Local Governance Resource Center R7

The Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC) is one of the thrusts of the Department to make DILG redefine itself to address the information needs on local governance.  The LGA, in coordination with LGSP, forged for the establishment of the Regional Local Governance Center (RLGRC) in seven pilot regions, with Region 7 as among them.

Following the organization of the LGRC in Region 7 last year, an on-site validation and assessment on the status of its establishment in the region was conducted by the Local Government Support Program (LGSP) and Local Government Academy (LGA) on February 20-23, 2006.  The 3-day activity was conducted to assess the status of LGRC establishment in the region, to conduct regional Knowledge Management (KM) audit, and to train and coach the RLGRC-7 team on the operationalization of the Integrated Library Management System (ILMS).  The activity was concluded with a Forum on February 23 which was attended by a total of 30 participants composed of the program’s stakeholders – the NGAs, academe, NGOs/POs and the local leagues.  Conducted during the forum is the Knowledge Management Audit and Stakeholder’s Mapping which bared the current status of KM and the extent of knowledge sharing in the region.

On March 14, the RLGRC-7 TACT Team met with Dr. Marilou Palicte-Tadlip, Director of Libraries of the University of San Carlos for possible partnership in the establishment of the RLGRC-7. 

Dr. Tadlip fortunately offered to provide DILG-7 her staff for technical assistance.  Information materials were also provided to enrich the center’s knowledge products.

On April 3-7, 2006, the RLGRC-7 TACT Team participated in the Local Governance Resource Center “Communities that Learn!”  Methodologies utilized during the workshop were structured in such a way that enabled the participants to develop LGRC implementation strategies that are customized to the needs and peculiarities of their respective regions.  As workshop outputs, the RLGRC teams were able to formulate their own RLGRC Organizational Structure, Vision, Mission and Goals, and Action Plan. Organizational Strengthening Workshop at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), Tagaytay City. The workshop aimed to develop the capacities of the RLGRC teams for effective and efficient LGRC operations.

Anchored on the principles of Knowledge Management, Multi-stakeholdership, Linkage and Convergence, the LGRC is designed to further strengthen the role of DILG as a catalyst in local governance. 

The LGRC supports decentralization through its vision of creating virtual, dynamic and interactive resource centers at the regional level that would promote the culture of learning and knowledge sharing and in the process strengthen the enabling environment at the regional and provincial levels.  Other objectives of the LGRC include: consolidating the wealth of information and knowledge on good governance, improving access to knowledge and promoting replication and increased awareness of exemplary practices.

Local government units, regional-line government agencies, the academe, civil society groups and non-governmental organizations in the region welcome the establishment of a Regional Local Governance Resource Center that will serve as “one-stop shop” for information especially on the field of governance by using Information and Communications Technology.

During the recently-concluded two-day LGRC Multi-Stakeholders’ Seminar-Workshop, participants and elected officials from various local government units in the region acknowledged the lack of a facility where important knowledge materials learned and/or acquired by local chief executives and other functionaries can be consolidated and shared by those who need it after they have gone from public office.

Provincial Board member Jose Mari Gastardo pointed out that they usually do not know where to get data in relation to the implementation of a certain government program or project or when there is a need to learn and study extensively about best practices on local governance by other LGUs.

Negros Oriental Vice Governor Jose Baldado said when he was still mayor of Manjuyod town he would have wanted to turn their abundant mango production into a source of livelihood for residents, but lack the information needed on how to develop such.

They, as well as Alcoy Vice Mayor Nicomedes delos Santos, Mayor Baltazar Salma of Tanjay City in Oriental Negros, and Mayor Efren Tungol of Alburquerque, Bohol, all perceived the creation of RLGRC as a promising program to address these problems in governance.

DILG-7 regional director Rene K. Burdeos said LGRC is an innovation under the department’s Local Government Support Program to help the LGUs in capturing, synthesizing, managing and sharing knowledge in governance upon recognition that local governance has already become complex with the passing of the years.

As such, their department introduces the establishment of LGRC immediately after the 2004 elections in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency which finds the program, specifically in the provision of the corresponding ICT needed.

The establishment of LGRC entails putting up of an integrated library management system both in the physical library and in the web-based open source library consisting of an outline public access catalogue system and digital collection.

DILG-Local Government Academy executive director Marivel Sacendoncillo said there are already seven regional offices of DILG enrolled in the program since it was first broached in 2004, including Region 7.

In the Central Visayas region, Burdeos said they have already been working on LGRC early this year by providing a physical facility, being its obligation under the Philippine-Canada Local Government Support Program.