October 10, 2010 marks the 20th year of Local Autonomy in the Philippines. To make the celebration more significant, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will spearhead a month-long event dubbed as Biyaheng Pinoy: Matapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad. The key message of the event reflects President Benigno S. Aquinos quest for good governance and corruption-free government. The assumption to office of a new leader with a platform of genuine change brings a multitude of challenges in governance. This event will provide a venue for presenting, discussing and addressing prevailing governance issues and concerns. Event highlights include: Dengue Clean Up Day in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, as a kick off event on October 1; Policy Forums on a wide range of governance concerns such as, Institutionalizing Transparency and Accountability in Governance; Improving Competitiveness in Local Governments, Improving Local Fiscal Capacities, Crisis Management, Addressing the Plight of Informal Settlers, Strengthening Collaboration to Address Human Trafficking, and Upscaling LGU Best Practices; Policy Plenary Forum on LG Code Amendments with representatives from the House of Representatives and Senate Local Government Committees; Launching of DILGs latest initiatives: Seal of Good Housekeeping, Performance Challenge Fund, and Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, ; and Dialogue with the President that will pave the way for the presentation of the State of Local Governance, Statement of Concerns from Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector and Government Sector, and the Presidents Response. Moreover, national and local events will be held nationwide with the participation of the different stakeholders such as development partners, NGOs, CSOs, private sector, and the academe. The series of events in October 2010 signals the beginning of a journey towards institutionalizing the practice of governance that values transparency, accountability, participation and performance. The primary objective of the event is to sink into the public consciousness and into those in positions of responsibility the value of local autonomy and the gains in shaping and influencing the practice of governance that advances the primacy of public interest, transparency, accountability, participation, and performance.
