect effective and ethical leaders in the Philippines, every Filipino can say with conviction, Yes! Kaya Natin!

The new Kaya Natin! Champions and Leaders who were formally inducted last April 24,2009 are Mayor Fermin Mabulo of San Fernando, Camarines Sur, Mayor Roque Verzosa, Jr. of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Mayor Florante Gerdan of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, Mayor Marivic Belena of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Vice-Mayor Valente Yap of Bindoy, Negros Oriental, former Mayor Mary Jane Ortega of San Fernando City, La Union and former Mayor Baby Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

We invite every Filipino to be inspired by the stories of the new Kaya Natin! Leaders on May 18,2009 (Monday), 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Miriam College, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. This event is free of charge but is limited to 100 slots only. For reservations to this Kaya Natin! Caravan of Good Governance, you can contact Ginny Villareal at (02)4265657 or you can send an email to kayanatin@yahoo.com .