More taking governance pathway Continued

Aside from the Forum’s institutionalization, the Aug. 30 event also scored major firsts: some provinces were formally initiated as Public Governance System (PGS) partners, along with those in the military and labor sectors.

Three sectors also presented the progress of their governance initiatives during the Forum. They were: the Institute of Corporate Directors (business sector), which is now PGS Proficient; the Coordinating Body for Good Governance in the nursing profession (professional sector), now PGS-Compliant; and the Foundation for People Development (civic sector), which is PGS Initiated.

Under the National Public Institutions category, three PGS partners reported on their progress. They were: the Philippine Military Academy, the Philippine National Police Academy, and the National Electrification Administration.

At the pre-MKAP Forum event on Aug. 29 dubbed as the “Learning Institute,” ISA launched CLEAN Philippines. This is the Philippine network of CLEAN (or the Centers for Leadership in East Asia Network), which will serve as the focal point of regional initiatives toward good public governance. CLEAN Philippines has six founding members: the officers responsible for the centers for leadership in ISA, the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Philippine Military Academy, and the three PGS-Proficient cities (Marikina, San Fernando in Pampanga, and Tagbilaran, Bohol).

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These three cities are finally making it to the news headlines and for the right reasons: they are showcases of good public governance practices.

Consistently leading the way is Marikina City, which is inching closer to its vision of becoming Southeast Asia’s model city in competitiveness by 2015.

The City follows a strategic governance plan anchored on ISA’s Philippine Governance System (PGS). Ensuring the sustainability of the plan is a local Executive Order creating a multisectoral coalition working towards its 2015 vision.

With the PGS in place, there is “more understanding and empathy for the challenges of each sector” such as the LGU, business sector, and civil society, said Mayor Marides Fernando.

With the united front, it is no wonder Marikina City can boast of big numbers: fresh investments total P20 billion from 2006 to 2007 and zero budget deficit. “We are poised to sustain this legacy of judicious financial management,” said Lauro de Guzman, Co-Chair of the Marikina Multi-Sectoral Coalition.

The City of San Fernando, Pampanga has risen from the ashes of Mount Pinatubo to a PGS Proficient city that now aspires to be Central Luzon’s regional growth hub. Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez is adopting an eight-point agenda for the next three years. Armed with a roadmap and a scorecard crafted in

2005, he said the programs have begun to show positive results: improvements in health care, better firefighting capability, new vehicles for the police, traffic enforcement and flood control, new schools, a rise in agricultural productivity, investments in a new market and slaughterhouse, revival of its giant lantern industry and tourism, increased revenue generation, among other things.

“The city council and I agreed to make a difference in governance and improve the quality of life of Fernandinos,” the mayor said. “Responsible citizenry will continue even if we’re no longer there.”

The City of Tagbilaran, Bohol packs a punch despite being one of the country’s smallest cities. Its vision to become the premier eco-cultural tourism hub in Asia by 2015 is anchored on initiatives to improve its people’s quality of life.

“How can we even boast of tourism (growth) when people are hungry? How can we even talk of economic promise when people are uneducated?” said Mayor Dan Lim. The City has topped the Asian Institute of Management’s recent quality of life survey for cities with 200,000 people and below. It has also intensified efforts to protect the environment to support its eco-tourism drive.

For the City, the PGS is a “beam of light that guides us towards the pathway” of good governance. “We now know our destination,” said Mayor Lim.