Best LGU practices cited, from reducing disaster risk to collecting more revenues

A scorecard to measure performance and improve governance in the city. A barangay government code that has resulted in more revenues and better peace and order situation. A market organized by the provincial government but run by farmers. A disaster risk management and risk reduction program of a calamity-prone province.

These are programs of four local government units (LGUs) that were recently given special citation by the Galing Pook Awards—which recognizes best practices of LGUs—for their programs that provide incentives at the local level to improve performance and governance.

The local governments that received the Special Citation on Local Capacity Incentive Mechanism for Good Governance are: Barangay Sanito in Ipil Zamboanga Sibugay, San Fernando City in Pampanga, and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Albay.

Eddie Dorotan, executive director of the Galing Pook Awards told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak that the citation highlights efforts of the local government to come up with innovative programs that give incentives to further improve the delivery of basic services.

According to the souvenir program of the Galing Pook Awards, the recipients of the special citation proved that LGUs have “taken up the challenge of decentralization” brought by the enactment of the Local Government Code and have “continually innovated to make delivery of services more efficient.”

“Local officials often have insufficient preparation, capacities and in some cases, very limited resources, to respond to the new demands and challenges…Some LGUs have found creative ways to better serve their constituents, in part by looking to themselves, their communities and their peers for new ideas and approaches,” the souvenir program reads.
San Fernando City: Scorecard

San Fernando City started to adapt the public governance system (PGS), which uses scorecards to measure performances and accomplishments, in 2006. Back then, the city, said Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, was having difficulty enticing investors and encouraging participation of the private sector in the government.

“We realized that we need to cut red tape and improve transparency,” said Rodriguez, who learned about the PGS in a conference in 2005.

The PGS is an adaptation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), a measurement and management system for businesses developed by the Harvard Business School that has been used by public institutions worldwide.

The local government of San Fernando City—from the office of the mayor down to the city department—adapted the scorecard to measure their actual performance. Rodriguez said city departments that meet their targets were rewarded with bonuses while those that performed badly were not entitled to the rewards.

Reforms in securing business permits were also introduced. Getting a permit from the mayor’s office now takes a minimum of two hours to a maximum of two days, compared to two to three weeks before PGS was introduced.

The adoption of the PGS has been credited for the improvement of business climate in the city. Since its implementation, San Fernando has since attracted 2,200 businesses or an average 16 percent annually over the past three years. Business and real property taxes collected from these establishments have decreased the city’s dependency from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) from 52.85 percent in 2007 to 49 percent in 2008.

Rodriguez told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak that the challenge for them is to bring the program to the barangay level. “We are currently training barangay officials through seminars on the PGS.”

The mayor added that they already institutionalized the program by passing an ordinance.
Sanito: Barangay Code

In 2003, barangay officials of Sanito in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay were looking for solutions to the influx of informal settlers, worsening peace and order situation, widespread poverty, and the barangay’s limited financial capability.

The following year, the Sanito Barangay Government Code of 2004 was introduced as barangay officials realized the need for a law that would give them more powers to respond to the problems. Read more…