THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Northern Samar Provincial Office launched on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, the provincial Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC), coinciding with the inauguration of the new DILG office building in Barangay Dalakit, Catarman.
“Pwede nating gamitin [ang LGRC bilang] isang merging place kung saan magtutulungan ang university, ang Provincial Government, ang DILG at ang lahat ng liga. Lahat po ng capacity development na gagawin sa Northern Samar pwede niyo pong idaan sa LGRC,” said DILG Regional Director Karl Caesar Rimando.
“May the LGRC help design and effectively implement the interventions which can be provided by LGUs (local government units) and other stakeholders, whether they be from the academe, non-government organizations, the private sector and civil society organizations,” added Governor Edwin Ongchuan in his message during the event.
The governor maintained that “the road to continued progress in Northern Samar is challenging, but with the intersection and cooperation of various sectors of society, we will reach our destination.”
“May this infrastructure upgrade inspire you more to better the lives of our fellow Nortehanons as you fulfill your mandate of promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety, and strengthening local government capability of our LGUs,” said Ongchuan in a statement.
Meanwhile, Rimando stressed that LGRC “will be able to provide both guide and coordination for sitting and aspiring government officials” as the best practices on local governance and other knowledge resources needed for development planning can now be accessed by LGUs in the province.
DILG Provincial Director Danilo Laguitan lauded the Provincial Government “for providing additional funding to finish the construction of their office.”
He also acknowledged the late DILG provincial director and assistant regional director Valente P. Bajet who strongly lobbied for the construction of their office building before his untimely death in October of 2019.
Laguitan thanked the different leagues of elected government officials in the province, and their partner local resource institution, the University of Eastern Philippines, through its president Dr. Cherry Ultra.
The LGRC, which is located at the Valente P. Bajet Room, contains a repository of books, knowledge products, exemplary and replicable practices and audio-visual materials. It can handle public fora, conferences and round-table discussions, and can also provide technical assistance and trainings, as well as give referral service to pool of coaches, local resource institutions and partners. (SunStar Philippines)