Beboy banners good governance in SOCA

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla attributes the success of his administration to putting good governance at the forefront of his development agenda. In his State of the City Address, the mayor placed emphasis on guarding the people’s money from wastage by putting in place institutional safeguards to ensure proper accounting, recording and disbursement of funds.

The mayor cited the New City Hall inaugurated in Apr. 26, 2010 where the Ormocanons can transact business with comfort and convenience. He described the modern building as a testament of good governance as it was completed at the least cost without incurring any debt.
 

The New City Hall’s building has a gross floor area (GFA) of 14,800 sq.m. and costs P380 million or P23,000 per sq.m. only. Mayor Codilla compared this to the new City Halls of Bacolod and Tagum that are smaller in size but are more expensive at P450 million and P720 million, respectively. The Tagum City Hall has not even been completed as of last year, he said.
 

He then enumerated the characteristics of good governance as transparency, accountability, participative leadership, as well as effectiveness and efficiency of public service. These characteristics reaped for Ormoc recognitions like the Most Business Friendly City ’04 award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its inclusion in Asian Institute of Management’s 10 Most Competitive Cities.
 

Recently, Ormoc was recognized as 1st runner-up in the Search for Child Friendly City. Mayor Codilla said the local government unit (LGU) wasn’t prepared, much less aware of the search because the Social Welfare Department merely submitted Ormoc’s child and youth welfare programs to the national search. The LGU was just surprised to be informed that it placed 2nd after Santiago City.
 

Another important citation was the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) in which the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) declared the Ormoc excellent in four key areas of governance namely:
 

A. Sound fiscal management - no adverse findings from Commission on Audit;
B. Transparency and accountability - full disclosure policy;
C. Use of performance monitoring tools and regular reports; and
D. Good planning (comprehensive city development plant)
 

Provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide that were stamped with SGH were given cash rewards from the DILG’s Local Government Support Fund with Ormoc receiving the highest amount of P45 million in Region 8 and another P2 million for being conferred the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award.
 

While not all the recognitions reaped by Ormoc have been publicized or made it to the news, Mayor Codilla said what is important is that his administration has implemented programs without intending to win awards. “Everything is primarily done because of the needs of the community without any anticipation of receiving a recognition or award,” he said. “We will work for a cause, not for applause.”

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 20-26, 2012)