In their continuous efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development goals (MDGs), Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda and Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the piloting of TINGOG 2015 initiative also known as the Citizens Action for Governance.
Tingog 2015 is an innovative feedback mechanism that aims to ensure delivery of services in order to fast track achievement of the MDGs by allowing citizens to report and monitor these services in their communities. It will initially focus on responding to reported issues on maternal health care.
Present during the MOU signing were UN Millennium Campaign Global Director Corinne Woods, UN Millennium Campaign Regional Director Minar Pimple, Mr. Isagani Serrano of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Professor Leonor Magtolis-Briones, Lead Convenor of Social Watch Philippines, DILG V Director Blandino Maceda and members of the media.
Governor Salceda gladly welcomed the visitors and partners to the province of Albay and he said that the only way to further the achievement of the MDGs is to ensure public participation as well as external validation and affirmation not only by numbers but also by program. He said that Albay is not only after the achievement of the MDGs per se but they are working on early achievement and looking beyond 2015.
According to Professor Briones, Tingog 2015 is being piloted in Tabaco City because Governor Salceda and Mayor Luistro were brave enough to take on this challenge and were open to giving the citizens a role in addressing MDG issues and achieving its goals. On the other hand, Ms. Woods said that the Albayanos and Tabaco City citizens are fortunate to have local leaders who are serious about their efforts to ensure that the MDGs are achieved. “Tabaqueños are very lucky to have a Governor and a Mayor who are willing to allow them to become development partners in governance, by giving them a tool that they can use to directly communicate their feedback on services and expect a reasonable response in a timely manner.” Ms. Woods also said.
The term TINGOG came from the Bicolano and Visayan Term for “voice” signifying its objective of giving every citizen a voice through SMS and mobile technology. Tingog 2015 is a web-portal that interact with mobile technology, allowing citizens to text in their reports or complaints to a four-digit access code 2015 using any mobile phone or provider. SMART Communications, Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular companies have committed to make available the short code 2015 for the initiative and a minimal P1.00 charge per text message as against the regular rate of P2.50. – (AO IV Ma. Grace Joy Tango)