Good Governance

And
Social Responsibility

Submitted To: Mr. Richard Galang

Submitted By: Redan C. Duyag
Concept of Good
Governance
Genesis of Good Governance:
There is no clear and definite information if where does Good Governance was first
use. But for me, I believed that Good Governance were already existing and working ever
since. Even in the old days where there is no institutional government were existing yet
Good Governance is already functioning because even in small tribes of “katutubo” which
is being ruled by “Datu” Good governance were already working. For example is: the
“Datu” commanding his subordinate to plant more trees, to keep the river clean, not to
hunt small fishes or in other word to take care of the nature where they get their source of
living. Even in the oldest time of our ancestors the concept of Good Governance were
already in their small communities, flowing authorities from community head to its tribe
members, the rule of simple tribal laws and even the cycle of distribution of income and
wealth. As of now there is no definite record of where Good Governance were first used.
Many Websites are saying an statement that claim the real origin of concept of Good
Governance but for me, I believe that this concept were already existing even in the oldest
days, from a simple structure of hierarchy of authority that flow from tribe head to the
warriors and down to civilians of the tribes.

Governance Define:
Before defining Good Governance lets break it in parts, let us first know if what is
Governance, why do we need Governance and how does Governance functions or works?
Governance as defined it refer to structures and processes that are designed to ensure
accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and
inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based participation (this 8 is also known as the
elements and characteristics of Good Governance). Governance is also about the culture
and institutional environment in which citizens and stakeholders interact among
themselves and participate in public affairs. Governance also describes the process of
decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented which refer to the
legislative, judiciary and executive body of government.
In the simplest way to define, Governance is where the Government or the elected
officials do their jobs or responsibility which is to make decision about certain matters or
issues in our country then make it a law and then implement it to every citizens of our
country, it also include interactions of citizens using their freedom. In the other way around
Governance is also about how those elected officials adequately distribute the wealth and
income of our country coming from the taxes we all paid to them. But just to make it
clearer Governance not only occurs in the government but also in public and private
company. For instance is in private company, a company or any organizations need an
effective and efficient way of governing its human resource and financial resources in order
to achieve a success in their business and that is the rule of management now, to formulate
an effective and efficient method of governance and at the same time to ensure the adequate
implementations of those rules or laws. Same goes to Government who also need to achieve
the success of economic as well as the social welfare by using their authority in a way that
everyone will benefit, and success will only be achieve if there is an appropriate, just and
well govern government who uses Good Governance.

Good Governance Define:

Good Governance like its genesis has no exact definition. But let’s have two
different approaches who define Good Governance. The Academic approach who focuses
on how power and authority were structured or distributed in a certain society. Secondly is
the Donors Approach who focuses on the other side on how the role of structure of authority
help a society achieve economic and social success.

Academic Approach says that the definition of Good Governance will only be
realize by the result or outcomes of the activities or implemented rules of government or
management. For example is the recently implemented rule of government banning
smoking in public places, this rule is very much helpful and beneficial to every individual
in public because it prevent complications or diseases that can be acquire by second hand
smokers. Everyone benefits with that rule implemented by government and that rule
produces a good outcomes to every citizens so then the Good Governance is fulfilled and
its definition is realize by the outcome. Another example on private company or institution
like St. Benilde the rule of 15 minutes allowable late, this policy teaches every student the
importance of time, how to be responsible and to respect the professor and with this rule
as an outcome, students become more responsible and productive. With that we can now
realize the existence of Good Governance.

Donor Approach who on the other side define Good Governance by its
Elements/characteristics, the first characteristic refers to equal participation by all
members of society as the key element of good governance, with everyone having a role
in the process of decision-making. Secondly, good governance implies the rule of law
maintained through the impartiality and effectiveness of the legal system. Rule of law also
means the protection of human rights, independent judiciary and impartial and
incorruptible law enforcement agencies. Good governance is also based on the
transparency of the decision-making process, which ensures that information is freely
available and accessible to those involved or affected by the decisions taken. Transparency
therefore means free access to information. Last, but not least, accountability and
responsibility are key requirements of good governance, with all of the participants in the
political and economic processes being accountable for their decisions.

Why does Good Governance Exist?

The concept of good governance exist because of practices of bad governance,
characterized by corruption by government officials in all sectors of government,
unaccountable governments and lack of respect for human rights, had become increasingly
dangerous as days and years goes by and it is getting worst every day and the need to
intervene in such cases had become urgent that’s why Good Governance exist. We are
living in the reality that everyday humanity is getting worst, crime rate is increasing, illegal
drug still exist, and corruption, rape, war are still in the newspaper’s heading. That is why
Good governance is developed so that those thing will be minimize because in situation we
have right now, it seems impossible to eliminate it from our system.
The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and
only object of good government.
-Thomas Jefferson
Like what Thomas Jefferson said, the first and only objective of good government is to
care for human life and happiness of every individuals. Government should do their best
in order to assure that their peoples are well protected by the treat of terrorist, war,
poverty and even by colonizers. Thomas Jefferson clearly said that the government
should protect the human life not destroy it. If there is a number 1 advocate who protect
and value human life that should be the government.

My Question: if Thomas Jefferson said that the first and only objective of good
government is to care for human life, then can we say that our honorable President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte has a good government in his administration since in his last SONA
he said that “ Your concern is human right, mine is Human life” ?

Good governance give protection to the following:

 Universal protection of human rights- Good Governance gives protection
to individual’s human rights such as freedom of expressions and any other
forms of human rights. For me a country has Good Governance if and only
if its citizens has their rights that they deserve and government will only be
labeled Good if it protects the rights of its citizens.
 Non-discriminatory laws; efficient, impartial and rapid judicial processes-
Law is implemented and should be shoulder to everyone, no exemptions,
no special treatments and no discrimination as to class level in society that
an individual belong. In short the law should be unbiased and should be fair
in all aspects.
 Accountability for decisions by public officials- One of the duty of those
elected public official is to formulate and make a decision about certain
matter which will be beneficial to public and since they were the one who
create and decide to implement those decisions then they should be the one
to take account to whatever the result of those decisions. The responsibility
of elected public officials has a big factor when it comes to success or
development of the economy of a certain country.
  And meaningful participation by citizens in debating public policies and
choices- our country, Philippines is a democratic country where authority
or power came from its citizens and only be given to those “chosen ones”
and for me the process of transferring the power or authority is called
“election” every time an individual is shading the circle beside the name of
their chosen ones they were already giving power to them and the authority
to rule them. And election is one of the example that clearly show the
participation of citizens in decision making. And also since we are a
democratic country then everyone has a right or freedom to participate and
a voice to express their opinions. Now a days social medias has a big
contribution and also the means or tools that people use to give comments
about a certain decision that our government implemented.

Good Governance Ideals or Dimension:

 Technical dimension of the concept, which refers to “the economic aspect of
governance, namely the transparency of government accounts, the effectiveness of
public resources management, and the stability of the regulatory environment for
private sector activity.
The technical dimension of the concept of Good Governance simply refer to the
availability of information about the decision created by Government example is
the newly implemented TRAIN Law where the information is made available to
every citizens so that they will be aware of it. It also refer to the effectiveness of
how the Government manage the country’s income and wealth or how it adequately
distribute the income and wealth to different government agencies or branches. And
lastly it also focuses on the constant implementation of rules and regulation for the
activities of private sectors or company and institutions.
 Social dimension, “to build, strengthen and promote democratic institutions as well
as tolerance throughout society.”
 The Social dimensions on the other hand give focus on the “social” which basically
refer to the citizens or individuals. It give emphasis on the freedom of individual.
For me one of the signs that a Government has a Good Governance if it gives value
to human rights and liberties of its citizens. No one should be deprive to have a
freedom but I think that those freedom should also not be beyond its limitations.
“Social dimension promote democratic institutions” and when we say democratic
institution it means a institution where power come from its citizenry and freedom
is given to its citizens, that’s why I said that Social dimension focuses on the
freedom of individuals.

 Political dimension refers to “the legitimacy of government and respect for human
rights and the rule of law.”

Political dimension simply refer to the power of government and its responsibility
which not just to develop the economy but also to protect and respects the human
rights.

“With Great power comes a great responsibility”

-Peter Parker's Uncle Ben in Spiderman
Elected officials are given a great power and authority by the people who trusted
them and like what Peter Parker’s uncle Ben said, that power also comes a great
responsibility. Elected officials are not in their sit just to earn a high salary but they are in
their positions because they were chosen and they should fulfill their responsibility to the
country. They should be like a hero for instance like Spiderman who give justice to the
society. They should always protect their people and the rights of those people for equal
and fair presentation of law.