THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reminded all incumbent governors and mayors to organize their respective Local Governance Transition Team (LGTT) not later than April 7, 2022.
This is meant for an effective turnover of responsibilities ahead of the May 9, 2022 local and national elections.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año has issued DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-029 instructing LGTT to ensure the safekeeping of local government unit (LGU) records and documents and the protection of LGU assets during the election period, and guarantee the smooth local governance transition of the new and reelected officials on June 30, 2022.
Año said all LGU assets, records and documents, among others, must be turned over transparently and efficiently to the new set of elected local officials “for the seamless continuance of ongoing programs for the people.”
“Public service must not be hampered amid a possible transition of leadership in the LGUs. We remind our local chief executives (LCEs) that as early as now [to form their] LGTT to guarantee the continuity of public service and ensure that all assets are well accounted for upon the transition,” Año said in a press statement.
The local chief executive (mayor or governor) will chair the LGTT, said Año.
Members of the LGTT include LGU department heads, DILG representatives, and the secretary of the local Sanggunian.
Año said there should also be one representative from a civil society organization or people’s organization in the LGTT.
The vice chairman of the transition team will be elected among the members.
LGTT duties
In the memorandum circular, Año said LGTT must conduct an inventory of LGU properties including immovable properties such as land, buildings, infrastructure facilities and their improvements, and pieces of machinery made immovable as well as movable properties such as vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures, and office supply stocks.
The transition team must also gather, secure, and preserve all official documents and/or records of LGU official transactions; and, turnover accountabilities using the prescribed forms, in case of a new set of incoming elected officials, and update the list of accountabilities, in case of re-elected officials.
Among the official documents the LGTTs must secure are the 2021 Governance Assessment Report; Contracts and Loans Agreement; Comprehensive Development Plan; 2022 Annual Investment Program; Comprehensive Land Use Plan; Public Service Continuity Plan; LGU’s Citizens Charter; and, various Full Disclosure Policy documents.
“Along with the other LGU documents, the LGTTs are expected to ensure that the all-important LGU Devolution Transition Plan, in line with the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court ruling and Executive Order No. 138, will be forwarded to the new set of local officials,” Año said.
An LGTT must likewise organize a turnover ceremony for the incoming local officials, to include a briefing on the Governance Assessment Report and key challenges, to be conducted on June 30, 2022; and, ensure the accomplishment of the Elective Local Official Personal Data Sheet by the incoming officials to be submitted not later than July 11, 2022 to their Human Resources Management Office, Office of the Sanggunian, and to the DILG Field Office.