The most recent award received by the city government of San Pedro, Laguna from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is another testament of the LGU’s progress in instilling the spirit of transparency and accountability in public service.
Last November 16, San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado personally received the “Top Overall Performer Award for Component City Category” Award given by the DILG during the 2023 SubayBAYANI Awards held at Parañaque City.
The SubayBAYANI Awards is just one of the many programs of the DILG to encourage local government units around the Philippines to exercise transparency and accountability, especially in regard with the agency’s SubayBAYAN program.
The DILG’s SubayBAYAN program, which was launched in 2018, is an "infrastructure monitoring system" that aims to monitor and report of the progress of Locally-Funded Projects (LFPs), through the participation of assigned monitors from the DILG’s Field Offices.
The SubayBAYAN’s online database provides real-time information on the physical and financial status, as well as the information on the actual location, implementation, and other basic data of the LFPs.
“Open to public access, it also empowers citizens to offer valuable feedback on the progress and efficacy of projects, ensuring they align with their intended purpose,” the local DILG office of San Pedro City said in a social media statement.
Point of pride
“This is the first time that the city government of San Pedro has joined the SubayBAYANI Awards,” Yvonne Geolingo, Officer-in-charge of the City Planning and Development Coordinator’s Office, said in a message to OpinYon Laguna. (The city government of San Pedro was also one of the few component cities in the Philippines which were short-listed for the SubayBAYANI award, according to the local DILG office.)
This, as well as the fact that the city government won the award at the national level, is a point of pride for the city government, particularly the three “focus departments” who have worked with the DILG during the validation progress – the City Engineering Office, the City Planning and Development Coordinator’s Office, and the City Accounting Office.
Last September 27, the city government had undergone an “on-site” validation by DILG officials who meticulously assessed the integrity of data within the Subaybayan portal, cross-referencing it with detailed documentation pertaining to the execution of projects funded by the Local Government Support Fund, including DRRAP and FALGU, as well as the 20-percent Development Fund.
“Among others, activities conducted by the validation onsite monitoring and evaluation of the infrastructure projects, and timely reports submission for both physical and financial accomplishments,” Geolingo added.
Significance of award
According to Geolingo, the SubayBAYANI Award is an indication that the city government is “on track” in implementing major projects and programs that will, in the long run, fulfill the Mercado administration’s goal of San Pedro City being “Una sa Laguna.”
“This award/recognition involves infrastructure projects which are now being used by our constituents; aside from physically benefiting from the projects, every San Pedrense is assured that the taxes that they pay will go back to them in terms of social services and infrastructure projects such as these; and that the projects are monitored and evaluated to ensure that it meets the required specifications. Therefore, it is people’s money well-spent for the benefit of San Pedrenses,” she said.
Meanwhile, for Mayor Mercado, the award is also proof that his own advocacy to restore San Pedrenses’ trust in local governance is bearing fruit.
“Ang pagkilala na iginawad ng DILG sa pamahalaang lungsod ng San Pedro bilang Top Overall Performer sa nagdaang SubayBAYANI 2023 Awards ay isang repleksyon ng ating administrasyon. Ito ay isang patunay ng mahusay at tapat na pamamahala sa mga proyektong ating isinasagawa-lalo na sa aspeto ng pang-imprastraktura na kasama sa prayoridad ng ating 5-Point ‘Art-GENDA,’” Mercado said in a Facebook post.
PHOTO CAPTION: San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado (center) receives the “Top Overall Performer Award for Component City Category” Award during the 2023 SubayBAYANI Awards held at Parañaque City last November 16. The award, given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), aims to honor local government units around the Philippines who have exercised transparency and accountability in the implementation of local projects. (Photos courtesy of the San Pedro City Public Affairs and Information Office)
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