Ronnie Yanuario In celebration of Local Government Month and the 34th anniversary of the Local Government Code of 1991, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 officially launched this year’s festivities with “PAGSANYOG: Voices of Good Governance”, held at the DILG Regional Training Center on Kanhuraw Hill, Tacloban City, on October 7.
The milestone event served as a platform for showcasing best practices and innovative solutions from Local Government Units (LGUs) across Eastern Visayas that earned the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) — the highest recognition for LGU performance in the Philippines.
In his welcome address, DILG Region 8 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe underscored the significance of knowledge-sharing as a driver of governance excellence.
“The core purpose of this event is to make knowledge-sharing the engine of improved local governance,” said RD Agabe. “If Baybay City can do it, you can also do it. Today, you are hearing the real voices of good governance.”
He emphasized the value of replicability, encouraging other LGUs to learn from their peers’ proven strategies. Agabe also stressed the urgency of resilience planning, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
A total of twelve LGUs were featured during the forum, each presenting successful initiatives in key areas of local governance. These included:
- Financial Administration and Sustainability: Silago, Southern Leyte
- Business Friendliness and Competitiveness: Tacloban City
- Social Protection and Sensitivity: Baybay City, Leyte
- Disaster Preparedness: Catarman, Northern Samar
- Peace and Order: Palapag, Northern Samar
- Environmental Management: Paranas, Samar
- Tourism, Culture, and Heritage: Pintuyan, Southern Leyte
- Health Compliance and Responsiveness: Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte
- Sustainable Education: San Miguel, Leyte
- Youth Development: Arteche, Eastern Samar
- Innovation: Naval, Biliran
- Innovation in Tertiary Education: Burauen, Leyte
These LGUs provided real-world insights into the implementation of effective programs, highlighting the role of community engagement, discipline, and transparency as key ingredients for success.
The open forum featured dynamic discussions among local chief executives, program implementers, and civil society representatives. Across all presentations, a common theme emerged: active citizen participation and inclusive governance are essential to effective local leadership.
“PAGSANYOG” — a Visayan term meaning progress or development — aptly encapsulates the goal of the event: to advance the frontiers of good governance by amplifying the voices and successes of LGUs and encouraging peer-to-peer learning.
Through initiatives like “PAGSANYOG,” DILG Region 8 reaffirms its commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and empowered communities across Eastern Visayas. The event not only honors the accomplishments of high-performing LGUs but also inspires others to pursue governance excellence through innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
