Vol. 34 Nos. 3-4 (July-December 2013)
Governance (Policy Issues)...
(From page 36)
indicating institutional frameworks.
However, the author admits that it is difficult for
municipal governments to secure professional staff
with expediency since every local government
experience severe staff shortage. Finally, Mr. Kawai
points out the implication of his analysis and practical
agenda.
GOVERNANCE (POLICY ISSUES)
The section on Governance (policy issues) focuses on
public-private partnership and regional management.
The papers under this theme mainly present issues on
population management, ageing society and welfare,
and other relevant policy challenges.
International University-Community
Cooperation for Environmental Sustainability
Dr. Victoria
Valenzuela’s
presentation is a
sharing of
their initiative that
aims to address the
capacity gaps at
the village level to
promote sustainability
concepts through the
collaboration with
the provincial government of Bulacan and industry
associations, coordination with Bulacan Environment
and Natural
Resources Office, a cement company, and with a few
industries such as tanneries and paper companies.
Moreover, their initiative intends to operationalize the
concept of corporate social responsibility through the
adoption of cleaner production innovations, which
improve workplace safety and minimize risks. Their
action also aims to enhance the capacity of local
institutions by learning to integrate economic progress,
EROPA Bulletin
37
social development, and environmental protection.
She then shared the concrete steps that they recently
undertook: seminar-workshop on lean and clean
manufacturing, visit to Angat River and watershed,
and study tour to a tannery industry in Bulacan. Such
activities helped developed camaraderie and teamwork
among the 30 participants from private sector,
government and industry. To sustain their efforts, she
proposed an plan of action: develop consensus, adopt
cleaner production, introduce concepts of industrial
technology, integrate the concept of environmental
sustainability, analyze regulations, and develop case
studies. She ended by stressing the importance of
cooperation and leadership at the national level.
She invited everyone to work for the promotion of
international university-community cooperation.
Top-Down Policy Process for the Decentralization
of Adult Social Care: Legacy and Innovation in the
National Care Insurance System in Japan
Ms. Kyoko Ohta
discussed how the
system on adult social
care was designed by
the central government
and implemented by
local governments in
Japan. This has been
a policy response
to Japan’s aging
society social problem, which will ensue as the “2025
crisis” with more Japanese – including the so called
‘baby-boomers’ – belonging to over 75 years old
bracket. The system reformed Shochi – state subsidy
and measures by municipalities for the care of the
elderly in the 1950s – to long-term care insurance
to “localization” policy. The central government
introduced a new “localization” policy of elderly care,
and it was not a graduate shift. The new localization
policy covers combining finance (municipalities as
insurer), services (supply-side),
systems, workforce and demand side pursuing a
shared principle. However, Ms. Ohta argued the
“localization” is actually not shared. Under this policy,
the Ministry of Welfare promotes community general
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support following an