The Improved Local Operations thru e-Governance Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is designed to develop and strengthen management capabilities of LGUs in acquiring, handling, organizing, securing and disposing relevant data for local government operations through the adoption of Information Technology (IT). Part of this program is the Enhancing Legislative Tracking and Performance Monitoring Project (e-LTPMP) that includes the Sangguniang Information System (SIS) designed to improve and strengthen the technical and administrative capability of the local Sanggunian to effectively discharge its duties. Realizing such need, the municipality of San Pascual, Masbate adopted of the e-LTPMP Project thru a three-day Hands-On Training and Installation of SIS that was conducted on March 4-6, 2014 at Jennifer’s Kababayan Hotel, Legazpi City. The training was made possible through the joint efforts of DILG and DSWD RO V as the lead implementer of the Local Empowerment and Development towards Good Governance (LeadGov) Project in the municipality.

The activity was participated by members of the organized LTPMP Technical Working Committee of LGU-San Pascual, namely: Ernani H. Lazaro, Jose T. Toca, and Mendez A. Villamor, Jr., and the MGOO of San Pascual, Regino M. Serrano III. Said committee is in charge of ensuring the effective and efficient database management of the SIS once installed in the LGU.

The training was graced by Kristine L. Rozen, the Project Development Officer of DSWD RO V who also presented the rationale of the training. Engr. David F. De Guzman, LGCD Division Chief of DILG RO V presented the overview of the project and emphasized its importance especially in tracking down various Sanggunian records, transactions and documents in aid of efficient legislation. Trainers for the activity were LGOO V May Isabel R. Rosal and LGOO IV Rafael dela Rama, Jr. of LGCDD DILG RO V.

The participants appreciated the benefits of the computerized system and how it will make legislative tracking as well as performance monitoring of the SB and individual members convenient and time efficient. Although they realized that ample time is needed in encoding after installation of the System, they committed to have this System institutionalized in the LGU to further strengthen the capability of the Sanggunian in its local operations.

As outputs to the training, the participants were made to scan and print reports out of the Sanggunian documents they have encoded and inputted in the system during the hands-on activity. These reports will be made available and ready to print upon request once the Sangguniang Information System software is completely installed. – (LGOO V Regino M. Serrano III)