The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) IV-A was among the latest guests of the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) weekly Kapihan Sa Bagong Pilipinas last July 30 in Calauan, Laguna.
During the event, DILG IV-A Regional Director Ariel Iglesia, BJMP IV-A Regional Director JCSUPT Hilbert M. Flor, BFP IV-A Regional Chief of Staff FSSUPT Sheila C. Andrade, and PNP IV-A Chief Information Officer PLTCOL Chitadel Gaoiran presented their respected agencies’ accomplishments as well as answer questions from the media.
In his presentation, Iglesia highlighted the 37 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Awardees in the region, the new SGLG for barangays, Local Government Support Fund to 183 LGUs for 2023 and 56 this year, conducting of Newly Elected Officials (NEO) Course and Barangay NEO, and the 77 LGU functionality assessment passers for anti-trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).
The agency also mentioned 40 barangays being catered by the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) with health and agricultural services to communities formerly affected by communist terrorist groups, 154 former rebels rescued and given assistance worth P10 million, and anti-drug abuse programs.
‘Puro papogi’?
A very timely and relevant issue however is flooding which DILG is combating through the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program which covers 76 LGUs in the region.
“We have four outcome areas kasama na solid waste, liquid waste, ecological management, and biodiversity,” Iglesia explained.
Under the solid waste management chaired by DILG, all LGUs surrounding Manila Bay are required to conduct weekly cleanup activities.
“Pano po yon namomonitor kaugnay na rin nitong nangyaring napakalaking baha sa Metro Manila at mga karatig-bayan na maraming naapektuhan?” OpinYon Laguna local editor Catherine Go asked.
“Kasi recently, bumisita si DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. para magkaroon ng clean-up drive sa isang barangay, ang problema don, malapit ako sa lugar kung saan nagpunta, idinaan siya doon sa malinis na part kaya di niya nakita kung saan talaga madumi. So kung may monitoring po tayo weekly sa mga paglilinis sa barangay mukhang di rin po talaga tama yung monitoring natin dahil hindi naman po talaga malinis yung mga barangay,” she added.
“Ang isa sa explanation na laging sinasabi ng ating secretary ay hindi naman porket pinuntahan ay madumi yung area, nais lang po natin ipahatid na yung tuloy tuloy na adbokasiya, tuloy tuloy na programa para sa kalinisan,” Iglesia answered.
“Kung mayron po tayong nakikitang madumi, pwede nating tawagin ang pansin ng LGU especially yung barangay na siyang dapat nangunguna dun sa kalinisan dahil sila po ang nasa ground,” he added.
If this is the case, why would government officials waste time cleaning already clean areas?
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