BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
COPPING the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for the first time was “historic” for Himamaylan City in southern Negros Occidental.
Both Mayor Raymund Tongson (MRT) and Vice Mayor Justin Silos Gatuslao (JSG) were “beyond happy”.
SGLG is a progressive assessment system by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). It gives distinction to remarkable local government units’ (LGU) performance across several areas.
Too, it highlights LGUs’ integrity and good performance to institutionalize local governance reforms in the continuing pursuit for meaningful local autonomy development.
So, I sat down with each MRT and JSG and asked them with several “hows and whys”. I was amazed by their candid responses.
One that tantalized me was when MRT said he simply put life on the famous gutter expression: “Pwede man lang gali! (Maybe it’s okay!)”
In what way?
Pwede man lang gali thatall department, division and section heads or the rank and file employees be given an opportunity or a chance to perform and shine, the mayor stressed.
“That’s why everything fell into place that led us to realize this SGLG award,” he said. It now serves as a “moral booster” for Himamaylanons.
Too, Himamaylan remains a consistent awardee of the DILG on Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) since 2019.
“Pwede man lang gali to execute an ala ‘machine gun operation’ just to cover everything. Hitting two birds with one stone – naka-perform na kami, may premyo pa!”
And to (somehow) level up, MRT is now readying Himamaylan for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certification this year.
Himamaylan will be the first LGU in NegOcc to bid for this ISO certification.
MRT’s aim: To elevate their reputation in governance system.
VOW OF NO REPEAT
MRT is also working hard on various initiatives leading to nick peace and order.
Major encounters between the military and New People’s Army (NPA) in Carabalan and nearby villages in the last quarter of 2022 left “bad scars” for Himamaylan’s quest for peace. And taught lot of lessons for MRT.
“Subong, tanan nga sitwasyon sa ibabaw, ginabunggu-an ko with water, electrification and road projects,” the mayor trumpeted.
Hoping that such encounters will have no repeats, he appended. “We want people in the hinterlands to feel now the strong movements coming from the city.”
And to gradually erase the “bad memories” caused by the series of armed conflicts, MRT bared Himamaylan will be hosting the province-wide Boy Scout Jamboree in Barangay 3 on March 29.
He’s also activating his Manila linkages for “projects galore”. That’s why massive influx of national projects can be felt by Himamaylanons soonest.
New buildings for local and national offices within the periphery of their city hall will be mushrooming, too. Great to note!
PASSION FOR EDUCATION
But one of the most “hymning attributes” of both MRT and JSG is their sheer passion for education. It complements their other programs and projects. This year, they’re enhancing such.
From the usual grant in state colleges and universities (SCUs) for college grantees, for the first time they’re opening 100 slots in private institutions.
But scholars in private schools will still receive the same amount of stipend with those in the SCUs at P5,000 each per semester.
Himamaylan, at present, has 3,200 scholars from Grade 7 to 4th year college.
Each scholar in the junior and senior high receives P1,500 and P3,000/year, respectively.
JSG said they also have scholars in the graduate studies and doctorate program both in public and private institutions, getting P25,000 each per semester.
And the beauty is, this scholarship program, JSG underscored, knows no political colors.
Also, the city recently partnered with the Philippine Business for Education (PBE) to ensure employment for their scholars after graduation. Nice!
MRT said they’re also “cooking” another enhancement element – livelihood programs for the scholars’ parents.
Per experience, the mayor revealed, they have scholars who are also “problematic” in their homes – be in health, fund lack, food, etc. These challenges, he related, sometimes hinder their scholars to go to school. That’s why they’re designing this livelihood programs for the scholars’ parents to ensure their financial viability/capability later.
Then, we’ll teach them about financial responsibility, JSG said.
“So, kon mabuligan ta sila beyond our scholarship program why not? Basi pwede man lang gali,” MRT said.
It’s a sort of a “daring game” for both MRT and JSG that compelled them to strive hard to deliver the “best services” to their constituents. And to think things “out of the box”. Quite challenging, but fulfilling in the end./PN
