ILOILO City – The Panghimanwa: 1st Western Visayas Governance Summit and Philippine Local Governance Forum – Development Talk held here on Thursday, October 10, attracted hundreds of participants from local government units (LGUs), regional line agencies, and private sectors across Regions 6, 7, and 8, both in-person and virtually.
The keynote speaker, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon, highlighted the importance of good governance.
She emphasized the seven pillars of effective governance: leadership and foresight, robust laws and policies, strong institutions, financial stewardship, attractive marketplace, global influence and reputation, and helping people rise.
Edillon particularly stressed the crucial role of leadership in local governance, urging local chief executives to embrace visionary leadership.
She cited Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas as an example of a leader with a clear vision, noting his numerous innovative contributions to Iloilo City that have positively impacted the lives of Ilonggos.
“I hope that every local chief executive across the country embodies visionary leadership — creating and communicating a vision, empowering communities, and ensuring that LGUs achieve that vision,” Edillon said.
Organized by the Development Administration Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC), in collaboration with NEDA, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Local Government Academy, and the Iloilo City Government, the summit marked the 33rd anniversary of the Local Government Code of 1991.
Themed “Green, Digital, and Participatory: Shaping the Future Local Governments towards a Progressive, Inclusive, and Resilient Philippines,” the event highlighted innovative practices in governance, focusing on green innovation, digital transformation, and public participation.
According to DILG-6 Assistant Regional Director Maria Calpiza J. Sardua, the summit served as a platform to address emerging issues in local governance and explore futuristic and innovative approaches.
“This activity emphasizes the 33rd anniversary of the Local Government Code, which grants LGUs significant power and autonomy. It also facilitates knowledge-sharing and the promotion of best practices,” Sardua said.
Several LGUs shared their best practices during the event, including:
* Libertad, Antique’s Mayor Mary Jean Te, who presented the award-winning “eAmilyar” initiative, which earned the Digital Governance Award in 2022.
* Bogo City, Cebu’s Information Technology Officer Rogery Tonacao, who discussed their “Smart City Project: Go Digital! Go Smart!”, also a 2022 Digital Governance Awardee.
* Ormoc City, Leyte’s Councilor Lalaine Marcos, who shared the “The Roots of Ormoc’s Tree of Dream” project.
NEDA Region 6 acting director Joyalita Tigres expressed optimism that “the best practices shared today will be replicated by other LGUs.”/PN
