THREE newly
elected Ilocos Norte municipal mayors have successfully completed the
Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) Program Online Orientation Course being
administered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
They
are Marcos Mayor Arsenio Agustin, Carasi Mayor Rene Gaspar, and San Nicolas
Mayor Melanie Grace Valdez.
The
online course, which is the first component of the NEO Program, is a pioneering
venture of the Department through the Local Government Academy (LGA) in its
tireless effort to capacitate local government units and their officials
through online training modules.
DILG
Secretary Mar Roxas awarded the certificates of completion to the 22
newly-elected officials, who are mostly neophytes, during the Grand Graduation
Ceremony held May 28 at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.
“Binabati ko ang ating mga mayor na
nagsilahok at nakatapos ng kursong ito dahil sa ipinamalas ninyong pagsisikap
at pagpupursigi na maging mas epektibo at mabuting lingkod-bayan,” said Mr.
Roxas.
“Lagi nating naririnig ang mga salitang ‘Tuwid
na Daan’. Now, your challenge is to operationalize ‘Tuwid na Daan’ in local
governance. Ito na ang pagkakataon nating
manilbihan nang matapat at mahusay sa tinatawag ni PNoy na tunay nating mga
Boss, ang taumbayan,” he added.
The
DILG Secretary explained that the mayors have fulfilled the requirements of the
program by completing the two basic modules and three elective modules/online
executive sessions. The said officials also crafted their 1st 100 Days in
Office, Social Contract and their own Re-Entry Action Plan.
Eight
of the course finishers are from the Ilocos region; six are from Western
Visayas; two each from Central Luzon and Central Visayas; and one each from
Cagayan Valley and CALABARZON.
Other
newly elected mayors who completed the DILG course are: Ericson Singson of
Candon City, Ilocos Sur; Ryan Mencias of Alcala, Rebecca Saldivar of San
Nicolas, Timoteo Villar of Sto. Tomas, Gwen Palafox-Yamamoto of Bani, all in
Pangasinan; Asela Sacramed of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan; Estela Antipolo of San
Antono, Zambales; Ambrocio Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan; Shierre Ann
Portes-Palicpic of Pagbilao, Quezon; Galicano Atup of Ubay, Bohol; Alfonso
Gubatina of Madalag and James Solanoy of Nabas, both in Aklan; Arthur John Bias
of Sapian, Capiz; Augusto Diaz Corro of Daanbantayan, Cebu; and Ronilo Caspe of
Cabatuan, Macario Napulan of Miagao, Mamerto Pelopero III of Dueas, John
Tarrosa of Zarraga, and Serafin Villa, Jr. of Badiangan, all in Iloilo.
For the
first module of the course, the participants were indulged with recorded video
discussions of Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, Iloilo City Mayor Jed
Mabilog, and Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Jun Pacalioga. They were also
tasked to watch President P-Noy describe his own social contract to guide them
in formulating their own Social Contract to their constituents.
For the
second orientation module, the participants were asked to watch video
recordings of local governance practitioners to help them understand the
concept of decentralization and governance and apply it to their own leadership
style.
The local
government practitioners who shared their insights thru video are: former Sen. Aquilino
Pimentel, Jr.; Mindoro Oriental Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr.; Bohol Gov. Edgardo
Chatto; former San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez; Upi, Maguindanao Mayor
Ramon Piang; and Quezon City administrator Victor Endriga.
LGA
Executive Director Marivel Sacendoncillo said the initial success of the
program is “a positive step forward in the continuous efforts of the DILG and
LGA to better cater to the needs of local government units nationwide in practical
and innovative ways.” (MTE)
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