South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. said the province’s development gains demonstrate how a decentralized and federal system of government can effectively deliver services and spur inclusive growth when local governments are given greater authority and resources.
Governor Tamayo explained that South Cotabato has implemented initiatives that already reflect the results expected under decentralization and federalism, showing how empowered local governments can respond faster and more efficiently to people’s needs.
He cited the province’s comprehensive education program, which provides free education up to the college level, including in private institutions. The governor emphasized that students automatically qualify as scholars upon enrollment, without political conditions, favoritism, or the need to seek assistance from politicians.
The governor also pointed to the province’s free hospitalization program, which is accessible even to non-residents of South Cotabato. He noted that despite extensive social services, the provincial government continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, agriculture, and investments that generate jobs and economic activity.
Among the province’s key infrastructure accomplishments is the concreting of around 200 kilometers of roads using only ₱2 billion in funds. Governor Tamayo attributed this to prudent financial management and the efficient use of limited resources.
“These results show what local governments can achieve if funds and decision-making are decentralized,” he said, adding that development becomes more efficient when solutions are designed and implemented at the local level.
Governor Tamayo acknowledged that relying solely on local government funds would make such programs difficult to sustain. To address this, South Cotabato strengthened partnerships with the private sector, creating a collaborative model that supports what he described as a working example of federal-style governance at the provincial level.
He stressed that the progress achieved in South Cotabato can also be realized in other parts of the country, provided that government decentralization is fully pursued.
The governor ended with a call for unity in advocating for the decentralization of government, saying that what has worked in South Cotabato could also work for the rest of the Philippines.
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