Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan - Manalangin, Manindigan, Makialam

Mechanisms for Political Accountability

Bantay Pangako is based on the principles of politics-governance-development outcomes (PGD) framework.  The PGD framework tries to ensure that while communities and groups develop their own political agendas, consequently, they are also made more aware of the political dynamics within their own area so as to make better choices of their political representatives.

The aim of the Bantay Pangako is to assist community organizations develop their own socio-economic and political agenda which they can present to candidates running for public office. In turn, these candidates would then react and pledge to implement part of or the whole of the agenda if they are voted into office.

Bantay Pangako, which was started last January by Ateneo-based groups (not only in Quezon City, but also in Naga and Cagayan de Oro, and which has also been undertaken by regional non-government networks in Western and Eastern Visayas) is in fact inspired by the work in Zamboanga de Sibugay by the Catholic laity under their ‘Silingan Ka!' (You are my Neighbor!) Campaign under Jesuit Bishop (now Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro) Tony Ledesma.  Before the May 2004 ballot, several lay workers in the Prelature of Ipil (which covers the whole of the province) recognized their role as Church leaders to make partisan- or even ‘transpartisan' (i.e., beyond partisan, as communities are looking for leaders that would answer their issues) choices of political candidates. After some of the candidates they supported won in the elections, regular dialogue-fora activities were undertaken to discuss issues and concerns and to establish a support system for the elected officials and to monitor the activities of the local government.

Last October 21, 2007, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), the Ateneo de Manila School of Government (ASoG), the Institutional Network for Social Action of Miriam College, and the Ateneo Student Catholic Action, organized Bantay Pangako  seminar for barangay leaders in Quezon City. The workshop helped the community representatives from Barangay Loyola Heights, Pansol, Kaingin and UP articulate the problems and needs which they have not been able to do; these leaders live in the marginalized areas in their respective barangays. They said that their needs include the resolution of their long-standing issue of land security (they live in areas that are owned by private individuals or in by the government), the provision of basic health and education services, and the implementation of programs oriented to women and the youth and employment facilitation projects.

The seminar also helped raise the consciousness of community representatives about political leadership and accountability. During the seminar, an elderly woman from Barangay Pansol, for example, decried the fact that many local politicians has subverted the notion of leadership by paying off the urban poor in order to buy their votes; she said that this has caused disunity in their community. Thus the leaders discussed informally how they would be able to monitor their winning candidates once elected; some of the suggestions in past seminars included the construction of a ‘monitoring board' that would review whether the candidates have implemented their promises. A meeting and covenant signing was also held last October 25 between the people and the barangay chairperson and kagawad as well as other selected barangay representatives.