As part of the advocacy and information campaign on the upcoming barangay assembly day, DILG Pampanga Provincial Director Angelina S. Blanco guested in Talakayan sa CLTV 36, a regular teleradyo hosted by Mr. Perry Pangan and Mr. Boy Santiago, Mr. Albert Lacanlale and Mr. Max Sangil on March 27, 2012. 

During the interview, Director Blanco discussed the conduct of the Synchronized Barangay Assembly which will be held on March 31, 2012 as per DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2012-29 issued by SILG Jesse Robredo dated February 10, 2012, wherein all barangays are enjoined to conduct Barangay Assembly for the First Semester.

She further conveyed that the mayors are encouraged to ensure the maximum participation of all barangays in the said undertaking.  Likewise, she imparted that through the continuous advocacy, the barangay officials are now more aggressive and participative in the said assembly day as manifested in their eagerness to improve their proficiency and share to their constituents their programs and projects as well as their accomplishments.

Director Blanco informed  the televiewers and listeners that Barangay San Miguel of Lubao, Pampanga is chosen as the Pilot Barangay in the Province of Pampanga to report their State of Barangay Governance Report during the said activity wherein  Regional and Provincial Directors of National Government Agencies, local government offiicals ,Non-Government Organizations, and Local Media are expected to grace the activity.

According to her, the Punong Barangay will discuss the barangay’s strengths and weaknesses under Governance, Adminstration, Social Services, Economic Development and Environmental Management.

The 30 minute-interview ended with some parting words from PD Blanco: “ Malinis at Tapat na Pamamahala, sa Barangay ang Simula.”

The Provincial Government of Pampanga has launched the Child Abuse Prevention Network (CAPIN) on March 14, 2012 at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The program was created to effectively handle cases involving children and to promote greater awareness, understanding and improvement of services for child abuse victims. 

During the big event, Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda thanked the DILG for the support it extends to the provincial government.  She further requested the DILG to monitor the barangay officials in the performance of their functions in protecting the women and children in their respective barangays. 

The Governor extended her utmost appreciation to the Consuelo Foundation for the launching of CAPIN in the province and the technical and financial assistance extended to support the program.   She likewise thanked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice-Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao for the enactment of the Comprehensive Welfare Code for Children and possible funding for the implementation of the different programs. 

On the other hand, DILG Regional Director Florida M. Dijan in her message said that the DILG is responding to its mandate of organizing the different local councils for the protection of children from the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels and the mandatory enactment of the Provincial/City/Municipal/Barangay Children’s Welfare Code.  She believes that the project will achieve its objectives because of a strong partnership between the Governor and the SP, the different stakeholders like the Mayors, Liga ng mga Barangay, Non Government Organizations (NGOs) like the Consuelo Foundation, and the different concerned agencies like DSWD, DOH and DOJ.

In connection with this program, the DSWD has built an edifice called “Haven,” in Magalang, Pampanga, a place where victims/abused women are housed to protect them from their perpetrators.  The provincial government also has 14 volunteer lawyers to assist the victims especially in the filing of cases against their perpetrators.  Also, under the CAPIN program. Child Protection Units (CPUs) will be established in every district hospitals in Pampanga.  As an attestation, the CPU at Romana Pangan District Hospital in Floridablanca has just been inaugurated before the launching of the CAPIN.

One of the highlights of the activity was the turn-over of the Protocol Manual of CAPIN Pampanga to DILG RD Dijan, Managing Director of Consuelo Foundation Mr. Salvosa and to the Pampanga Mayors’ League represented by Mayor Eduardo M. Guerrero.

Other guests during the event were DSWD Assistant Secretary Florita Villar, DSWD Regional Director Adelina Apostol, DILG Pampanga Provincial Director Angelina Blanco, Consuelo Foundation, Philippine Branch Managing Director Ray Dean Salvosa, members of the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC), selected members of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) specifically the Punong Barangays, Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers, Principals of Elementary Schools, NGOs, provincial officials and employees, and PNP. 

DILG Pampanga Provincial Office personnel conducted a planning cum team building last January 20, 2012 at the Villa Alfredo Resort, Barangay Baliti, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Said activity was headed by Provincial Director Angelina S. Blanco and participated in by all provincial personnel and staff, and selected field officers.
   
The planning activity aimed to provide a clear sense of direction to the programs, projects and activities of the Department that need to be carried out, strengthen the personnel’s confidence in understanding where the organization is heading and what for, how best to make the organization move along the chosen path, and when should they take what measures to achieve the goals of the organization.  Some of the issues that were taken up during the planning activity are the following:

  • Assessment of what went wrong in the submission of compliance reports for the past year
  • To target 100% full compliance within or before the deadline set by the Regional Office
  • Priority plans of the province are, but not limited to PLEB Training within the 1st Quarter of the year, drafting of IACPSP and the conduct of lecture-workshop on Disaster and Climate Change
  • To ensure that every DILG officer in every LGU will be able to develop a tie-up/partnership with NGOs in the implementation of DILG programs
  • Additional duties and functions of the cluster leaders
  • New members of the Provincial Selection Board

The provincial staff also suggested some innovations including the use of whiteboards for posting of status of fieldmen’s submission of compliance reports, cross-monitoring of field officers and the allotment of one hour once a week for the physical fitness activity.  One of the major innovations of the province is the provision of funds by the Provincial Government of Pampanga for the construction of a new DILG Provincial Office building thru the initiative of PD Blanco.

After the planning, team building ensued.  Team building on the other hand aimed to develop camaraderie and unity among the personnel and staff that would achieve an effective teamwork.  Team building, as an effective tool in the attainment of organization goals and objective, was the highlight of the activity.

It involved lecturettes and workshops focused on identifying various cultural values of the Filipino which were then related on the personnel’s performance towards work and relationship among peers.  Individual views on the said values were presented during the workshop.

Likewise, each personnel expressed their views toward their peers in the form of a game.  Through this, they were able to gain awareness on their behaviour and performance within the office as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

The team building activity left a high level of team spirit on the provincial staff of DILG Pampanga.  Reinvigorated once again, these personnel are confidently ready to face and overcome any challenges that may come their way in the implementation of the Department’s programs, projects and activities this year and even in the years to come.