DILG Caraga capacitated select technical personnel yesterday on the most recent developments in the local governance landscape in the country as a maiden activity to its capacity development intervention to Local Government Units (LGUs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The activity was graced by Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development Florida M. Dijan who was the guest of honor during the inauguration of the new DILG Caraga Regional Office building earlier that day.

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – DILG Caraga capacitated select technical personnel yesterday on the most recent developments in the local governance landscape in the country as a maiden activity to its capacity development intervention to Local Government Units (LGUs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The activity was graced by Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development Florida M. Dijan who was the guest of honor during the inauguration of the new DILG Caraga Regional Office building earlier that day.

The activity is an initiative of DILG Caraga to enhance the competencies of its personnel in preparation for the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Case Ruling in FY 2022 which orders the increase in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which should now be called National Tax Allotment (NTA) of LGUs. This substantial increase in allotment would reinforce the devolved duties and strengthen the autonomy of LGUs which entails the enhanced technical capabilities of DILG personnel especially its City/Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (C/MLGOOs). It is also a timely intervention for the critical role of LGUs in the whole-of-nation approach on peace and development building.

As seen in the results of various assessments and studies conducted on local governance and CSO participation, acknowledging the different developmental initiatives is a necessary step in ensuring that local plans are not fragmented and that monitoring and evaluation processes are sustained to achieve a more efficient delivery of basic services.

Aside from the general orientation on the Mandanas-Garcia Case Ruling, its implication to the change in local governance, and the projected transition of DILG’s functions in line with its implementation, the participants were enlightened on what Positive Peace is and how this can be utilized in the implementation of peace and development efforts in the region through the Department’s programs, projects, and activities. Likewise, Mr. Arthur Casiño of German development agency GIZ discussed the Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) as a means in promoting positive peace in time with the thoroughgoing implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).

The latest status on the implementation of the RCSP in the region along with the successes, innovations, problems, and solutions encountered were also shared to the participants where they conducted an action planning afterwards for the scheduling of targeted activities in preparation for the next phase of the program’s implementation.

 

By LGOO II Estela Marie M. Vallespin