Stats showing performance of gov’t officials urged

TACLOBAN CITY - On the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), a political analyst urged government agencies to present statistics showing the performance of local government officials.

The statistics could be the basis of voters in next year’s midterm elections.

Ladylyn Lim, political science associate professor at the University of the Philippines Tacloban College, said agencies like the Department of Interior and Local Government and National Statistical Coordination Board should show statistics that illustrate the local official’s performance.

“There should be information available who are really working and the quality of their works. Show us who really delivers services. Our local officials should practice accountability,” Lim said.
 
Lim said this will somehow change the political landscape from widespread vote buying to performance-based voting.

Statistics from the National Government agencies will bring about accomplishments that are not “visual projects” such as roads, bridges, waiting sheds, or electric posts.

“We should focus on housing, healthcare services, water supply, waste disposal, and responding to emergencies. With data available, people can evaluate if there’s really an improvement in the delivery of basic services in the past three years,” Lim added.
 
Updates like a local government’s score in attaining Millennium Development Goals should be shown to the public, especially that the country were given until 2015 to achieve goals.

Data from the NSCB showed that the region has low probability to attain some MDG indicators like eradicating extreme poverty, achieve universal education, promote gender equality and empower women, improve maternal health and combat diseases. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)