Officials attend local governance confab in Thailand

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia with Councilors Em Ang and Caesar Distrito and some city employees are now in Bangkok, Thailand, attending the final conference of the Democratic Local Governance in Southeast-Asia (Delgosea) from August 6–9.

Over 100 participants representing the project partners, local government associations (LGAs), pilot cities, best practice cities, academe, National Governments and project teams from all five countries gather to discuss the impact of good local governance projects, the successes of the pilot cities and the outcome of the project evaluation to sustainability issues, as well as new initiatives for reaching the goal of good local governance in all Asean countries.

Together with the city officials are the members of the technical working group, namely Gilda Lluisma, Sally Abelarde, Engr. Loben Ceballos and Gloria Arguelles.

The last activity of Delgosea before the official funding period of the European Union ends is the holding of the final conference, said Leonardia.

The conference aims to develop a strategy for a permanent dialogue on democratic local governance on the regional level.

It is an occasion to celebrate the successes of the pilot cities and the enduring friendships and networks that have developed over the last two and a half years.

Delgosea as a project will end soon, but the Delgosea network will remain vibrant and strong, added the mayor.

Bacolod is the pilot area to replicate local governance best practice on People Private Public Partnership (PPPP) of Cambodia.

Leonardia opted to adapt and utilize the best practice model from the Toul Sangke Sangkat Council in Cambodia in improving people participation and collaboration with government in public services management.

Two years ago, Bacolod City was selected to replicate local governance best practice on People Private Public Partnership from Cambodia.

Leonardia said that the PPPP model from Toul Sangke Sangkat is focused on engaging all members of local communities, government constituents and public institutions in the planning, funding, and building of infrastructure such as the roadwork and inland waterways.

It also emphasizes its key success on management transparency and outreach activities to all parts of the community, regardless of their status, political affiliations, and culture.

“Bacolod City is determined to involve the people and government elements so we could better address local needs and utilize local and external resources throughout all steps of public services’ development and improvement. We are honored to join this partnership with Delgosea and to learn from our colleagues in Toul Sangke Sangkat Council in Cambodia,” said Leonardia.

Bacolod City is replicating Cambodia’s PPPP approach on the construction of a youth home for children in conflict with the law (CICL) as the existing one is no longer in adequate condition.

It is one of the major programs of the City's Department of Social Services and Development. The construction of a youth home fits the criteria of being a social problem that can best be addressed under a cooperative-collaborative scheme with the different sectors of society.

“This is not going to be a mere infrastructure project but a project with a conscience that expresses social awareness and manifests social responsibility,” said Leonardia.

On July 31, the Bacolod consortium for PPPP was convened by Leonardia to discuss the further steps of the Bacolod Youth Home.

The Bacolod community development consortium is composed of a management board with the mayor as honorary chair, Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson as honorary vice chair, Milagros Ong as the overall chairperson from private sector and Councilor Em Ang as the vice chair.

A one-hectare property in the Arao relocation site has been designated as the future site of the Youth Home, which will be constructed under the PPPP scheme. The groundbreaking at the site was held last August 2 and was attended by various stakeholders.