Layout of Souvenir Program.pmd - galing pook

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2007Galing PookContents03 The Galing Pook04 Stories of Inspiration and Hope in Local Governance05 Spurring Progress in the Countryside06 Together, Making Lives Better PALMA Alliance08 Eco Savers Marikina City10 Preparing Future Leaders Naga City12 The Village Mediators Cebu City14 Land and Shelter for the Homeless Las Piñas City16 Price Support for Rice and Corn Farmers Isabela18 Health Insurance for the Poor Bindoy, Oriental Negros20 A Community Prepared for Disasters Infanta, Quezon22 Munggo: The Black Gold of San Mateo San Mateo, Isabela24 Water Levy for Watershed Development San Carlos City26 The 2007 Finalists27 Special Citation on Local Fiscal Management28 2007 National Selection Committee30 The Galing Pook Board of Trustees and Secretariat31 Galing Pook Theme SongCover Design by Allen M. Mariano • Text and Layout by Allen M. Mariano • Photos by Jimmy A. Domingo and Alex Baluyut2 • Galing Pook 2007

The Galing PookVisionWe are a leading resource institution thatpromotes innovation, sustainability, citizenempowerment, and excellence in localgovernance.MissionWe promote excellence in local governancethrough recognition, sharing of information andsupport of efforts to replicate best practicesat the local level.We encourage partnerships among civil societyorganizations, private sector, and governmentagencies at local, national and global levels toimprove quality of life.The ParartnersFORDFOUNDATIONLOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMYThe Galing Pook awards is a pioneering programthat recognizes innovation and excellence in localgovernance.It started in October 21, 1993 under the joint initiativeof the Local Government Academy-Department of theInterior and Local Government, the Ford Foundation,and other individual advocates of good governancefrom the academe, civil society and the government.The Asian Institute of Management carried on theawards program until 2001. Earlier in 1998, the GalingPook Foundation was formed as a juridical institution tosustain the program.Since 1994, more than 200 programs from 136 localgovernment units have already won recognition. TheGaling Pook winners are chosen each year from a widearray of programs from local governments afterundergoing a rigorous multi-level screening process.The winning programs are selected based on positiveresults, promotion of people's participation andempowerment, transferability and sustainability, andefficiency of program service delivery.Galing Pook 2007 • 3

Waste segregation is basicin ecological wastemanagement. And whatbetter way to educate people aboutwaste segregation and reductionthan by starting them young. InMarikina, the local governmentintroduced a waste reductionprogram that involved schoolchildren. This has enabled theprogram to instill waste segregationand recycling practices at thehousehold level.Through this program, a total of238,000 kilograms of waste havebeen diverted from dumpsites, whichcould have contributed to air andland pollution. The monetary valueof the recyclables has reached atotal of P1.3 Million, which couldhave ended up in the dumpsite hadthey not been recovered.Introduced in June 2004 byMarikina’s Waste ManagementOffice, in coordination with theDepartment of Education, the Eco-Savers program required studentsto bring recyclable garbage fromtheir respective households during anassigned Eco Day—the day whenthe garbage is going to be weighedand credited to their issued ecopassbooks. Each of the 18 publicelementary schools in the city isassigned an Eco Day, which is oncea week.Accredited junk shops weigh therecyclables, record these in thepassbooks and haul all therecyclables collected. Therecyclables are then valuedaccording to the prevailing marketprice and reflected in the individualpassbooks using a point system(PhP1.00 = 1 point). Points earnedentitle the eco-saver to shop in theEco-Savers Mobile Store, which visitsthe school twice within the school8 • Galing Pook 2007

Naga CityPreparing Future LeadersThe City Youth MonthProgram of the Naga Citygovernment is an 18-year oldcompetitive local internship initiativethat exposes future leaders of thecity to the challenges of urbangovernance. For a month each year,the project enabled selected youthleaders to experience how tohandle local government operations.After the 1986 Edsa uprising, thenew city government under MayorJesse Robredo created a mechanismfor more meaningful youthinvolvement in government thatwould stoke “their sincerity andenthusiasm in helping build a countrythey have always wanted.” Themechanism would impart “a firsthandknowledge of governmentfunctions related to communityproblems and development,”according to Robredo in hisExecutive Order 89-001, whichdeclared April 15-May 15 as youthmonth in Naga.Since then, Naga’s top youth leadershave been competing annually forthe chance to land in one of the 45slots that would put them at theexecutive (city youth mayor anddepartment heads), and legislative(city youth vice mayor andsangguniang panlungsodkagawads) positions, as well as inthe non-government sector as NagaCity People’s Youth Councilrepresentatives that togethercomprise Naga’s uniqueparticipatory governance model.While there are limits to theauthority extended to the City YouthOfficials during their term (forinstance, they cannot perform policydetermining and monetarydisbursing functions), they are givena great leeway in running the affairsof the city government.The project enhanced greaterinvolvement of the youth ingovernment affairs. It allowedintelligent and responsibleyoungsters to experience for a briefperiod how government operationsare managed. And, it permittedproper planning and implementationof projects that entailed theinvolvement of the youth.The program is managed by theCYM Committee which oversees theselection of the annual CYOs fromamong the successful examinees. TheCommittee also handles informationdissemination, administers writtenand oral exams, selects the final listof CYOs for appointment by themayor, prepares and conducts theiroath-taking, and orients them on therequirements of the job.Over time, the number of CYOsincreased to reflect the local realitiesin the governance of Naga. Therewere 34 CYOs between 1989 to1998. This increased to 37 between1999 to 2005 to providerepresentation for the newly createddepartments. In 2006, the CYO’snumbered 45 to providerepresentation to the NCPC. In2006, the program also openedparticipation to qualified out-ofschoolyouths.In line with the recommendations ofvisiting University of British Columbiagraduate students who evaluatedthe program in May 2007, the citywill undertake improvements relatedto terms of inclusion, documentationand greater convergence with otherlocal youth initiatives of the city.The program has so far enabled689 of the city’s youth populationto benefit from this internshipopportunity, and provided aninvaluable real-life, real-timeeducation in one of the best citygovernments in the Philippines today.In fact, four of the 30 departmentsand offices in the city governmentare now headed by the alumni ofthe City Youth Month program.Clearly, Naga has shown how weshould prepare the country’s futureleaders.CONTACTMayor Jesse M. RobredoTel. Nos. (054)473-2240; (054)811-1286Email: mayor@naga.gov.ph10 • Galing Pook 2007

For a month, selected youth leaders experiencehow to handle local government operationsGaling Pook 2007 • 11

The efforts of the league produced47 accredited trainors. The seminarworkshopsconducted amongclustered barangays in differentsessions made the Lupons moreknowledgeable about KatarungangPambarangay (Barangay Justice)and developed their competenceand skills in mediation.In the past, the summons issued byLupons to the parties in a conflictoften went ignored. This changedafter the pulong-pulongs that wereconducted in the sitios in thebarangay resulted in betterawareness among the residents.After that, the Lupons beganreporting a 100% attendanceamong those summoned.Judiciary statistics reveal that thegovernment is able to savePhP10,000.00 for every casesettled at the barangay level. Thecompetence of the Lupons in settlingdisputes through conciliation resultedin the decreasing number of casesfiled in court dockets. Between 2004to 2006, the Lupons managed toresolve six out of 10 cases that theyhandled. In 2004, out of the 11,895cases filed, 7,286 were resolved. In2005, the Lupons successfullymediated 7,220 cases out of the11,568 filed. And in 2006, out ofthe 13,600 cases filed, 8,541 weresettled by the Lupons.Lupon members are now recognizedas persons in authority and havegained the people’s trust andrespect because of theirprofessionalism, intelligence andimpartiality in settling disputes.Litigants no longer hesitate to submitthemselves to the Lupons and acceptthe advice or decision handed downby the Lupon members.In addition, the community is alsocollectively involved in conflictresolution activities in the barangays.The government is able to save PhP10,000.00for every case settled at the barangay levelThey now determine the proceduresand processes entailed in settlingconflicts and negotiating solutionsand compromises.The Liga’s Constitution and By-Lawsensure both the sustainability of theprograms and projects as well as thesmooth transfer of power andresponsibilities from the present setof officers to the newly elected setof officers. Since the BarangayJustice System is supposed to beimplemented in all the country’sbarangays, other LGU’s should haveno problem replicating the exampleset by Cebu City. With a workingbarangay justice system in place,many communities could end up moreharmonious and peaceful than theyare today. And this could only augurwell for a country surmounted withfiles of court cases barely movingand that can easily be resolvedthrough the grassroots justice systemexemplified in Cebu City.CONTACTMayor Tomas R. OsmeñaTel. Nos. (032)412-0000 loc. 801;(032)253-7558Email: pio@cebucity.gov.phGaling Pook 2007 • 13

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IsabelaPrice Support t for Rice and Corn FarmersIsabela Province is one of thebiggest corn and rice producingprovinces in the Philippines. But,only big traders and middlemenwere benefiting and not the farmerswho were the real producers. Thisprompted the provincial governmentto launch the Price StabilizationProgram for Rice and Corn, apartnership between the ProvincialGovernment of Isabela and theNational Food Authority.Beginning in October 2005, aportion of Isabela’s EconomicDevelopment Fund was used tosubsidize rice and corn productionin the province. A sum of PhP2.00per kilo is added to the supportprice of the NFA for corn and rice.To promote the program, theprovincial government conductedadvocacy campaigns and theholding of a buyers-sellers forum. AMemorandum of Agreementbetween the Local Government Unitand the National Food Authoritywas also executed. To increasepublic awareness and acceptance ofthe project, the local governmentundertook print and broadcastinformation drives at the barangayand municipal level, organizedmeetings and briefings andlaunched advocacy campaigns.The price stabilization programhelped Isabela’s grains farmersfetch higher prices for their products.It also made the governor verypopular among her constituents.Contrary to earlier expectations thatthe program would not sit well withIsabela’s businessmen and traders,most have actually welcomed theproject. When market prices arecompetitive, the provincialgovernment bids out the stocks ofrice and corn to interested tradersor businessmen. The income derivedfrom the sale goes back to theprovincial fund and is subsequentlychanneled to help even morefarmers for the next harvest season.The pricestabilization programhelped Isabela’sgrains farmers fetchhigher prices for theirproducts.So far, the provincial governmentinvested PhP4.5 million and earneda net profit of PhP450,000. Whilethe total funds of the NFA and theprovincial government would notsuffice to cover all the products ofIsabela’s farmers, it is ensuringleverage alongside big traders andmiddlemen for them to tow theprevailing support price since theyare no longer the sole buyers of thestaple produce. The governor haseven allowed traders from otherparts of the country (like Bulacan,Batangas, and Pangasinan), tobuy Isabela’s rice and corn harvestsand directly negotiate with thefarmers. The program actuallymanaged to influence the traders’prices to go up that the farmersresumed selling to them. As far asthe provincial government of Isabelais concerned, the less farmers goingto NFA, the better.So far, the program has benefitted87,500 rice farmers and 85,086corn producers. The provincialgovernment is set to expandand improve the project in order toserve even more farmers. It plans tomake more agricultural facilitiesavailable, such as trucks to haulproducts especially from the remoteand inaccessible barangays. It alsoplans to improve farm-to-marketroads and drying facilities as wellas to promote the use of organicfertilizers and integrated pestmanagement. This would encouragefarmers to produce more as they areensured of better prices for theirproducts. Meanwhile, the NFA ismulling suggestions to relax its strictstandards on moisture content andpurity. National and regionalofficials of the NFA say that otherprovinces have expressed the desireto have similar programs for theirfarmers after learning about itssuccess in Isabela.Price subsidy programs, in general,do not work. But maybe, localitieslike Isabela, where political will andthe support of farmers and tradersare present, could make the pricesupport program work.CONTACTGovernor Grace M. PadacaTel. Nos. (078)624-2038; (078)622-0955Email: provinceofisabela@yahoo.com.phGaling Pook 2007 • 17

Bindoy, , Oriental NegrosHealth Insurance for the Poor“ Bawal magkasakit!” (It isforbidden to get sick!). This isthe tagline of a commercialadvertisement which highlighted thefact that medicines are prohibitivelyexpensive in the Philippines;especially for indigent families. But,in Bindoy, Oriental Negros, indigentfamilies are assured of anaffordable health insuranceprogram.A 2006 survey showed that 73percent of the 7,204 households inBindoy are indigents with a percapita income of less thanPhP11,480. To date, all of theseindigent households are covered bythe Bindoy Social Health InsuranceIndigency Program. Before theprogram was put in place, most ofthose who got sick and hospitalizedcould not afford the necessary drugsand medicines and often could notpay their hospital bills because theywere impoverished. Often, theywould choose to endure their illnessand would only go to the doctorwhen their health has deteriorated.That all changed in February 2002when the BSHIIP started.The BSHIIP aimed to provideaffordable and quality health careespecially to the poor. But, unlike inother areas, where the municipalgovernment assumed soleresponsibility for the local premiumcounterpart, Bindoy’s leadershipensured that the province,municipality, barangays, and thesponsored families contributed insustaining the program. Even thecongressional representativecontributed in the initial phase ofimplementation by providing thebasic equipment necessary for theprovision of the Outpatient BenefitPackage. The LGU also conductedan intensive information campaignabout the program’s benefits andsuccessfully encouraged the peopleto participate.The annual premium required toprovide PhilHealth coverage to anindigent family amounts toPhP1,200. The national governmentshoulders the bulk of the premiumcost depending on the incomeclassification of the LGU. For everybeneficiary that the LGU enrols intothe National Health InsuranceProgram, it earns a capitation fundof PhP300. As a result, Bindoy hasbeen earning PhP1.5 million peryear, which it re-channels for thepurchase of hospital equipment andmedicines that further improveshealth care delivery.In the initial year of implementation,the households’ membership in theprogram was offered at no cost. Butin the second year, a BSHIIP18 • Galing Pook 2007

Financial Profile of the Program in the last three years (in PhP)SOURCE OF FUNDS YEAR 2004 YEAR 2005 YEAR 2006(3 rd yr of implementation) (4 th yr of implementation) (5 th yr of implementation)Municipal Counterpart 355,000 300,000 300,000Barangay Counterpart 122,858 122,650 125,702Provincial Counterpart 200,000 200,000 200,000Household (HH) Counterpart Target Collection 364,980 465,960 631,320TOTAL BUDGET ALLOCATION 1,042,838 1,088,610 1,257,022TOTAL AMOUNT PAID PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION 779,280 631,320 631,320household member was required to pay a measlyPhP120 as an annual premium counterpart. This wasintroduced and institutionalized by the LGU as the“Innovative Sharing Scheme of the Local PremiumCounterpart.” When a household could not pay in cash,it was allowed to pay in kind or render service to thebarangay. The rural health workers were tasked tocollect the household contributions.Records show that the program elicited strong communityinvolvement as evidenced by the equity contributed byhousehold counterparts which was relatively largercompared to the rest of the premium share contributions.In the past three years, the collection from householdsaveraged 92 percent. The household counterpartcontribution has also reached PhP1,350,878.70, whichis even higher than the municipal budget allocation ofPhP955,000. In 2006, 612 beneficiaries have availedof the hospitalization benefits and 4,406 had soughtprimary consultation. About 3,254 beneficiaries havealso availed of the complimentary OPB servicesprovided at no cost by the RHU diagnostic laboratory.The program has clearly made a mark in the healthservice delivery of the municipality.The BSHIIP is now a model for those who seek to adoptBindoy’s health insurance scheme for its poor constituents.The former Local Chief Executive, who originally startedthe program in Bindoy, has been invited as resourcespeaker to different areas and for various conferencesin the country to share Bindoy’s experience in healthcare delivery. The much improved health facility andupgraded health service capabilities are now sites forstudy tours from different LGUs and NGOs all over thecountry.CONTACTMayor Rosa Yap ParasTel. Nos. (035)405-3011(035)405-3014Galing Pook 2007 • 19

Infanta, QuezonA Community Prepared for DisastersPerhaps, there is no betterwake-up call than a disasterthat has just occurred;especially one which resulted in themassive loss of lives and property.Such was the case for the LGU inInfanta, Quezon after flashfloodsswept away barangays in themunicipality in November 29, 2004.The disaster galvanized themunicipal government of Infanta andits communities to develop their ownCommunity-based DisasterPreparedness and ManagementProgram for the 60,209 residents.And what better way to prepare fordisaster than by enjoining everyoneto play their important part.With the CBDPM in place, Infantawas able to coordinate with Searchand Rescue teams during theoccurrence of Typhoon “Reming” inInfanta in December 2006 andmanaged to rescue and evacuate anumber of affected families. In thespan of only three years, the LGUalso managed to rehabilitate andrepair municipal roads, bridges andother infrastructures damaged bythe November 2004 flashfloods.With the help of international andlocal NGOs and funding donors, therecovery period of localentrepreneurs, people’sorganizations, farmers and fisherfolks was also shortened.Infanta’s “community-based”approach to disaster preparednessand management has promotedself-reliance, especially within thefirst 24 hours of emergencyresponse, while awaiting help fromoutside. By doing so, Infanta wasable to organize and train individualresidents, their families, theirbarangays, and their communities to20 • Galing Pook 2007

espond appropriately to anydisaster or emergency. The LGU alsoempowered small multi-sectoral“core groups” within the community(i.e., the reorganized andreactivated Municipal DisasterCoordinating Council, SpecialCommittee on Agos RiverRehabilitation and Flood Control,and Special Committee on PoblacionArea Drainage System) to plan,implement, monitor and sustain, in aparticipatory manner, any disasterpreparedness and risk reductionprogram of the municipality.The barangays were taught thattheir community could reduce therisks of natural hazards by reducingthe vulnerabilities of their residents,implementing the four important Ps(Predict, Plan, Prepare, Practice),and focusing on their owncommunity-based early warningand communication systems. Infantaalso installed community-basedearly warning systems andestablished two-way radiocommunication between thebarangays. It also conducted annualdrills and exercises for flashflood,fire and earthquake preparedness.Representatives from the privateThe four important Ps ofdisaster preparedness—Predict, Plan, Prepare,and Practice!sector and civil society organizationswere encouraged to suggest, plan,prioritize and implement programs,projects and activities related toCBDPM.Upon learning that concreteengineering interventions wereintroduced in Tarlac and Pampangato protect their localities andresidents, the SCARRFC launched asignature campaign requesting thenational government to payattention to the perennial threat offlashflood recurrence in Infanta andto allocate funds from the nationalcoffers to construct flood controldikes along the banks of Agos river.In addition, the SCARRFC initiatedseveral community mobilization orbayanihan activities (like sandbagging),which are designed toboost the sagging morale of thepeople of Infanta and to catch theattention of the nationalgovernment.The communities were able to lobbyMalacañang officials for the releaseof PhP50M earmarked for theconstruction of slope protectionstructures and river re-channelingprojects. The LGU also acquiredadditional reconditioned heavyequipment such as a bulldozer, dumptrucks and back hoe through its2006 Supplemental Budgetamounting to PhP9M, which itemployed for the Agos riverrehabilitation and flood control,dredging of waterways and canals,and other development projects ofthe municipality.To sustain its initiatives, the MunicipalDevelopment Council added thewords “disaster-resilient citizenry” toInfanta’s municipal vision for the next30 years. It meant the inclusion ofCBDPM into the mainstream of goodgovernance. As a result, a sizeablebudget is being allocated for DPMactivities from the annual generalfund and IRA (internal revenueallotment) of the LGU. Infanta hassince been receiving a steady streamof visitors composed of officials fromother LGUs, students, teachers, NGOworkers, as well as foreigners. Theyhope to learn how Infanta was ableto recover so fast from the disasterand how the LGU, in partnership withthe community, is implementing itsCBDPM program successfully. Theinvitation of the Japan Bank forInternational Cooperation forInfanta to share their experience onCBDPM to an international audiencein Kyoto is further testament to thesuccess of the project.CONTACTMayor Filipina Grace R. AmericaTel. Nos. (042)535-2982(042)535-2281Galing Pook 2007 • 21

Munggo:The Black Goldof San MateoIn the Municipality of San Mateo,the local government noticed amarked decline in the rice harvestyield, which was traced to thedepletion of organic materialsbrought about by chemical intensivefarming. Decreasing yields meantdwindling incomes for the farmers.To reverse the trend, the municipalgovernment introduced a differentcropping pattern involving rice andmunggo (mung bean) production.Locally called balatong, munggo isa drought-tolerant crop. The rootsystem of this leguminous crop alsorestores the natural fertility of thesoil as it is filled with nitrogen-fixingbacteria. This crop is also adaptableto various growing conditions and iseasy to grow and maintain. It is bestgrown shortly before the onset ofthe summer season, when the soil stillholds substantial moisture. Thus, it isthe perfect candidate to plant in SanMateo’s rice fields after the riceharvest in March, when the rice landsare left idle to dry in the scorchingmonths of summer. By plantingmunggo during these dry months, therice farmers could earn additionalincome as well as produceadditional food for their families.In February 2002, San Mateo’s localgovernment devised a Plant Now,Pay Later scheme to intensifymunggo production and entice22 • Galing Pook 2007

farmers to try the program. Throughthis scheme, farmers could avail of20 kilos of munggo seeds and onlypay for it after the harvest.Four years after the municipalgovernment encouraged its farmersto make use of their idle time forplanting munggo, the town now hasmore than 7,000 hectares ofmunggo farms during the dryseason. A production of 800 to1,000 kilos of munggo per hectareat the prevailing price of PhP32.00per kilo translated into incomesranging from PhP25,600 toPhP32,000 per hectare. This meantPhP224 million in additional incomeduring the summer for San Mateo’sfarmers who take their time off fromplanting rice. Munggo production notonly restored soil fertility in the ricefarms, it also greatly enhanced theincome of most of the families as 90percent of San Mateo’s populationwas dependent on agriculture as themain source of livelihood.And there wereother benefitsgained fromplanting munggo.After harvest time,the munggo farmswere used asforage for farmanimals, andprovided respite tothe farmers who nolonger needed totake the animals togreener pastures.With munggo ontheir tables, most of the families nowhad a protein-rich diet. Moreover,the threshed pods could be turnedinto compost or organic fertilizerwhich translated into lesser farmexpenditures. And, the burnt hull ofthe munggo could be used as theseed bed for mushroom production,which also has a large incomepotential. Lastly, womenorganizations profited from munggoproduction by processing it intovarious food delicacies like butchi,moriecos, munggo bread,guinataang munggo and lumpianggulay.Eventually, San Mateo begancelebrating a Munggo Field Day.The event included site visits ofmunggo demonstration farms,seminars and a Farmers’ Forum onthe various aspects of munggoproduction and marketing.The success of the program gainedthe support of the ProvincialGovernment, the District HouseRepresentative and the Departmentof Agriculture. The DTI and DOSTprovided processing and marketingstrategies in the promotion of theprogram, and the LGU also beganparticipating in the One Town, OneProduct program.The many benefits derived by themunicipality from munggoproduction have prompted SanMateo to refer to the plant as its“black gold.” This is becausemunggo plants are ready forharvest when the pods turn blackand its leaves defoliate.Other municipalities in Isabela likeCabatuan, Roxas, San Manuel, andAurora are now emulating thisprogram. The Municipal Mayor ofSan Mateo was even invited to theProvincial Capitol to share SanMateo’s expertise in mungbeanproduction. They all hope that, oneday, they would also be able toreap their very own black gold.Munggo productiongreatly enhanced theincome of the familiesCONTACTMayor Roberto C. AgcaoiliTel. Nos. (078)664-2208; (078)664-2603Email: nonoyagcaoili@yahoo.comGaling Pook 2007 • 23

capacity-building on agro-forestryand livelihood programs as well ascommunity organizing. Policy andtechnical support is further providedby the DENR and the GermanDevelopment Service. Theseorganizations contribute theirspecific expertise to attain a holisticapproach to sustainabledevelopment.The project employed an integratedforest land use approach thatdetermined type of reforestationand agricultural activity based onland slope. Specific areas aredesignated for settlement, livestock,fruit-bearing plants, productionforest, and protection forest. Thestrategy balances the needs of thecommunities with conservationconcerns.Started in 2005, the project hasbrought tangible results. To date, atotal of 211,348 trees have beenplanted. Fourteen species were usedfor diversity. Some were shortrotation species for fuel andcharcoal while others were longrotation species for timberproduction. Public acceptance of theproject has also been increasing.Some landowners and corporationseven set aside a portion of theirlands for protection forest. A totalof 140.8 hectares of private landsare now also covered by the project.Communities living within thewatershed areas were providedwith livelihood opportunities (such aslivestock and agriculturalproduction) to ensure that they wouldnot use critical environmental areasfor economic activities such as illegallogging, unsustainable charcoalproduction and shifting cultivation onsteep slopes. The estimated incomeof the farmers from livestock andagricultural production isPhP60,000.00 annually. Thecommunities would also be able toearn approximately PhP1 million inlabor payments for three years ofplanting operations and nurserymaintenance.People’s involvement, particularlythe formation of the CommunityWatershed ManagementAssociation, is not just an issue ofparticipation and empowerment butprimarily of sustainability. Thisensures that the community willmaintain and take care of thewatershed long after the project hasbeen phased out.There is now an ongoing effort toreplicate the San Carlos WatershedManagement and DevelopmentProject on a wider scale, which wouldinvolve 11 cities and municipalitiesin Negros. This has led to theformation of the Northern NegrosForest Reserve Management Councilwhere the eleven LGUs agreed toshare resources and strategies. Withthis development, Negrenses arenow pretty well assured of cleanwater for a long, long time.CONTACTMayor Eugenio Jose V. LacsonTel. Nos. (034)729-3050; (034)312-5113Email: cmo_scc@yahoo.comFor each cubic meter ofwater, the citygovernment charges 75centavos which goes toa trust fund forwatershed developmentand protectionGaling Pook 2007 • 25

T H E 2 0 0 7 F I N A L I S T SButuan City. Tuloy Aral Walang Sagabal for Special ChildrenThis is a program aimed at rehabilitating special childrenand mainstreaming them in day care centers and regularand special education classes. It has served 101 differentlyabledchildren from the original number of 42, and hasmainstreamed 18% of them to regular and special educationclasses and day care centers. An important feature of thisprogram is the participation of the parents and families ofthese special children.Cebu Province. A New Approach to PenologyMore than 1,500 prisoners of the provincial jail havedemonstrated to the nation and the world that there is joy,productivity, solidarity, hope, pride, discipline, creativity andlife inside prison and beyond.Looc, Romblon. Looc Bay Fish and Marine SanctuaryAn integrated coastal resource management programcentered on the conservation of the two fish and marinesanctuaries within the Looc Bay. Not financed by big foreigndonors, the LGU of Looc and the Bantay Dagat volunteersand fisherfolk worked together leading to sustainable fishcatch, preservation of fish and marine species as well asincreased eco-tourism activities.Maitum, Sarangani.Lamlunay (“In the Forest”) Research and Learning CenterThrough this 108-hectare facility located in Maitum,Sarangani. the local government maintains nurseries of fruittrees and other crops and distributes seedlings to barangays.Demo farms using sloping agricultural land technology anddiversified farming systems are also maintained in the center.Through the facility, the average family income in Brgy. Upohas continuously increased from PhP4,000 in 2004 toPhP7,000 in 2005, and to PhP10,000 in 2006.San Fernando City, La Union. Enhancing Service Deliverythrough a Basic Integrated Approach to Good GovernanceThe city government used an approach integrating thestrategies in the provision of health, social welfare, andenvironmental services. As a result of the program,malnutrition rate in children aged 0-6 has decreased from12.49% to 5.53%. The total number of patients served bythe city’s five lying in clinics has also increased from 3,314to 10,152. And 12,293 households (61.43%) are nowpracticing waste segregation.26 • Galing Pook 2007Sarangani Province. Working for Indigenous Peoples DevelopmentThe program worked for the acquisition of IP tenurialinstruments in ancestral domains, restoration of the culturalheritage and identity of Sarangani IPs, increasedparticipation of IPs in development, and the provision ofsocio-economic and environmental services in IP communities.The Sarangani Heritage Code and the Environmental Codespecifically in ICCs have been crafted.

Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan. Promoting Transparencythrough Information TechnologyThe first LGU in ARMM to computerize its operations leadingto better data-based decision-making by the mayor andher staff, faster and cheaper work processes which translateinto increased income and more efficient delivery of servicesand a more satisfied LGU clientele.Tangub City. Empowering Farmers through the BAYANIHAN Farm ClustersAfter clustering the city’s upland barangays into four groups,appropriate farm technologies and inputs were introduced.Breeder goats, post-harvest facilities, crop diversification andspecialization led to increased farm production, benefitingaround 1,500 upland farmers.Tarlac City. Strengthening Cooperativesthrough the Magsikap Tarlak! ProgramIn partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines, theprogram strengthened the capabilities of 72 cooperativesthrough financial and technical assistance, translating to4,781 direct member-beneficiaries, combined capital baseof P36.36M, and mobilized savings of P8.27M.SPECIAL CITATION ON LOCAL FISCAL MANAGEMENTMunicipality of Infanta, QuezonThe Special Citation on Local Fiscal Management is apartnership between Galing Pook Foundation, the EconomicPolicy Reform Agenda (EPRA) Project and the DevelopmentBank of the Philippines. The Special Citation hopes to drawattention to the need for stronger financial performanceamong LGUs.The Special Citation was implemented parallel to the regularGaling Pook Awards, whereby its 19 Finalists were subjectedto the fiscal management evaluation tools and performancebenchmarks. To win the citation, the LGU must show decliningdependence on internal revenue allotments (IRA) for the lastthree years and increasing importance of local revenues asindicated in growth in collection from local sources. The LGUshould also exhibit good performance when it comes to itsratio of local revenues in relation to the local budget andlocal revenue collection per capita. Elasticity of local income(or percent change in collection relative to percent changein Gross Regional Domestic Product) was also evaluated.The Municipality of Infanta in Quezon is recognized for itsgood fiscal performance compared with the other LGUfinalists, considering the difficulties that the LGU encounteredin managing its resources. Infanta has been challenged byphysical disasters and to be able to accomplish so muchdeserves recognition.Its IRA has been declining from 83 percent to 81 percent oftotal revenues and its locally generated revenues accountfor 14.71 percent of total revenues. The LGU uses its powersto raise non-tax revenues well. Non-tax revenues accountedfor 8.0 percent of total revenues compared to a nationalaverage of 6.52 percent.Infanta also displayed buoyant growth rates in collection.Local sources grew by 25.17 percent compared to a 6.42percent IRA increase. Tax collection grew by 41.19 percentin 2006 and non-tax collection rose by 56.0 percent. Thesegrowth rates exceeded the average growth rates for allmunicipalities which were used as benchmarks.• Milwida Guevara• Gil Beltran• Purificacion AgcaoiliSpecial Citation Committee• Raymund Fabre• Rene FortunoGaling Pook 2007 • 27

2007 National Selection CommitteeNEREUS ACOSTA, Professor of Public Policy at the AteneoSchool of Government, Xavier University and the Ateneo deManila Political Science Department, served as Congressmanof the 1st District of Bukidnon. Dr. Acosta was named thefirst Filipino World Fellow of Yale University in 2004 inrecognition of his advocacies on education and theenvironment, primarily as principal author of the landmark1999 Clean Air Act, the 2004 Clean Water Act and the2001 Solid Waste Management Act.RAFAEL COSCOLLUELA is currently the Administrator of theSugar Regulatory Administration. He was the PresidentialAdviser for Western Visayas. He served as Governor ofNegros Occidental for three consecutive terms, during whichhe garnered two Galing Pook Awards. He also serves asChairman of ESKAN, a Negros-based NGO engaged ineducation reform, trustee of Synergeia Foundation as wellas Chairperson of the Galing Pook Foundation.EDERLINDA FERNANDEZ is Professor at the WesternMindanao State University and a nationally recognizedexpert in gender and governance. She organized the WMSUWomen’s Research and Resource Center and assisted thelocal government of Zamboanga City in establishing the LocalCouncil of Women. She was editor-in-chief of The Torch ofthe Philippine Normal College and the National Secretaryof the College Editor’s Guild, Philippines (CEGP).JAIME GALVEZ TAN is currently the President of HealthFutures Foundation and was a former Secretary of Health.He held senior positions at the UNICEF and has been aConsultant for the WHO, UNDP, UNFPA, The World Bank,ADB, and the USAID. He was also Vice Chancellor forResearch at the UP Manila and Executive Director of theNational Institutes of Health. He is a Bill Gates Fellow 2000in Leadership and Management at the Johns HopkinsBloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, USA.JOSE RENE GAYO is the Executive Director of PAREFSouthridge School in Alabang and the Founding Dean ofthe University of Asia and the Pacific School of Management.He serves in the board of trustees of a number of socialdevelopment organizations and is listed as one of the 2000Outstanding Scholars of the 20th Century in the InternationalBiographical Centre of Cambridge, England.MILWIDA GUEVARA is CEO of Synergeia Foundation andFellow of the Public Finance Institute of the Philippines. Shewas Undersecretary of Finance in-charge of domesticresource mobilization. She served as Co-Chairman of thePresidential Task Force on Tax and Tariff Reforms whichformulated the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program of theRamos Government. She has been cited by numerousorganizations for her integrity, commitment to public service,strong advocacy against tax evasion and her efforts incontinuous attainment of a healthy fiscal sector.28 • Galing Pook 2007

CIELITO HABITO is currently a Professor of Economicsat the Ateneo de Manila University, where he is alsoDirector of the Ateneo Center for Economic Researchand Development. He is also a regular columnist ofthe Philippine Daily Inquirer. As former Secretary ofSocioeconomic Planning and Director-General ofNEDA, Dr. Habito was the youngest member of theCabinet of President Fidel V. Ramos.BEN MALAYANG III is currently the President ofSilliman University and was a former Undersecretaryof the DENR. He is a Senior Fellow of the DevelopmentAcademy of the Philippines and Fellow of the StrategicStudies Group of the National Defense College of thePhilippines. Dr. Malayang was also Full Professor andDean of the School of Environmental Science andManagement of the UP in Los Baños.LEONARDO MONTEMAYOR is currently the NationalPresident of the Federation of Free Farmers and BoardChairman of the FFF Cooperative, Inc. Mr. Montemayor, aformer Secretary of Agriculture, co-authored major lawsand has written extensively on issues about the empowermentof coconut and grains farmers, agrarian reform, cooperativesand other important political issues.TINA MONZON-PALMA is the Program Director of BantayBata 163. An iconic member of Philippine BroadcastJournalism history, she had the strength, courage and dignityto broadcast to a nation under Martial Law. Today, she is ananchor on ABS-CBN’s nightly news channel “The WorldTonight” on ANC and host of the weekly issue-orientedinteractive talk show “Talkback with Tina Monzon-Palma” onANC and A.M. radio station DZMM.AUSTERE PANADERO is presently the Undersecretary ofDILG for Local Government. He is principally responsiblefor developing and implementing policies, programs andprojects addressing the capability-building requirement oflocal government units. Mr. Panadero also served as SeniorVice-President for Operations of the Development Academyof the Philippines, a government controlled corporationproviding technical assistance in organizational and humanresource development.Regional Selection CommitteeLuzon• Helen Dayo• Leonardo Quitos, Jr.• Luz Lopez-Rodriguez• Amelia Supetran• Ofelia TemploVisayas and Mindanao• Nichol Elman• Ishak Mastura• Edwin Nacionales• Imelda Pagtolun-an• Marion VillanuevaROSALINDA PAREDES is currently the Partnership Adviserfor Philippine-Australia Local Governance DevelopmentProgram. She was involved in capacity building of localgovernments on public service excellence for health service,development planning, human resources development andinstitution building. She presently co-chairs PROCESS-BOHOL, Inc., a non-government organization dedicated toempowering women and fisherfolk in coastal communities.EMMA PORIO is Professor of Sociology and past chairmanof the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at theAteneo de Manila University. She chairs the Technical Panelfor Sociology and Anthropology in the Commission on HigherEducation of the Philippines as well as member of theExecutive Council of the International Sociological Associationand the Board of Directors of the Global DevelopmentNetwork. Dr. Porio has done extensive research on children,women, poverty, development, and governance.MARIVEL SACENDONCILLO is the Executive Director of theLocal Government Academy. She is also the President of theLocal Government Training and Research Institutes - PhilippineNetwork. Ms. Sacendoncillo’s expertise are in the areas ofcapacity building, development management, conflictmanagement and post-conflict recovery.VERONICA VILLAVICENCIO is Executive Director of thePeace and Equity Foundation, Inc. and was the Lead Convenor(Secretary) of the National Anti-Poverty Commission. Shealso served as Program Director of the Philippine Businessfor Social Progress, Grants Program Director of theFoundation for the Philippine Environment and ProgramCoordinator for APPROTECH ASIA.Galing Pook 2007 • 29

G A L I N G P O O K F O U N D A T I O NBoard of TrusteesRafael L. Coscolluela Chairperson. Administrator, SugarRegulatory Administration. Former Governor of NegrosOccidental and Presidential Adviser for Western VisayasRamon P. Ereñeta, Jr. Vice-Chairperson. Executive Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer, Philippine RacingClub. Faculty, Ateneo Law SchoolEmma E. Porio Secretary. Professor, Department ofSociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila UniversityEmilia T. Boncodin Treasurer. Professor, National Collegeof Public Administration and Governance, UP DilimanFormer Secretary of Budget and ManagementCielito F. Habito Trustee. Director, Ateneo Center forEconomic Research and Development. Former Director-General, National Economic Development AuthorityCecilia L. Lazaro Trustee. Founding President of ProbeProductions, Inc.Austere A. Panadero Trustee. Undersecretary for LocalGovernment, Department of the Interior and LocalGovernmentVictor O. Ramos Trustee. Board Member, Ramos Peaceand Development Foundation. Former Secretary ofEnvironment and Natural ResourcesPatricia A. Sto. Tomas Trustee. Chairperson, DevelopmentBank of the Philippines. Former Secretary of Labor andEmploymentSecretariatEddie Dorotan, MD, MPA • Executive DirectorPamela Grafilo • Program OfficerLorenzo Ubalde, MDM • Program OfficerMarie Guzman • Administration and Finance OfficerAdrian Adove • Program AssistantGigi Barazon • Program AssistantEdith Ramos • Administration and Finance AssistantChristine Beltran • Administrative Assistant30 • Galing Pook 2007

Galing Pookmusic and lyrics by Gary Granadavocals: Gary Granada, Bayang Barrios, Noel Cabangon,Shane and Dave of Crazy as Pinoy, PETA kids, Luke GranadaAng aming adhikainAy simple lang namanSapat sa pangunahingMga pangangailanganSaan mahahagilapAng mga munting pangarapMakaigpaw sa hirapMaalwang hinaharapSa punyagi at kusaMunting pamayananSa husay kinilalaUmani ng karangalanKayraming nagsasabingAng galing galing daw naminSaan ba nanggagalingAno ba’ng anting-anting?Simple lang yanKaya mo yan, bay!Sa malikhaing paraan, sa paraang malikhainKasama ang mamamayan, mamamaya’y pagsamahinPagbabago na lantad, lantad na pagbabagoTuloy-tuloy na pag-unlad, tuloy-tuloy na pag-asensoSa dami ng balakidSa dami ng hadlangAng diwang nalulupigNagtitiis na langNgunit huwag kang papayagHuwag kang pabubuwayTadhanang ating paladNasa ating kamayChorus counterpoint:Galing Pook..Ang sabi ng iba, ang galing ng PilipinoMagaling na mang-isa, mandaraya, manlolokoAng sakit sa tenga, kahit di mo matanggapGanyan daw talaga, yan ang sabi ng lahatSubalit doon sa aming mumunting komunidadNamayani ang maraming kabutihan ang hangadPinaghusay ang lokal na gobyernong niluklokPinagpala’t natanghal na isang Galing Pook!Ang sabi ng marami, Pilipino ay tamadWalang respeto sa sarili, dangal at dignidadPalakasang palasak, boto na nilalakoLider na nagbubuhat ng sarili ring bangkoDi man maikakaila ay huwag nating lahatinDi mo rin maitatatwa, di man sukat akalainMagandang mga balita sa mga suluk-sulokKayraming halimbawa ng mga Galing PookVisit www.galingpook.org to download lyrics and musicGaling Pook 2007 • 31

32 • Galing Pook 2007