Best practices of LGUs on display at Governance Expo 2004 Davao City — Twenty-three best practices of local government units were on display at the Governance Expo 2004 at the Davao Convention Center in Davao City. The Governance Expo 2004 is a road show designed by Local Government Support Program (LGSP) in four locations with its final run in Davao City. It started with the Metro Manila run on October 12 and 13 at the Megatrade Hall of the Mega Hall in Mandaluyong City then to Iloilo at the Iloilo Provincial Capital on October 21 and 22 and to Cagayan de Oro City on October 28 and 29.
The Davao run on November 10 and 11 was highlighted with the recognition and awarding ceremonies for 42 local government units which were recipients of the Kaagapay Seal of Excellence in Local Governance. Of the 23 best practices on exhibit, 18 were from Mindanao, five in Visayas and one in Luzon. Among the replicable practices were “Shelter Home for Abused Women and Children” of Diplahan, Zamboanga del Sur, “Purok Power” for Primary Health Care Balilihan Countryside Action Program” of Balilihan, Bohol; “Women’s Participation in Uplifting Communities” of San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur; “Sustainable Environmental Management Through Community-based Eco-tourism” of Kalibo, Aklan and Pandan, Antique. The exhibit was accompanied by a policy forum on “Managing Local Expenditures” with panelists representing the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities, Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Interior and Local Government and LGSP. Another forum was on “The Role of Culture in Promoting Peace and Good Governance” facilitated by the CO Multiversity (CoM) and LGSP while the forum on “Federalism Structural Change to Improve Local Governance” which was handled by the Citizens Movement for a Federal Philippines and LGSP. The 10 to 10 Governance Reform Campaign-Festival with the theme “Engaging the People and Communities Advancing Governance Reforms towards the Realization of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)” is a tie-up project of the Governments of the Philippines and Canada. According to Tom Carroll, assistant director, Operations Philippines and South-Pacific Programme Asia Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency, 65 percent or Canadian $15 million of its funds are poured in Mindanao annually. He said they are focusing particular efforts in conflict areas in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). He also said that the assistance is more focused on capacity building in ten areas for reforms namely, electoral processes and policies, anti-corruption, human rights and gender, media, public administration, environmental governance, anti-poverty, peace and development, and local governance. Meanwhile Undersecretary Eduardo Soliman for local government of the DILG said that with the launching of Local Government Performance Management system (LGPMS) it would be easier to monitor the performance of a city, town or province. With the LGPMS, one can also access on replicable practices, its innovations, tools and technologies that are worth adopting to strengthen good governance and sustainable development, he added. (PIA/pdb) PIA, Negros Oriental honor journalists for support to women and children
Dumaguete City — It was the turn of tri-media journalists to walk up onstage and receive their much-deserved awards as the provincial government here cited 17 tri-media outlets for their contribution to the successful implementation of the Fifth Country Programme for Children (CPC-V) in the province, a program geared towards the promotion of the rights and welfare of children and women. Plaques of appreciation were handed over to the child-friendly media awardees by Governor George P. Arnaiz and local Philippine Information Agency Information Center Manager Jennifer Catan-Tilos during the Provincial State of the Children’s Address held to mark the end of the Children’s Month celebration here. The awarding was a result of the round table discussion conducted by PIA here where guidelines for media pertaining to responsible reporting of children’s issues were drawn up. As the focal agency of the communication component of the CPC-V Provincial Technical Working Group, the local PIA through Unicef, has conducted several workshops and trainings to capacitate the media in maintaining professional standards in reporting and covering cases involving children. Negros Oriental has earlier been cited by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) for topping the implementation of the Fifth Country Programme for children among the 20 pilot provinces in the country. The child-friendly movement in the province has now made its way to 20 towns, five cities and 39 barangays, an achievement which Governor Arnaiz says is unmatched by the other 19 pilot provinces. Giving his third state of the children’s report before an audience of 500 child advocates , Arnaiz vowed to continue the program for children “with or without the support from Unicef.” The said program funded by Unicef will officially terminate next year. According to Arnaiz, the provincial government has set aside a total of P5 million of which P3 million will go to administrative costs including provision of instructional, educational and medical supplies while P1 million each will be spent on the repair of school buildings and installation of water supply systems.
Aside from this, the province has institutionalized the program
through the passage of the Provincial Children’s Code, the
Gender and Development Code, the formulation of local development
plans for children, and cascaded it to all towns, cities and barangays
in the province. Arnaiz challenged the mayors to continue the work to promote the rights of children and women in the province. “So let us double time. If we make good marks in the child-friendly movement, then we should have left a lasting legacy to our children.” (PIA) Lapuyan farmers hail easy market access, children learning structure
Pagadian City — Local residents, especially the farmers of Maruing, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur are now enjoying easy access to market for their farm products following the recent inauguration of the newly constructed bridge and their children and other poor folks also enjoy the comfort and right to education as a new classroom was also constructed for their benefit. The bridge will surely promote peace and order in the area and at the same time enhance economic growth and alleviate living condition of the people, as farmers and other small time capitalists will have easy access in transporting their goods from farm to market points. The newly constructed- one- unit classroom will provide the children of Maruing, Lapuyan a comfortable learning area where they will be provided with basic education. KALAHI-CIDSS program of the DSWD successfully implemented these projects in Lapuyan with P300, 000.00 counterpart funds in partnership with the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Sur which provided the equipment and technical assistance and the LGU of Lapuyan thru Mayor Cesar Sulong shared the P1.5 million counterpart. Governor Cerilles in her message said “the implementation of the projects is a strong manifestation that government is always looking for programs that provide social services to the people especially in the municipality of Lapuyan.” (PIA-Pagadian) New Roads and Bridges in 2005
Cebu City — Governor Gwen Garcia intends to asphallt 130 kms of roads and convert 10 bailey bridges to metal bridges next year. This assumes that the Provincial Board approves the proposed 2005 budget. The Governor will ask from the SP to allocate P350 million for the road and bridge rehabilitation projects to be taken from the Development Fund. The proposed budget for 2005 totals to P1.794 billion, out of which P680 million goes to the Development Fund, to be utilized for the development of projects in the province. Out of Town Session Decongest CPDRC The province likewise will also save on meal allowances, which is pegged at P23 per day, for each of the 1,373 inmates. CPDRC Jail warden Ivy Verallo has been tasked to identify the overstaying inmates and those due for transfer.
Gov. Lerias Takes Oath of Office as RDC Chair
Maasin City. - Governor Rosette Y. Lerias took her oath of office as Regional Development Council Chairperson at the VIP Room, Tacloban Airport on October 20, 2004. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself administered the oath-taking. This is the first time that a governor from Southern Leyte is elected as RDC Chairperson. The oath-taking coincided with the 60th Anniversary of Leyte Landing and the governor was happy to note that she was supported by her colleagues in government service whose presence during the simple ceremony proved that she has a force behind her who are willing to give her the support she needs in the performance of her new task and responsibilities. Among those notably present were Vice Governor Miguel Maamo II and the Provincial Board Members of Southern Leyte. With an impressive track record as local chief executive, Gov. Lerias, who is also concurrently the chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council, has been consistent in her efforts to improve the performance of the Provincial Development Council of Southern Leyte. She meets the Council regularly every first Wednesday of the month. Through its regular meetings, a cooperative endeavor among the leaders of all municipalities in the province, including Maasin City, has been slowly developed. The PDC has accomplished much in the government’s effort to foster unity and transparency in the provincial government. During its regular meetings, municipal and city leaders share their plans, priority projects, their successes as well as their struggles and problems. Ideas and solutions to pressing problems are shared openly with the thought that if two heads are better than one, then it is surely much better to have more than two heads pooling together ideas on how to have effecient and effective governance. |
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