THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed local government executives on Tuesday, March 26, to create a transition team in preparation for the turnover of responsibility and to ensure continuity of local governance following the May 13 midterm elections.
“Bago pa po maging abala ang mga re-electionist na local chief executives (LCEs) sa pangangampanya simula March 30 ay buoin na po ninyo ang inyong local governance transition team para sa matiwasay at tuloy-tuloy na serbisyo sa mga mamamayan,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.
“To ensure the smooth local governance transition to the newly-elected or re-elected local officials on June 30, the local governance transition team must conduct an inventory of LGU properties,” he added.
He said the inventory includes immovable properties such as land, buildings, infrastructure facilities and its improvements, and machineries made immovable, as well as movable properties such as vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures, and office supply stocks.
Año said all official documents or records of LGU’s official transactions not limited to government assessment report and commission on audit report for 2018 should be kept intact.
“It also includes preserving contracts and loan agreements, Comprehensive Development Plan, Local Development Investment Plan, annual investment plan for 2019, Comprehensive Land Use or Physical Framework Plan, Capability Development Plan, Executive-Legislative Agenda, executive orders, Full Disclosure Policy documents, organizational structure, and inventory of personnel by nature of appointment,” he said.
Año said each local governance transition team shall be chaired by the LCE and the vice-chair is to be elected among members by simple majority vote.
Members of the team are department heads of the local government unit (LGU) and a DILG representative such as DILG provincial director in case of provincial government, DILG city director in case of city government, or DILG municipal local government operations officer in case of municipal government. There should also be one representative from a civil society organization or people's organization.
The turnover ceremony to the newly elected officials will be held on June 30 that would include a briefing on the Governance Assessment Report and key challenges to the incoming set of officials for a more seamless leadership and management transitions.
Año also reminded the LCEs that from March 29 until May 12, appointing, hiring or promoting somebody for a post, releasing disbursement and use of public funds is prohibited. (SunStar Philippines)