Galing Pook Contents 3 4 4 5 5 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 31 The Galing Pook Emerging Potent Partners in National Development Aiming for Transparency and Inclusiveness Looking for Developmental Partnerships Recognizing LGU Contributions Citizen’s Query: Participatory Governance Municipality of Bingawan, Iloilo Awarding Model Communities Municipality of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur Fighting Poverty through People Empowerment Municipality of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur Strategic Innovations for Government Hospitals Misamis Oriental Green City Program Pasig City Barangay Emergency Response Barangay San Antonio, Pasig City Neighborhood Environmental Management Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Laguna Good Health through Good Governance Surigao del Sur Beyond Free Funeral Services Barangay Tangos, Baliwag, Bulacan Hi-Green Program Zamboanga del Norte 2010 Galing Pook Awards Finalists 2010 National Selection Committee Galing Pook Foundation Board of Trustees and Secretariat Galing Pook Hymn Artwork on Cover is a mural by Boy Dominguez that was commissioned by GPF • Cover Design, Layout and Main Articles by Allen M. Mariano • References supplied by LGUs • Photos courtesy of LGUs and from Galing Pook File Photos 2 • Galing Pook 2010
The Galing Pook T he Galing Pook awards is a pioneering program that recognizes innovation and excellence in local governance. It started in October 21, 1993 under the joint initiative of the Local Government Academy-Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Ford Foundation, and other individual advocates of good governance from the academe, civil society and the government. The Asian Institute of Management carried on the awards program until 2001. Earlier in 1998, the Galing Pook Foundation was formed as a juridical institution to sustain the program. Since 1994, more than 240 programs from at least 158 local government units have already won recognition. The Galing Pook winners are chosen each year from a wide array of programs from local governments after undergoing a rigorous multi-level screening process. The winning programs are selected based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, innovation, transferability and sustainability, and efficiency of program service delivery. Vision We are a leading resource institution that promotes innovation, sustainability, citizen empowerment, and excellence in local governance. Mission We promote excellence in local governance through recognition, sharing of information and support of efforts to replicate best practices at the local level. We encourage partnerships among civil society organizations, private sector, and government agencies at local, national and global levels to improve quality of life. artners Par tners FORD FOUNDATION LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY Galing Pook 2010 • 3
Potent Par artners Development would like to laud the 2010 Galing Pook awardees for their outstanding achievements as well as the Galing Pook Foundation for their continued zeal and vigor in recognizing the exemplary performances and programs of model local government units throughout the country. I We hope that through the GP awards, we will be able to continuously inspire other LGUs to come up with more feasible policies and programs that will redound to the benefit of the people. For years, the Foundation continues to motivate and bring out the best in LGUs. It showcases the capacities of LGUs to bring development in their localities which can be replicated by other LGUs. To the awardees, may your shining example inspire other LGUs to emulate your best practices, even as I urge you to continuously come up with worthwhile programs and projects to help steer our country into greater heights of development. Mabuhay! The winners of the Galing Pook Awards this year is a clear manifestation that local governments are capable of introducing innovations and best practices in governance. A remarkable feature of this year’s GPA is the selection of eight programs from 10 LGUs in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as winners on watershed development, health program, and solid waste management among others. This only goes to show that LGUs are full of potentials and can be potent partners of the national government in the pursuit of progress and development. Jesse M. Robredo Secretary Department of the Interior and Local Government for Transparency Inclusiveness Aiming f or Transparency and Inclusiveness S eventeen years and 249 awardees later, one might find it difficult to fathom that there are still good local governance practices unique enough to be worthy of special recognition. In truth, it has become more challenging every year to sift through the many entries to find new gems of innovation which best exemplify Galing Pook’s governance criteria. Our harvest of awardees this year, happily, shows much innovation and excellence among the ranks of local governments. As you read through the profiles of our winners for 2010, you will note that most of them have engaged their constituents in successful multi-sectoral partnerships as a means of addressing specific challenges. We have an awardee which makes transparency and accountability something that the people can exact from their local government periodically and systematically. We have awardees which successfully implement programs in new ways to alleviate poverty, to provide timely assistance to bereaved families, to deliver much needed medical and emergency services, to arrest environmental degradation and even to extend assistance to other LGUs, citizens and entities. 4 • Galing Pook 2010 While we always say that our hopes reside in enlightened local governments, we see from our 2010 awardees that their approaches to governance embody the very principles being espoused by the new administration—aiming for transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and empowerment. We are optimistic that with this similarity in approaches, the combination of good local governance and enabling national government will provide the needed impetus to move our country forward. To our 2010 Galing Pook awardees, congratulations and mabuhay! Rafael L. Coscolluela Chairperson Galing Pook Foundation
artnerships Looking f or Developmental Par tnerships O n behalf of the Development Bank of the Philippines, congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Galing Pook Awards! These exceptional local governance programs demonstrate how extraordinary strides continue to be achieved in local administration, local economic development, and fiscal management, among others. These initiatives are a clear manifestation that innovation and excellence in the delivery of social services at the local level are both attainable and sustainable. DBP has always recognized the LGU sector as a pillar of sustainable development. This is why the Bank has partnered with the sector in a broad range of developmental initiatives — from fast-tracking the delivery of social services such as housing, education, livelihood, and health care, to building local infrastructure and logistics systems to boost local economies. and clean alternative fuels. The Bank also worked with LGUs for solid waste management, sanitary landfill, materials recovery facilities, composting facilities, and waste collection. DBP looks forward to developmental partnerships with more local leaders... to implement projects that can continue to bestow positive socio-economic impact and opportunities to more communities nationwide. Together, DBP and the LGU sector can bring more efficient and responsive service to the Filipino people, raising the bar of local governance to higher levels… and setting an exemplary standard of service quality for the public sector. DBP has also partnered with LGUs for environmental management, and to provide power and water services. The Bank has helped provide communities with affordable and reliable energy services. To promote environmental protection, DBP also financed new and renewable energy projects, industrial pollution prevention and reduction projects, Francisco F. Del Rosario, Jr. President and CEO Development Bank of the Philippines ecognizing Contributions Recognizing LGU Contributions C ongratulations to all the winners in the Galing Pook 2010 particularly the local government units (LGUs) located in far-flung areas where implementation of government initiatives is even more challenging owing to their limited access to resources and logistics. As the award-giving program continues, we are pleased to discover more innovative programs being introduced and implemented by LGUs that empower and solidify the people in their communities who take ownership of the programs thereby ensuring their success and sustainability. LGUs assume an important task of building a healthy and strong local economy. It is only fitting that we recognize their efforts and contributions especially in creating opportunities for livelihood and employment, and in maintaining peace and order as it redounds to the welfare of the nation at large. This is the reason why the LGUs remain among the list of priority sectors of LANDBANK. Gilda E. Pico President and CEO Land Bank of the Philippines May you all continue to strive for excellence in governance and leave a lasting imprint to the lives of people you serve even far beyond your administration. Galing Pook 2010 • 5
Citizen’ Query: Participatory Gov articipator Citizen’s Quer y: Par ticipator y Governance T he only time that citizens can claim absolute power over politicians is when they cast their votes. Often, they have no voice in drafting development programs once the officials have been elected into office. But in the Municipality of Bingawan, Iloilo, the citizens have been empowered to influence the actions undertaken by their elected officials and help c hart their community’s socio-economic development through the program “Pamangkutanon sang Banwa: Kwentahan hindi Kwentohan” or Citizens’ Query: Accountability, not Lip Service. The program began in 2004 as a multi-sectoral mechanism that institutionalizes the active participation of community members in local governance. Basically, it entails the periodic conduct of municipal assemblies where citizens can raise issues and concerns, and forward recommendations on the delivery of basic services as well as criticize the performance of elected officials. The program begins when the election period kicks off and a Candidates’ Forum is held. During this forum, the vying candidates are required to sign a Performance Evaluation Covenant in which they agree to subject themselves to a performance evaluation session known as Pamangkutanon sang Banwa (PsB) or Citizens’ Query once they are elected into office. The PsB is conducted every second Monday of February and July each year. 6 • Galing Pook 2010 During the PsB, the public is given the opportunity to raise relevant governance questions, clarifications and recommendations on government projects, delivery of basic services, and what the politicians promised during the election campaign period. Among those required to attend are 3rd and 4th year high school students because PsB is part of their Social Studies class. Officers of the Student Government Organizations both in elementary and high school are also invited to attend as part of their training as student leaders. As many as 2,000 participants join in the three-hour session but the question and answer process is well organized. The questions are written on paper and placed into drop boxes whic h are passed through a screening committee before these are read by panelists. The elected officials and LGU department heads then take turns in answering the questions. All the unread questions are later turned over to the Drafting and Consolidation Committee for appropriate action. Through this feedback and feed forwarding mechanism, the people of Bingawan are assured that their concerns are addressed promptly and concretely. More importantly, this performance-based system of governance has kept the politicians truly beholden to the people. In effect, the LGU has institutionalized an effective participatory governance mechanism and also exposed its officers and personnel to public scrutiny. This mechanism has helped the LGU identify which projects need to be prioritized. In turn, this mechanism has elicited the cooperation of the citizens as can be gleaned from the
revenue collection. Among the apparent priority projects of the LGU were the the construction and rehabilitation of Small Farm Reservoirs and the establishment of day care facilities. The people also requested the building of a Health Center and the procurement of a Travelling Rice Mill. Other organizations, such as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), in partnership with other stakeholders in the municipality, were instrumental in raising the electoral awareness of the barangays. Bingawan counts the women and the youth among its crucial partners in this project, and considers the municipal and barangay development councils as the lync hpins that enable all the stakeholders to act in concert. Because of its innovation, the PsB program won a one million project grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Transparent and Accountable Governance (TAG) Project which is being implemented by The Asia Foundation. Today, the program has been replicated in all the fourteen barangays of Bingawan, each with their own program titles. The Local Chief Executives of other municipalities (such as Tapaz in Capiz, Banate in Iloilo and Tangalan in Aklan) have invited Bingawan to present the program to their respective Municipal Councils. Meanwhile, the LGU of Kapangan, Benguet in partnership with Shountog Foundation had an exposure visit to Bingawan in June 10, 2008 to study possible replication. The PsB program was one of the programs presented during the YC3 or Young Citizens Cyber Conference that was simultaneously held in Manila and Davao on October 8, 2009 and in Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines and Thailand on October 20, 2009. YC3 is a meeting of young citizen’s ideas and initiatives on social accountability. The people of Bingawan are confident that the LGUs which are truly intent on improving governance policies and addressing the needs of their constituents will be able to replicate this program. During the Citizens’ Query sessions, the public is given the opportunity to raise relevant governance questions, clarifications and recommendations on government projects, delivery of basic services, and what the politicians promised during the election campaign period. CONTACT The success of the project is attributed to the LGU’s healthy working relationship with existing civil society organizations which now comprise the members of the PsB screening, panel and other committees. Together with these CSOs, the LGU institutionalized and permanently established the program through the passage of Municipal Ordinance No. 4 Series of 2004. Mayor Matt P. Palabrica Tel No. (033)396-3175 Fax No. (033)535-5020 Email: lgubingawan@yahoo.com Galing Pook 2010 • 7
Awarding Model Communities A warding positive or good behaviour tends to reinforce that particular behaviour. This was established by renowned psychologist, B. F. Skinner. It seems that the LGU of the Municipality of Cagwait is also aware of this because it came out with an awards program—i.e. Cagwait’s Best Program—to motivate the pursuit of excellence in local governance among its constituents. In particular, the LGU provides awards for the model 8 • Galing Pook 2010 home, barangay or purok and school that manages to earn the highest assessment points in several areas, namely, clean and green/ beautification, solid waste management, community involvement, peace and order, education, health, nutrition and sanitation, food production, livelihood initiatives and tourism development. Initiated in 2008, the LGU institutionalized the awards program by providing a yearly allocation. The contest is a municipal wide search which involves 19,899 residents, 73 puroks, 11 barangays and 14 elementary schools. As with other contests, the local implementers were barred from joining. The contestants go through a rigorous screening process conducted by a site assessment team and tec hnical working committees. The Municipal Tec hnical Working Group (MTWG), Municipal Assessment Team (MAT) and Municipal Awards
into the Municipal, Barangay and Purok Level Contests. The consistent winners or those who won in three consecutive years in the purok and barangay level are inducted into the Hall of Fame Awards so that others can also vie for the awards. The awarding ceremony is held on the 20th day of January or during the Araw ng Cagwait Celebration. Awards for Model Home Category in the Purok and Barangay Level Contest are in the form of cash, of which 50% is solicited from the funds of the respective barangay and 50% is shouldered by the Municipal Government. In the Municipal Level Contest, the awards are in the form of Project Funds (except for the Model Home Category) which are obtained from the Municipal Government and are only released upon the awardees’ submission of the required Project Proposal. comparative level sheet of all the nominees. It then declares the individual awardees for eac h component and the barangay nominee with the highest overall score in all the award categories becomes the “Model Barangay Government” for the year. Cagwait’s Best Program encouraged solidarity, support and cooperation among the community members. It also enhanced the people’s awareness about the municipality’s development program. As expected, community participation and performance improved over time. More importantly, the problems and issues concerning clean and green/ beautification, solid waste management, community involvement, education, health, nutrition and sanitation, food production, livelihood initiatives and area and community administration, mobilization and development were identified and addressed by the LGU and the community as a whole. The first prize awardees from the Model Home Category and Model Purok Category at the Barangay Level are treated as official entries for the Municipal Level contest. The Model Sc hool and Model Barangay Category awardees are directly evaluated and identified by the MAT. For instance, the implementation of solid waste management has improved with five of the 11 barangays establishing their own Material Recovery Facilities (MRF). Cagwait’s streets are now noticeably cleaner. Moreover, barangay health stations now regularly conduct immunization, mass feeding, vitamin supplementation and medicine provision, and monitoring of children’s weight. Membership in PhilHealth has also increased from 300 households in 2007 to over 3,000 beneficiaries in 2010. Meanwhile, the MAC consolidates its assessment findings using the Because of this program, one of the 11 barangays (i.e. Barangay Tawagan) was recognized and awarded in 2009 as Caraga Region’s Best Barangay on Good Health Practices under the Rural Areas Category and was awarded a cash prize of PhP150,000.00. Barangay Tawagan is now widely known as the only Barangay which has sanitary toilets in all households. Meanwhile, the Municipality of Cagwait won second place in the 2009 Gawad Probinsiya sa KAPALIGIRAN Program (Kaunlaran ng mga Pamahalaang Lokal sa Kalinisan at Kapaligirang Luntian) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the Araw ng Surigao del Sur in June 2009. Cagwait has shown that with the correct incentives, and by eliciting the participation of other sectors, community development can proceed at a harmonious and rewarding pace—a feat that can easily be replicated by other local governments. Cagwait has shown that with the correct incentives, and by eliciting the participation of other sectors, community development can proceed at a harmonious and rewarding pace—a feat that can easily be replicated by other local governments. CONTACT Committee (MAC) are composed of representatives from various schools, government offices and the private sector. Meanwhile, the Barangay Assessment Teams (BAT) and Purok Assessment Teams (PAT) are composed of Barangay Councilors, Health Workers, Teachers, Purok Presidents and Private Sector Representatives. Mayor Bonifacio G. Ondona Email: lgucagwait@yahoo.com Galing Pook 2010 • 9
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