Officials from the municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon, and San Fernando, La Union visited Pasig City to learn about the local government’s best practices

For their visit last May 15, the Quezon, Bukidnon delegation brought 37 of their municipal and barangay officials led by Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III.

They were welcomed by Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. and Councilors Angelu De Leon and Volta Delos Santos, all of whom shared their knowledge and experiences as public officials in Pasig.

In their welcome remarks, Jaworski, De Leon, and Delos Santos expressed their appreciation for being chosen as the municipal government’s benchmarking partner. They also hoped that the delegation would be able to learn and adopt new methods and ideas that would benefit and help their municipality.

Discussed were the five priority thrusts of the Sotto administration: good governance, diligent service, universal healthcare, inclusive education, and affordable housing, as well as the Liga ng mga Barangay system in Pasig.

To witness the legislative proceedings of the City, the delegation visited and met with the Pasig City Council during the council’s regular meeting at the session hall.

The delegation also stopped by the Ugnayan ng Pasig (UsaP) Office to learn more about the city government implementing its freedom of information (FOI) policies and programs.

Meanwhile, the San Fernando, La Union delegation, headed by Provincial Administrator Agnes Grace Cargamento, conducted their benchmarking activity in Pasig on May 18.

The activity mainly focused on the Pasig government’s best practices in financial management which the Budget Office presented.

The delegation also visited the City’s Mega Dialysis Center and the Maybunga Rainforest Park to observe the City’s healthcare provision for its citizens and its efforts in environmental conservation, respectively.

Organized by the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office of Pasig City, benchmarking visits are frequently done to grant opportunities for the local government to showcase and share its best programs, policies, and systems with others across the country.

Aside from an exchange of ideas, the visits also enable the local government to gain outsider perspectives of their practices in order to determine further room for improvement, along with insights into innovations and methods of governance that can be considered and implemented within their jurisdiction. (Manila Bulletin)