Mayor Belen shares Dagupan’s good governance practices
BALON DAGUPAN NEWS
BAGUIO CITY– Mayor Belen T. Fernandez shared the city’s experiences as one of the panelists in a discussion with fellow chief executives on innovative partnerships in the local level during the two-day Good Governance Dialogue in Baguio City participated in by local government executives from Region 1, 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The two-day forum brought together participants coming from various Local Government Units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), business groups, academe, international partners, and the media, to talk about reforms on open governance, transparency and accountability.
Other panelists in the session on Exemplary Good Governance of Local Governments were Gov. Nestor Fongwan of Benguet, Gov. Ruth Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya, and Mayor Melanie Grace Valdez of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
“We are very conscious that all our projects meet the required excellence standards set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. It is important that the services rendered by the LGU are streamlined to effectively and efficiently serve the public,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez also discussed the different programs of the local government in establishing these reforms and how her administration has partnered with CSOs and NGOs to attain development within the community.
She stressed the importance of empowering CSOs and citizens to take part in the government so programs are responsive to needs, especially of sectors like persons with disabilities, women and children, and youth.
Citing the city’s partnerships with the UST Medical Mission Inc., Pangasinan Medical Society, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, and other private entities, Fernandez said that collaborations are key in increasing the delivery of social services to the public.
The city’s other programs in partnership with CSOs and the private sector that Fernandez highlighted included the “Alagang Balon Dagupan” expanded health program, the city’s extensive anti-drug campaign, public safety and disaster mitigation programs, and the soon to be launched “Balon Dagupan, Healthy Dagupan” initiative.
This, she explained, is how the city succeeded in maximizing and effectively utilizing the city’s resources.
“We aim to make governance accessible to the grassroots level by coordinating with national government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector for meaningful engagement,” said Fernandez.
The Good Governance Dialogues was organized by the Department of Budget and Management, in partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and civil society members of the Philippine OGP, with support from the United States Agency for International Development-Facilitating Public Investment (USAID-FPI). (CIO Patrick Cendrera)
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