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Local government and development in a regional city: The case of Iloilo City, Philippines
Author(s) -
Rüland Juergen,
Sajo Tomas A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
public administration and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-162X
pISSN - 0271-2075
DOI - 10.1002/pad.4230080303
Subject(s) - oligarchy , autonomy , local government , city region , regional development , government (linguistics) , economic growth , politics , local economic development , regional science , economic geography , development economics , economy , political science , economics , geography , public administration , law , democracy , linguistics , philosophy
The development of urban hinterland centres, known as the Regional Cities Development Project (RCDP), is a key strategy applied by the Philippine government to rectify the country's grave regional imbalances. Yet RCDP has not markedly altered the distorted demographic, spatial and economic growth patterns of the Philippines. Unlike the sizeable body of literature which mainly explains failures of the ‘growth centre approach’ by economic factors emanating from the metropolis‐periphery relationship, this study places greater emphasis on politico‐administrative factors that affect regional city development. The article demonstrates that regional city development in Iloilo City–one of four Philippine secondary centres selected as RCDP sites–is impeded by an elitist, conservative local oligarchy, excessive patronage politics, severe financial constraints, limited managerial capabilities, a low degree of local autonomy, over‐politicization and the impact of an adverse economic environment. Following an in‐depth analysis of the politico‐administrative culture of Iloilo City, the authors present suggestions that in the long run may positively affect the city's developmental path.