Monday Convocation on January 14, 2013 transcends from a usual gathering of hearing different divisions reporting the latest development into a challenge as the New Year started. RD Paisal O. Abutazil, in his opening, not only warmly expressed his gratitude to all who extended support the previous year in the attainment of the Department’s goal but also challenged everyone to reflect what has been done the other year and to look forward with a new resolution, leaving a remarkable words, “what we can do, gawin na natin for 2013.
“Looking back the previous year, the region has ‘ Done a good job’ and hopefully by 2013 to perform better. 2013 will be the most challenging year. This was the time that the perception of our clientele to DILG was radically changed”, he added.
As the New Year started, he required the personnel to submit their resolution either personal or official to the Admin. Lightheartedly he remarked “ Ano yung panata mo, sa pamilya o opisina na gagawin mo, isulat mo o di kaya i-drawing mo. Let’s look back when we apply to DILG, what we have in mind is how to work and help our employment with DILG. But sad to say as the time passed by, we are redirected from our vision. However, the bottom line is: LET’s DO OUR JOB. The essence is duty-bound to serve and to protect.” This is also the gist of the message from Secretary Mar Roxas during the traditional New Year’s Call on January 9 that a public official is duty-bound to serve and not to be served.
He emphatically said, “ We would like to serve the New Year right. In fact, our 1oo% attendance to this meeting indicates a good start. We have to learn from our mistakes, leave old habits and develop areas that need improvement in terms of our performance by focusing our vision on the attainments of our goals for 2013.”
ON MAIDEN CONFERENCE
“ By this year, we need to strategize collective measures to level up and even surpass other regions’ performance, and also focus on visions towards the attainments of the Department’s over all goals and objectives for 2013. One of the most important things that we must do is to make our presence felt with the Local Government Units, establish good rapport and maintain effective relationship with government officials,” he explained.
During the New Years Call, Usec. Panadero and the Regional Directors discussed on the priority programs for 2013 particularly the implementation of the program for the Newly- Elected Officials (NEO) training which has four components namely :(1) ensuring smooth transition, (2) laying the foundation of public service; (3) building alliances; and (4) sharpening the saw.
“ Other programs to be implemented this year vigorously will be the Bottom Up Planning and Budgeting. This has been started before the end of the year and by this year the contract facilitators will not be the NAPC but the DILG. Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) still be implemented, the Disaster Preparedness, PAMANA Program, Good Governance Principles- the SGH, GPL and Full Disclosure Policy.
For Administrative matters, he said that the Regional Management would like to see every cluster working and operating as it is supposed to be and mandated to perform. The Cluster Heads must take the role as Cluster Heads, provide leadership among MLGOOs, and supervise them. For this, the Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director, and all Division Chiefs will regularly attend cluster meetings in order to observe how every cluster operates. This is to supervise the operation of the clusters and to assure if the Cluster Leaders have been operating and also to know and verify whether the allocated fund downloaded to the provincial offices in its intended purpose is cascading down to the Clusters.
In view of the forthcoming May 2013 election, management is contemplating on the idea of temporarily pulling out MLGOOs from their AOR to insulate them from any political intramurals in the municipal level.
Regarding the conduct of regular field visits to the municipalities, he also encouraged the travelling staff to pass by along the way municipalities to at least provide support or any to MLGOOs.
“For rank and file, perform your job to the best of your ability and as much as possible, not becoming a part of the problem but be a part of the solution,” he said in closing.