"Here are three examples of LGUs that are responsive to the needs of their constituents."
"Here are three examples of LGUs that are responsive to the needs of their constituents."
Local governments units or LGUs are supposed to be responsive to the needs of their constituents, and accountable as well for everything that they do while in office. The 1987 Constitution, in fact, provides that since LGUs are entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, they should share this with their constituents by way of direct benefits.
So how are the LGUs in the National Capital Region performing their functions as mandated by the fundamental law?
We’re glad to know that at least three LGUs in Metro Manila are taking their mandate to serve their constituents seriously.
In Quezon City where I live, the city government has moved to automate transactions. This is intended to help reduce corruption in government transactions by minimizing face-to-face interactions.
The local government has also partnered with different departments and other agencies in a pilot project that will allow new business registrants to apply for business permits on their mobile phones.
Part of the city government’s efforts to reduce corruption is the use of performance indicators in government transactions. Through a new feedback system, constituents can digitally submit their feedback after completing a transaction, and outstanding and honest public servants will be given incentives.
Meanwhile, in another part of Metro Manila, the Pasig city council recently passed an ordinance that ensures greater transparency in local governance. The Pasig Transparency Mechanism provides for the disclosure of the city’s public records, including financial documents and contracts.
This makes Pasig City the first in Metro Manila to have its version of the freedom of information bill that has long languished in Congress, and we congratulate the city council for doing so.
Under the ordinance, all citizens have the right to access, examine and copy public records, as well as publish and disseminate these. Those who request documents also do not need to give a reason for doing so or even why they are interested in the records.
The city government has 10 days to act on requests for documents. These will all be forwarded to an information officer to be appointed by the Pasig mayor. Each department, on the other hand, will designate a deputy information officer who will coordinate with the information officer and provide the requested records from their office.
Government officials or employees who fail to comply with the provisions of the ordinance will receive a reprimand for the first violation. A second offense will be penalized by a 30-day suspension while a third violation will result in dismissal from the service.
But any law or ordinance is useless without serious efforts at implementation, and we hope other cities not just in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country will do the same thing, as we think this would boost efforts to curb corruption and ensure accountability in public office.
Yet another example of local autonomy is the implementation in Parañaque City of a simplified and integrated business permit renewal system to enhance investor confidence and improve service delivery to investors, local and foreign investors.
Dubbed as Project Express Lane Operation or Project ELO, this implements Republic Act 11032 or Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act that went into effect in May last year.
The local government seeks to attract more businesses to register and set up shop in the city by simplifying and integrating the steps in securing business and other permits.
One salient feature of the project is eliminating the need to secure permits from the different barangays, which was a prerequisite in getting a mayor’s permit.
With this project, claimed to be the first in the country, business owners need not go to barangay halls to apply for a barangay clearance, which will now be applied, paid and issued at city hall along with the fire safety inspection certificate, sanitary permit, certificate of conformance, from planning office and the mayor’s permit to operate a business.
As a result of the launch of the project early this year, assessments nearly doubled to P81 million compared with the P46 million generated in the first working day of 2018. At the same time, payments ballooned to P5.5 million on the first day, up from P3.2 million last year.
Last year, the local government collected P2.5-billion business taxes and fees from 23,000 business registrants in the city. This year, local authorities expect an increase of 15 percent in business applicants through the project.
I’m sure that there are similar initiatives in other cities throughout the country where local executives are trying to make a difference in the lives of their constituents, one step at a time.
If that’s the case, maybe there won’t even be a need to shift to a federal system that this administration wants to fast-track despite serious misgivings by some quarters over its applicability to the country’s unique situation.