Pangasinan named in list of top performing provinces

LINGAYEN -- The province of Pangasinan has been named by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as one of the top performing local government units (LGUs) in 2011.

Last year, the province climbed up to number four top performing province in the country based on the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) administered annually by the DILG.

The LGPMS cover four aspects, namely, administrative governance, social governance, economic governance and environmental governance.

Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco said Pangasinan bagged perfect scores of 5.00 both in development planning and human resource management and development.

Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. earlier thanked the DILG led by the late Secretary Jesse Robredo for conferring Pangasinan one of the top ranks in the evaluation even as he said that the Provincial Government will continuously strive for excellence to attain its mission to be "number one."

Robredo then said, "LGPMS topnotchers do not only earn the distinction of being among the best performing LGUs but they will also have the greater chance to be nominated for Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, which is being conferred to LGUs that advances the tenets of good governance based on certain criteria, including the LGPMS."

For 2011, the top performing provinces with corresponding LGPMS rankings are: provinces - Bohol (4.91), La Union (4.89), Cavite (4.88); Pangasinan (4.87), South Cotabato (4.864), Mountain Province (4.855), Albay (4.839), Bulacan (4.836), Rizal (4.832), and Ilocos Norte (4.828).

Highly urbanized cities: San Juan City got 4.9, Puerto Princesa City (4.88), Iloilo City (4.87), Valenzuela City (4.85), Makati City (4.819), Angeles City (4.816), Tacloban City (4.77), Quezon City (4.75), Taguig City (4.71), and Davao City (4.7).

Component cities: Laoag City (4.99), Naga City (4.93), Vigan City (4.91), Ligao City (4.917), Tagaytay City (4.87), Cabanatuan City (4.86), Dipolog City (4.83), Calamba City (4.82), San Fernando City, La Union (4.81); and La Carlota City (4.79).

Municipalities: Ilagan, Isabela (4.92); Carmona, Cavite (4.9); Santol, La Union (4.89); Alimodian, Iloilo (4.883); San Mateo, Isabela (4.879); San Luis, Aurora (4.86); Surallah, South Cotabato (4.843); Maslog, Eastern Samar and New Lucena, Iloilo (4.839); Bacoor, Cavite (4.822); and San Gabriel, La Union (4.820).

Espino, meanwhile, expressed hope that the next DILG Secretary to be appointed by the President Aquino should fit the shoes left by Robredo, who was killed in a plane crash last August 18.

The governor hopes that all of Robredo's programs, including the Seal of Good House Keeping, will be continued.

Pangasinan Mayors League president Noel Nacar, mayor of Dasol town, also said the next DILG head should have come from the LGU just like Robredo, who served as mayor of Naga City for several terms.

An official who came from the LGU, he said, understands the concerns and problems of LGUs and knows who to address these.

Last Thursday, a special mass attended by local officials was offered by the Provincial Government led by Espino, to for the late DILG chief. (Sunnex)