Leadership at the Local Level

What is Leadership?

Leadership, as concept in management and in behavioral and social sciences, is essentially a relationship that involves use of power, authority and influence. In societal or organizational settings, culture and context inevitably define who wields power, authority and influence over whom.

As societies and organizations evolve and develop over time, their goals, processes and values change. These changes are reflected in how societies and organizations define the nature and essence of leadership, particularly in terms of power, authority and influence relations.

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the process of influencing and supporting others to work enthusiastically toward achieving objectives. It is critical factor that helps an individual or a group identify its goals and then motivates and assist in achieving the stated goals.

The three important elements in the definition are influence /support, voluntary effort, and goal acievement.The primary role of a leader is to influence others to voluntarily seek defined objectives

Leadership is defined as a social influence process in which leader seeks the voluntary participation of subordinates in an effort to reach organizational objectives

Leadership for the LGU

Every local government unit shall exercise the power expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.

Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, LGUs shall ensure and support, among other things: (Section 16, Book 1)

the preservation and enrichment culture;promote the health and safety;enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology;encourage and support the development op appropriate and self-reliant

scientific and technological capabilities;improve public morals;enhance economic prosperity and social justice;promote full employment among their residents;maintain peace and order; andpreserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants

Leadership Behavior

Leadership depends more on appropriate behavior, skills and actions, and less on personal traits. The three broad types of skills leaders use are technical, human, and conceptual:

1. Technical skill refers to a person’s knowledge of and in any type of process or technique.

2. Human skill is the ability to work effectively with people and tyo build teamwork.

3. Conceptual skill is the ability to think in terms of models, frameworks, broad relationships, such as long – range plans.

Leadership Styles

a) Autocratic Leaders centralize power and decision making in themselves. The leader takes full authority and assumes full responsibility. Autocratic leadership typically is negative, based on threats and punishment. This leader permits quick decisions but they dislike him or her, especially if it is extreme enough to create fear and frustration.

b) Participative Leaders decentralize authority. Participative decisions are unilateral, as with the autocrat, because they arise from consultation with followers and participation by them. The leader and group are acting as a social unit.

c) Free –rein Leaders avoid power and responsibility. They depend largely on the group to establish its own goals and work out its own problems. Group members train themselves and provide their own motivation. The leader plays a minor role.

Leadership of Mayor Alfredo Lim

“The law applies to all, else none at all.”

Mayor Alfredo Siojo Lim

• December 21, 1929

• Sampaloc, Manila

• Half chinese descent

• P. Burgos Elementary School, 1943

• Far Eastern University – High School, 1948

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1951 and Bachelor of Law in 1963 both at University of the East

• Master's Degree in National Security Administration with honor at the National Defense College of the Philippines in 1981

• Doctorate on Public Administration, Honoris Cause, FEU 1995, PLM 1996

Highlights of Service• He arrested then civilian Robert Barbers for illegal possession of firearm in spite of

then Manila Vice-Mayor James Barbers efforts to negotiate to release Robert and not to file a case in court.

• Loyalty to Pres. Corazon Aquino, helping her by defending the government against leftist threats

• He led Manila Policemen in taking back government installations from military rebels in the 1987 coup attempt.

• Retired Police Major General, December 21, 1989

• Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Dec. 22, 1989

• Mayor of Manila, 1992 

• Re-elected Mayor of Manila, 1995

• Department of Interior Local Government Secretary (DILG) 1998 – 2000

• Senator 2004 – 2007, Mayor 2007 - 2010 

• Re-elected Mayor 2010 - present with the highest majority in the history of Manila 

Awards Received• THE OUTSTANDING FILIPINO for 1997, in the field of Public Service (December 9,

1997)

• THE CHINO ROCES AWARD for having pursued all uncompromising career against criminality(September 30, 1997)

• CONFERRED A DOCTORATE ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, HONORIS CAUSA, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (April 17, 1996)

• MEDAL OF MERIT, International Association of Lions Club (1996)

• CONFERRED DOCTOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, HONORIS CAUSA, Far Eastern University(March 24, 1995)

• HONORED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAYOR ALFREDO S. LIM DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL CHAIR in Public Administration of the De La Salle University(December 2, 1994) 

• GINTONG AMA AWARDEE for Government and Public Service 1994 (June 19, 1994)

• PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION WPDC 93rd Anniversary Awarded by WPD (January 9, 1994)

• DR. JOSE P. RIZAL IMMORTAL AWARDEE, given by the Knights of Rizal (December 30, 1994)

• PRESIDENT OSMENA MOST OUSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT AWARDEE (1992)

• MOST OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCER awarded by the Consumers Union of the Philippines, Manila(November 21, 1990)

• FIRST TOPP (Ten Outstanding Police of the Philippines)

• HALL OF FAME AWARD given by the Philippine Jaycees for being the First Policeman to received seven TOPP AWARDS (July 12, 1990)

Awards Received

First & Second Term (1992-1998)

Ran under Miriam Defensor – Santiago's People's Reform Party. He was originally asked to run for Vice-President but opted to run as Mayor instead.

His motivation at that time was to “clean up the tourist belt”, saying that Manila was in a state of decay. People trooped to his NBI office to convince him that he was the “strong man to pull it up.”

He ran as a “reform candidate”, with Lito Atienza as his running mate. At that time, Lim has no connections in the political scene and literally “don't know what to do.”

First & Second Term (1992-1998)

His first order was to close down all the nightclubs and bars at Ermita. He was trying to close them down since he became Chief of Police. He believes the establishments gave the city a bad image and lured women into prostitution.

He also became famous for his “Alis Dyan” campaign of spray-painting houses of alleged criminals and drug pushers.

Most of his first term was spent in cleaning up Manila of vices, garbage, crime and “illegal” fees in schools and hospitals.

First & Second Term (1992-1998)

He scrapped all school fees during his term and increased the subsidies given for the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila. He also inaguarated another city university, the City College of Manila, for “average students”.

He also inagurated during his term 2 new hospitals, a renovated Manila Zoo, the Museo Pambata, sports development centers, drug rehabilitation centers and parks.

After deciding not to run again as mayor, he was fielded as Presidential Candidate by the Liberal Party in 1998.

Third & Fourth Term (2007-Present)

Mayor Lim decided to run again as Mayor of Manila after his short stint in the Senate. He ran against Aly Atienza, son of his former Vice-Mayor, Lito Atienza.

While he won the position as Mayor, his vice-Mayor came from another party, in the name of Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

His administration was characterized under the slogan, “Linisin, Ikarangal ang Maynila.”

Third & Fourth Term (2007-Present)

His third and latest term was marred with controversies. He ordered the demolition of shanties at Quaipo, re-opening of roads converted by former Mayor Atienza into parks, and the closure of bars at the Baywalk area.

Like his first stint as Mayor in 1992, his focus was on crime prevention and social welfare.

He still plans to run as Mayor for the next elections in 2013, to be challenged by his former ally, Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

“Linisin Ikarangal ang Maynila”

11-point agenda:

War against crime

Fire protection

Health

Education

Livelihood

Historical and Cultural Awakening

“Linisin Ikarangal ang Maynila”

11-point agenda:

Environmental Protection

Urban Planning

Citizen Participation

Transparency

Senior Citizens Program

Mayor Alfredo Lim's first order of office was to close down “girlie bars” at Ermita.

Mayor Alfredo Lim inagurating an infrastructure project in Manila

Mayor Lim hands out land titles to Manila residents

Mayor Alfredo Lim inagurates a real estate development at the former San Lazaro Race Track

Mayor Lim orders the destruction of pornographic DVDs being peddled in the city.

Mayor Lim personally dismantles illegal “video-karera” machines confiscated in the city

Mayor Lim inaguares a daycare center in Baseco Compound in Tondo.

Issues and Controversies

Vitas Slaughterhouse Case

In 2008, Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered the takeover of the Vitas Slaughterhouse, which was leased to a private operator in 1999. He accused the contractor, Dealco Inc. and Meatworld, of “under-reporting” its gross sales so to avoid paying lease to the city government.

A case was filed against him and the Manila Police by Dennis Alcoreza, one of the company's board members, accusing them of “him being dragged and manhandled outside the slaughterhouse.”

Mayor Lim vs. Council

Mayor Lim, in an interview, told the media that he was “unlucky” with his Vice Mayors. Lito Atienza, his former vice-mayor, turned against him and ran as Mayor in 1998.

When Mayor Lim returned as Mayor in 2007, he ordered the removal of Atienza's projects under the “Buhayin ang MayniLA” program, including the bars at Baywalk and closed portions of Rizal Avenue, which Mayor Atienza turned into a park.

Mayor Lim vs. Council

His current Vice-Mayor, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domogoso, switched affiliations to the camp of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

A word war escalated between Mayor Lim and his Vice-Mayor, with Vice-Mayor Moreno accusing Lim of death threats. Lim retailiated by accusing him and 28 other councilors of having “ghost employees”.

The city is currently experiencing gridlock between Mayor Lim and the City Council, especially in the issue of the Pandacan Oil Depot closure.

Urban Planning

Most people, especially those living outside Manila, noticed that the city has been left behind when it comes to urban planning. Flooding is a major problem in the city, add to that the urban decay in the city's former financial and cultural districts, such as Escolta, Quiapo and Intramuros.

However, different projects have been launched by the city government, the private sector and non-government organizations to address this, including street-lighting projects, parks, malls, housing projects and real estate developments.

Issues and Controversies

Other issues and concerns under Mayor Lim's leadership are: Attracting local and foreign investors in the city and

reclaiming its position as the country's financial and cultural center

Solving poverty and related issues Business concerns (Pandacan Oil Depot, Sidewalk

vendors, Muslim traders) Personal issues and accusations (i.e. Mayor Lim's

son accused of drug trafficking) Police Brutality