The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Masbate Provincial Office has conducted a GENERAL ORIENTATION ON DILG PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS to the newly elected Governor of the Province together with all the department heads/functionaries and other employees of the provincial government on July 15, 2016 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, Masbate City.

The said activity, in close coordination with the Office of the Provincial Governor, was initiated by the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Section (LGMES) of DILG-Masbate in its aspiration to provide the new administration with appropriate technical assistance and necessary administrative guidance in the implementation of major programs and projects of the department such as the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) – DILG Fund, KALSADA Program, Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), and others.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACTIVITY:

With the aid of audio-visual presentations, the activity started with an invocation, singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the Masbate March.

Governor Kho delivered his opening remarks by acknowledging the efforts of the DILG in ensuring that projects intended for the province be implemented so that the funds allocated for such projects will not be returned to the national government.

He immediately instructed the Engineering Office and the Planning and Development Office and all concerned department heads to prepare and comply all the required documents the soonest possible time.

DILG Regional Director Elouisa T. Pastor delivered her message with a challenge to the new administration. She expressed her joy that finally the projects for Masbate will be implemented where the Masbateños could benefit from, saying it will change the lives of the people of Masbate. RD Pastor, however, challenged the newly elected Governor and the department heads to work together and to work closely with DILG in order to get the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award in the next assessment and in the succeeding years taking into consideration, among other things, the COA Audit Report and all other criterion that were unmet during the last SGLG assessment.

Gov. Kho enthusiastically accepted the challenge.

One of the most important part was the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the 2015 and 2016 PAMANA – DILG Fund projects. The MOA is between DILG Regional Office V duly represented by RD Elouisa T. Pastor and the Provincial Government of Masbate represented by Hon. Antonio T. Kho. The signing was witnessed by DILG PD Edwin F. Garcia, Engr. Renato Bolon, PDMU-DILG R5 and OIC-Provincial Engr. Ralph N. Bacolod.

The DILG Programs and Projects was presented by LGOO VI Ben Paul M. Naz and LGOO V Summer Hope B. Aycardo through powerpoint presentations.

Gov. Kho, upon learning what it requires to become an SGLG awardee, committed that, in his administration, all efforts will be done so that Masbate province will get the SGLG. It was also suggested that a group / committee whose main task would be to oversee compliance to the SGLG criteria/indicators be specially created for that purpose.

Closing remarks was given by DILG PD Edwin F. Garcia. He gave assurance on the assistance and support of the department to the endeavors of the provincial government and extended gratitude for the opportunity given to the DILG.