Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon is bent on improving good governance in the province’s local government units.
During the courtesy call of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday, Governor Malanyaon requested the department’s guidance to all LGUs to improve their services and ultimately become critical actors in her administration’s bid to improve the economic conditions of the province.
“The situation is hard this time. And so, we have to develop programs to address the most important concerns such as the food crisis and the health and economic recovery,” Gov. Malanyaon said.
Gov. Malanyaon told the DILG officials headed by Regional Director Alex C. Roldan CESO V and Provincial Director Orle Cabaobao that the DILG’s role is crucial to realize her vision for the province.
She recalled that the DILG had been a very supportive partner in empowering the province during her previous gubernatorial term way back in 2007 until 2016, which enabled her to streamline all government programs and services in one direction.
“I am appreciative to DILG for what they have given me throughout my previous gubernatorial stint,” Gov. Malanyaon said, adding that the DILG’s guidance made Davao Oriental the “Champion Province” during her time and had received prestigious accolades, including being a grand slam recipient of the department’s Seal of Good Local Governance, and NEDA’s recognition in defeating poverty incident index and breaking malnutrition, among others.
“As I assume last 2007, we were one of the poorest provinces in the country with 42.7% poverty incident index. When I left, it reduced to 23%. Now, we’re back at being the second in Davao Region with the highest poverty incident rate,” she stressed, highlighting that government efforts must be back on track under one vision as the country intensifies its recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor asked for the DILG’s assistance on the slated interfacing activity that the provincial government will hold with all Local Government Units and national agencies to ensure that “everyone is in the same direction” in all its development programs.
She also asked the Local Government Operations Officers to guide, empower and upgrade all local government units in the province through their local chief executives to pursue one direction with the provincial government. Eight out of 11 mayors in the province are new in the position.
With their regulatory functions, Gov. Malanyaon reminded the DILG to identify possible problems and solutions in the LGUs. “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” she said.
On the other hand, RD Roldan expressed his gratitude to the Governor for considering DILG as “the most professional government agency” due to its clean record in serving excellent government services.
“We are here to support in making our field offices and local government units more effective,” RD Roldan said, adding some reminders of the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling devolving essential government services to LGUs.
RD Roldan mentioned that since time immemorial, DILG desired to make LGUs operational.
For this year, RD Roldan said that DILG remains steadfast to its mandates in empowering LGUs around the country while allowing LGUs to be “creative” to “rehabilitate their town and bounce back better from the pandemic.” By Van Jorain O. Rufin/ Photos by Joel Owano
