BAGUIO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) top officials have urged the 103 newly-elected municipal mayors of Regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Administration to continue to be champions of good governance in order to improve the lives of their constituents and lead their respective communities toward development and self-reliance during the two-day NEO Orientation Course: Primed Leaders for Renewed Local Governance here in this mountain resort city.
“As public servants, we must be both dreamers and doers. Because not everyone is given the opportunity to serve, we should build little heavens on Earth for our constituents. This is a responsibility that we all share, fueled and inspired by leadership and dedication to public service,” said DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan who also served as the keynote speaker during the two-day orientation course of newly-elected officials (NEO).
Iringan emphasized that the recently concluded election is a tool that has the potential to change people’s lives, necessitating a shared responsibility and noting that the local chief executives (LCEs) will face many challenges, he opined that seeing the smiles on the constituents’ faces will be their reward.
Further, DILG Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development Florida Dijan emphasized that for LCEs to become transformational leaders, they need to be futures thinkers and strategic managers.
” Futures thinking is a mindset, and not just a method. The LCEs need to be conscious of the external as well as the internal environment, the processes, and direction. And that the action of today will have an impact in the near future,” Dijan said.
She also encouraged the importance of LCEs working with competent personnel that will support and guide them in the continual improvement of the structure of the local government in promoting the culture of excellence.
“Our LCEs are not only political leaders but public managers and should be living with the mantra of good local governance,” Dijan said.
Assistant Secretary for Peace and Order Juabilly Racho encouraged the LCEs to never stop thinking and to continue to be innovative, client-centric and persistent in solving crisis.
”Ilagay natin sa puso at isipan natin na tayo ay may maiisip, magagawa at masisimulan para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga constituents. We should also be good communicators dahil deserve ng mamamayan na malaman ang mga mabubuting ginagawa ng gobyerno para sa kanila,” ASec Racho said.
Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) Director Atty. Odilon Pasaraba also underscored that the local government is the backbone of service delivery with primacy in uplifting the lives of the poor thus being a public servant is a gift of good governance.
“It is about making people’s dreams come true, especially for the poor, which is why there is a need to strengthen good governance. The local government is not only about LCEs but the institution they lead, head, and thread towards a highly performing government system,” he said.
Adding, “The LCEs should recognize commonalities in the area and use this as fulcrum in cooperating with other municipalities and provinces,” he said.
The NEO orientation course: Primed Leaders for Renewed Local Governance for Newly Minted Mayors of regions 1, 2, and car covered four training modules and as follows: module 1: The Gift Of Good Governance (3Gs) allowed the participants to recall the salient features of local governments in the Philippines, decades after the local government code was passed in order to provide for meaningful local autonomy. It also allowed the NEOs to analyze the duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities towards advancing good local governance.
Module 2: Resilience, Recovery & Revitalization For Peaceful & Vibrant LGUs showcased new approaches and tools such as resiliency, recovery and revitalization as they traverse the challenges of covid-19, climate change and disaster risks which are serious threats to our country’s goal of sustainable and equitable development for all. The module also covered local economic development efforts for peace, resilience and security. The sessions will also find connections between pursuing positive peace and security vis-à-vis local economic development.
Module 3: Advancing Local Governance Performance: Solution-Seeking Session was delivered in a talk show format which provided an avenue for the participants to have a dialogue with experts and practitioners in key administrative governance fields while Module 4: Transformational and Futuristic Leadership: Setting Your Governance in Motion delved into the leadership skill set and practical tools that will guide the NEOs in dealing with complex local challenges and championing the improvement of the quality of life in the community. The discussion highlighted the basic values and ethical standards of public servants that will allow them to develop management systems and processes which promote ethical values and integrity.
This module will also focus on building the NEO’s commitment for the formulation and fulfillment of their Executive/Legislative Agenda and First 100 Days Action Plan. It will also present the Capacity Development Agenda as a support in achieving their commitments and advance LGU performance.
Municipal Mayor Sheila Gallano of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, thanked the organizers and resource speakers for the two-day orientation course that reminded them of what needs to be delivered to the constituents.
“We can cope with our problems, as long as we take it one step at a time. Isa lang ang sinisigaw natin noong panahon ng kampanya, our top priority is to serve our Kakailyans, regardless of our political affiliation.” she said.
Municipal Mayor Prescila Babalo of Sabtang, Batanes, said that being new in public service did not surprise her, but rather inspired her to work harder as she committed to serving her constituents and providing efficient and quality governance.
“We cannot assume that when we walked into the municipal building, we already knew everything; we are empty-headed, which is why we want to learn more, serve more, and be guided by the needs of our constituents. We are not Mayors because we wanted to be, but because the people need someone to lead them in a better direction, emphasizing the joy and happiness of the constituents is the utmost joy of a leader,” she explained.
Municipal Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong of Bontoc, Mountain Province, assured the DILG, Local Government Academy (LGA), and the League of Municipalities (LMP), that they were inspired to do their best to their abilities and also to discharge their duties entrusted to them not only for those who voted for them, but for everyone.
The NEO program is a regular DILG program that assists newly elected local officials in carrying out their duties and responsibilities as well as defining their development roadmap. The DILG, through its training arm, the LGA, and the LMP, launched the Newly-Elected Officials Program for both neophytes and veterans who have been given a three-year mandate by the people.
By PMTG
