Now that the 2007 elections are over, we need to relate its results with our economic situation as a region.

Many questions and concerns come to mind, if we look at the results from the regional perspective.

For one, we might wonder whether the new set of elective officials will be able to plan and implement projects that would create jobs and increase income in a substantial manner.

This should not be difficult if the winning candidates have studied their areas well based on facts and perceptions of the people they met during the campaign.

In this sense the campaign period should have been an opportunity for the candidates to learn more about the areas they will be serving as public officials.

After they take their oath of office on June 30, they should be immediately ready to put in motion the ideas they got before and during the campaign.

Three years is not a long time to plan and execute. But it is still enough to get things done.

My unsolicited advice is for them to seriously plan how they will manage their areas in the next three years, bearing in mind economic aspects like employment, income, and agri-industrial production. To get as many key persons involved, the planning process they should adopt should be participative. A good venue for this is the local development council.

The plan should not be all about projects, but also about policies such as those on taxes, business regulation or de-regulation, proper zoning and land-use. A comprehensive approach to development of communities is always desirable. The only limit will, of course, be the resources available. And this should be thoroughly known to the new officials.

The congruence of the proper exercise of political power and the promotion of economic objectives is the best thing that can happen in their areas.

As I have emphasized time and again, the positive interplay of politics ad economics can result in improving the quality of life in our units of governance.