Misused Strength

The Philippines, being a tropical country, is given so many natural resources. From the expanse of forests and seemingly infinite seas, there lie many varieties of trees, fruits and flowers and a rich diversity of animals from sea creatures to land dwellers and air gliders. Aside from those, the country is also gifted of human resources, given around 90 million people, said to be optimistic, happy, talented, smart and efficient people. But how come this country remains in the third world? Why can’t this country excel provided with all these blessings?

The answer is simple, this country lacked good governance. In the 1992 report entitled “Governance and Development”, the World Bank set out its definition of good governance. This term is defined as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development”. This country failed to manage its resources properly maybe because it lacked or totally didn’t have the characteristics, or failed to apply the concept of what makes good governance.

                

We usually use good governance in political science, public administration and, more particularly, in management and development. Good governance is likely related with democracy, civil society, participation and sustainable development.