Elite-led political systems in Asia and the Pacific are the basic hindrances to people-centered sustainable development, according to former National Treasurer Leonor Magtolis-Briones.
Briones, also a professor emeritus at the National Center for Public Administration and Governance at the University of the Philippines in Diliman (UP Diliman), made the assertion during the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Expert Group Meeting on “Macroeconomic Prospects, Policy Challenges and Sustainable Development in Asia Pacific” on December 2 in Bangkok, Thailand.
“The elite controls the Executive, the Legislature and in some countries try to control the Judiciary. Usually, the spoil system operates, even in countries which claim to be democratic,” Briones said.
Her indictment is particularly applicable to the Philippines, where Malacañang has been clashing with the judiciary over the constitutionality and legality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program that it implemented in spending P144 billion for 116 projects using taxpayers’ money.
Most of the expenditures were not covered by appropriations under the national budget for 2011 and beyond. Briones said the other barriers are obsession with the gross domestic product as a measure of development, and widespread corruption exacerbated by lack of transparency and information, limited public participation, and lack of accountability.
“A political system dominated by the elite stifles governance and economic and social development. It results in corruption, bad governance and poor accountability. Democracy becomes a farce,” Briones said.
She lauded the decision of ESCAP to invite heads of state and ministers to a summit on sustainable development and its three dimensions, namely economic, social and environmental.
“At the end of the day, it will be the policy makers who will make the decisions to implement sustainable development. Political leaders have to be pressured in doing what is right for their country and not just for their families and dynasties. Civil society has to be given weapons through knowledge and information, and capacity building, in order to demand accountability from political leaders,” Briones said.