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Written by Fr. Ian Salvador Trillanes
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Saturday, 22 March 2008 |
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The Prelature of Libmanan covers the first Congressional District of Camarines Sur except for the Municipal Town of Milaor which is part of the second Congressional District. The Prelature has a total of eleven municipal towns and 347 villages (barangays). The socio-economic status determines the political setting in the Prelature of Libmanan. The election results are largely characterized by massive vote-buying, harassment, patronage, and popularity. Power, popularity and influence are the peoples’ primary consideration in choosing their political leaders.
Decision-making from the provincial and congressional levels to the barangay level is controlled and monopolized by some influential politicians and people. There is a limited participation from among the fundamental sectors of society. Since the people are powerless to organize themselves the creation of an alternative centralized power is elusively overlooked. At its worst, the common people become prey of social discrimination in the landlord-tenant sharing of the land harvest. They are forced to engage in illegal logging, fishing and gambling; drug pushing; and widespread graft and corruption to augment their income. Due to the numerous political problems, the basic infrastructures in the Prelature of Libmanan are poorly constructed (e.g. the provincial and district hospitals, public schools, water system, and the national and provincial roads). Government funds both national and local are not properly allocated. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 22 March 2008 )
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