A total of sixty (60) Local Government Units (LGUs) comprising of 4 provinces, 1 highly urbanized city, 8 component cities and 47 Municipalities in Region 3 qualified for the Seal of Disaster Preparedness (SDP) Level 1 Assessment.
Level 1 Assessment is a test of a local government capability to address the potential effects of a disaster to human life. It has four minimum criteria which includes Leadership Structure, Guide to Action, Disaster Preparedness, and Partnership, Volunteerism and Innovation.
The Seal of Disaster Preparedness or SDP is conferred to a local government which demonstrates an acceptable level of disaster preparedness and disaster preparedness response before and during calamities, as an official symbol of excellence.
All Local Governments which passed the National Validation are to be awarded with a Plaque and Certificate of Recognition on SDP by the DILG.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office III (DILG RIII) led the Clean-up and Tree-planting activity held last November 9, 2012 in the City of Meycauyan, Bulacan in its effort to save the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System (MMORS) and to institutionalize regular clean up activity conducted every first Saturday of the month.
The activity is in line with the Supreme Court En Banc Decision dated December 18, 2012 and Resolution dated February 15, 2012 which directed the different Mandamus Agencies and Local Government Units to clean, rehabilitate and preserve the Manila Bay Watershed Areas and all adjoining bodies of water therein.
Together with the respective local government units of Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando and Valenzuela City, the clean up was attended by the delegates of different National Government Agencies from the DILG Central Office, DILG Provincial Office of Bulacan and DILG Region 4A, DENR, DPWH, DENR-EMB, OCD, BFP, Philippine Army, BJMP, BFP, PNP, PPS-RTS, NAPOLCOM, CHED, PIA, DepEd, and representatives from business establishments and industries.
The event aims to raise awareness among its stakeholders in addressing the adverse effects of climate change and to remind the citizens that it is their duly responsibility to clean and rehabilitate the MMORS.
The activity started with a short program at around 6:00 am followed by the clean up proper which was held in Mey-Mart, Brgy. Zamora, City of Meycauayan.
The success of the activity was through the collaborative efforts of the Mandamus Agencies particularly the DENR which provided the seedlings used in the tree planting, the DENR-EMB which invited certain industries and requested the VG Puyat Sanitary Landfill to be in-charge in disposing the waste collected during the clean up. Likewise, the DPWH provided the equipment to be used in hauling. And in case of emergency the BFP provided the rescue units and paramedics.
Shortly after the Clean-up, the participants and guests proceeded to the City’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Pajo, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan for the Tree planting activity. Approximately two hundred (200) Mahogany seedlings were planted in the 6 hectare site of the MRF. The activity finished at around 10:00 am.
DILG Region 3, represented by Asst. Regional Director and concurrent Nueva Ecija Provincial Director Abraham A. Pascua, delivered the welcome message in the e-Government National Final Judging held on November 8, 2012 at Oxford Hotel, Clarkfield, Pampanga.
In his message, he stressed the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) application in the government in order to provide a much improved and faster service delivery to the public. He also stated that ICT solutions will greatly help minimize corruption in the government. He recognized that the eGov award is one of the legacies of the late Secretary Jesse Robredo who always wanted our LGUs to tread the “Daang Matuwid” towards a clean and honest governance. He further commended the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and Cyber City Teleservices, Philippines, Inc., which partnered with DILG, for coming up with such a prestigious and first ever e-Gov award for our local government units.
The eGov Awards is the first and most prestigious recognition to be given by the ICT sector for LGUs with exemplary performance in empowering Public Customers and Businesses. It has two (2) categories namely, Best in eGov Customer Empowerment (G2C) Award and Best in eGov Business Empowerment (G2B) Award.
For Region 3, Tarlac province’s Wireless Acess for Health (WAH) and Balanga City’s Barangay On-Line: A Tool for Good Governance, the Balanga City Experience, both under G2C Category, made it to the eGov finalists and will hurdle for national winners to be honored during the 5th NICP National ICT Summit slated on November 23, 2012 at in the City of Sta. Rosa, Laguna to be hosted by its ICT Council.
DILG-3 Regional Director Florida Dijan while delivering her inspirational message
DILG Region III as member of the Regional AIDS Assistance Team (RAAT), conducted two (2) batches of Forum on Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) at Information and Communication Technology High School (ICTHS) and at Pampanga High School (PHS), both in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga onNovember 8, 2012.
The Forum aimed to provide awareness and advocacy on the correct information about the disease and the proper guidance for its prevention and control among the youth. It was imparted thru the expertise of HIV-AIDS Advocate, Dr. Ferchito L. Avelino, ARD of DOH Bicol Region to about 800 students from the different schools in the City who will serve as HIV-AIDS advocates in their respective schools.
The activity was highlighted by the testimonials of the two (2) persons living with HIV which served as an eye-opener for the students to refrain from being inflicted with the virus.
RD Florida M. Dijan, in her message, quoted our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal has said, “that the youth are the hope of our Fatherland.” Thus, reminded/advised the students to get away from AIDS and get away from drugs for the realization of their dreams of a happy life.
Batch 1 @ Information and Communication Technology High School Sindalan, City of San Fernando (P) Morning Forum
Batch 2 @ Pampanga High School City of San Fernando (P) Afternoon Forum
Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), one of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s major programs, is now scaling up from SGH Bronze for 2011 to SGH Silver for 2012 and SGH Gold for 2013.
In Region III, all the 137 Local Government Units are recipients of the Seal for CY 2011 and are now being re-evaluated to check their continuous and sustained compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP).
Areas being assessed for SGH Silver are Accountable Governance, Transparent Governance and Frontline Service Performance. Specific criteria include Good or Excellent Performance as indicated in the Civil Service Commission Report Card Survey on the Anti Red Tape Act (ARTA) implementation, Functionality of the Bids & Awards Committee and Full compliance to the posting requirement of Philippine Government Electronic Procurement Service (PhilGEPS).
On the other hand, SGH Gold requires LGUs to practice Accountable and Transparent Governance, Frontline Service Performance and Participatory Governance. Specific criteria include Above benchmark LGPMS performance; Presence of an Internal Audit Office; Functionality of the LDC, LSB, LHB & POC; Representation of IP/ICC in the Local Sanggunian; Joint ventures or cooperative arrangements with People’s or non-government organizations in the delivery of basic services; and Capability building, livelihood projects, agricultural and other socio-economic development endeavors.
The Seal of Good Housekeeping is in line with the Department's commitment to aggressively scale up interventions aimed at elevating the practice of good governance that values desirable development outcomes into institutionalized status. Recipients of the Seal are eligible to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF), a support fund to finance local development initiatives in furtherance of national government goals and strategic thrusts
