N.Ecija PD and Concurrent ARD Abraham Pascua assures the Field Officers of the support of the Regional Office on the programs’ roll out in his opening message

   The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 3, through the Regional Program Coordinators, conducted a one-day Program Orientation for the Roll-out of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), Performance Challenge Fund (PCF), Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL), Seal of Disaster Preparedness (SDP) and Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) on June 21, 2012 at DILG Region3 Conference Hall, Maimpis, City of San Fernando Pampanga.

    The activity was aimed to equip the Field Focal Persons regionwide with working knowledge on the Department’s implementation guidelines on SGH, PCF, GPL, SDP and SALINTUBIG as well as on the DILG roles and responsibilities by levels .

   Nueva Ecija Provincial Director and concurrent Assistant Regional Director Abraham A. Pascua, in his message,  assured the provincial focal persons that the region through the Program Coordinators have the technical capacity to help them. He also mentioned the importance of the role of the Provincial and City Directors toward the effective implementation of the programs at the field level.

During the workshop, the participants identified activities and strategies to be undertaken for the roll out of each program in their respective provincial and city assignments.  The main output of the activity is one unified action plan that will be implemented by each province and city.

   It may be recalled that in 2010, DILG initiated the implementation of PCF, a program that seeks to recognize good governance performance and encourage the alignment of local development initiatives with the thrusts of the present administration. 

   

LGOO V Ener Cambronero, SGH & PCF Regional Coordinator discusses scaled up SGH and PCF guidelines

The Seal of Good Housekeeping on the other hand is in line with the Department’s commitment to aggressively scale up interventions to elevate the practice of governance that values transparency, accountability, participation and performance into an institutionalized status. 

In order to avail the PCF subsidy, LGUs have to pass the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) assessment. 

   For FY 2012, the National Government increased its appropriation on PCF from P500M to P750M. This year is very critical as there are improvements in the SGH and PCF implementing guidelines.

 

Ms. Manonong of UN-Habitat shares inputs on the workshop output of the participants

  As part of the project Strengthening Philippine City Capacities to Address Climate Change Impacts, the UN-Habitat has identified Olongapo City as one of its pilot LGUs.  To this effect, Olongapo City, DILG Region III and UN-HABITAT-Philippines represented by Mayor James Gordon, Jr., Dir. Florida M. Dijan and Ms. Maria Adelaida M. Manonong, respectively, forged a partnership for the purpose of undertaking a Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment and mainstreaming its result into local plans of the city, particularly its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).

   To jumpstart the project, Mayor Gordon organized a technical working group headed by Engr. Marivic Nierras, the City Planning and Development Officer.  Said TWG shall provide the technical inputs during the data gathering, workshops and related activities.  On the other hand, UN-HABITAT Philippines will take charge of the technical assistance in the areas of capacity assessment, disaster risk/climate change vulnerability in local plans and shall provide resource support such as technical, consultants and financial assistance.  DILG Region III, in turn, has also organized a team headed by OIC-MED Chief Lerrie S.  Hernandez.  The team will assist Olongapo City and UN HABITAT Philippines in the actual conduct of Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment in their CLUP and CDP Preparation. 

    As an offshoot activity, an Orientation-Workshop  on Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment for the Sectoral Committees of the City Development Council and Punong Barangays was conducted last June 7-8, 2012 at Forest View and Leisure Residences, SBMA, Olongapo City.

    Risk assessment will likewise be held on June 21-22, 2012 which will involve the actual conduct of surveys/inspections of most vulnerable areas and population. 

    The United Nations Human Settlements Program, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. It runs a number of global programs that involve countries from all over the world. The programs involve a wide range of partners ranging from central government, local government to civil society and beneficiary communities.

   At present, UN-HABITAT-Philippines is implementing a technical assistance project entitled Strengthening Philippine City Capacities to Address Climate Change Impacts.  This project which is being implemented in coordination with DILG Region III seeks to increase the adaptive capabilities of local governments by strengthening governance structures, engaging stakeholders and providing integrated strategies to mitigate and adapt climate change through improved planning and management.

 

 

Sen. Legarda enjoins the participants to protect the 18 Major River Basins

   In an effort to reduce losses and casualties brought by natural disasters, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Local Government Academy (LGA) have partnered with the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and Senator Loren Legarda conducted the “Regional Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation: A Collaboration Workshop for the Pampanga River Basin” last June 07, 2012 at the Oxford Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

   The activity was attended by representatives from the municipalities of Region 3 and neighboring provinces from Region II specifically Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan.  The event aims to provide local officials with knowledge on reducing risks and casualties from natural hazards through proper preparation and information dissemination.  Another objective was to initiate a continuous partnership and collaboration among the Local Government Units in the face of disaster. Adaptation to natural impediments through harmonized efforts and alliance building which shall guarantee effective results.

   Vice-Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao welcomed the participants in behalf of Governor Lilia B. Pineda who is on travel outside of the country. The province of Pampanga expressed its gratitude to National Government Agencies that have extended their assistance to the Provincial Government especially during calamities.

   Guest of Honor Senator Loren Legarda encouraged everyone to join her campaign in protecting all 18 Major River Basins. She also pointed out the importance of preparedness in order to prevent natural hazards from turning into natural disasters. Moreover, she believes that through intelligent management of natural hazards, not only lives can be saved, but also livelihood, this scenario will pave the way into a stable economy and progressive country. The event was also valuable to the proposed bill of Senator Legarda – “Philippine River Basin System Administration Act of 2012”.

   Sec. Mary Ann Lucille Sering, Vice Chair, Climate Change Council and Dir. Josefina T. Timoteo, Regional Director, Office of Civil Defense Region 3, discussed RA 9729 and 10121 respectively. USEC Austere A. Panadero, DILG, presented the DILG CCA-DRRM Intervention Framework  while Dir. Ricardo Calderon, Executive Director, DENR-Region 3 showed a situationer regarding the Pampanga River Basin.

   Dir. Marivel C. Sacendoncillo, Exec

Dir. Sacendoncillo shares her insights and initiatives of other LGUs

utive Director of the Local Government Academy, Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, Vice-Chair of the Regional Development Council of Region 3; Mr. Edgardo E. Tongson; and Mr. Silverio Tandog of the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, shared their experiences, strategies and existing initiatives which can be used as a framework of other Municipalities and Provinces. 

   Lastly, Dir. Thelma T. Vecina, Assistant Director, LGA-DILG facilitated a workshop and commitment building which aimed to craft a common action/roadmap for LGUs and other stakeholders in creating a dynamic river basin.

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