DAVAO CITY – With only two years after its implementation, the Nagkakaisang Lingkod Bayan ng Davao Oriental – Barangay Outreach Caravan (NLD-BOC) has carved a name in genuine delivery of public service.
During the Serbisyo ng Bayan Alang sa Katawhan Inter-Agency Regional Consultative Meeting held at the Panorama Summit Hotel in Davao City on October 19, 2018, which was organized by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President Sec. Bong Go, Davao Oriental’s program was recognized as an effective tool in addressing peace and order concerns in the province, and has gotten the attention of other local government units who started to express their desire to replicate the said program.
No less than Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, who conceptualized and initiated the program, presented the mechanics and the system of implementation of the NLD-BOC, thus, unveiling one of the best practices of the province.
“Wow! That was all there was to say after seeing the presentation. It is really a best practice worth emulating. If other local government units will replicate the said program of Davao Oriental, then we can absolutely attain what we all have been dreaming of, sustainable peace,” said Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Atty. Aimee Neri.
She furthered that Davao Oriental has addressed the peace and order problem through the one-stop shop of government services delivered directly to the people.
Department of National Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano also lauded the leadership of Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang for the program that determines his kind of leadership.
“This is what is supposed to be done. And the department is very glad that the province of Davao Oriental exerted an enormous effort in bringing this kind of program. We should prevent and stop the opponents from coming through the provision of the different services. I really hope that other local government units will do the same,” he explained.
For the 401st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Agusan del Sur, Brigade Commander Andres Centino admitted that their version of service caravan worked in some areas, but not in some areas of their jurisdiction. He furthered that they will have to try the ways how Davao Oriental did it and made it a success.
Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang was elated to see the different national line agencies exuding with eagerness and willingness to learn from the barangay outreach caravan, and was happy to share one of Davao Oriental’s best practices.
“NLD-BOC was born from our desire to answer the call for peace which is on top of my priority agenda. We really have to once and for all put an end to insurgency. As officials, it is our mandate to give our people the peace and development that they deserve. But in finding solution to the problem, we have to know the root cases, which turned out to be poverty, public grievances, and the lack to services to the people,” he clearly stated.
The unopposed Governor added that there has to be a fundamental change in the people’s perception of government, and in their experience of and from the government. The NLD-BOC is a totally soft nonviolent approach that is equally or even more effective in the traditional way of stopping insurgency.
Expectedly, the province of Compostela Valley will be the next province to implement their barangay outreach caravan, as Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy already expressed his intention of replicating the program.
Agencies who participated in the consultative meeting were DILG, DA, BFAR, PCA, LTO, DSWD, DOH, PSA, TESDA, SSS, PNP, AFP, and representatives from Davao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
To date, the NLD-BOD has already served 92 of the 183 barangays of the province and has already benefitted 318, 706 residents.
As Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo made it so logical, “if this is one best practices of Davao Oriental, then I see no reason why we should not follow”. Photos by Rhea Shane Laureano
