Delegates from the local governments of Jalajala, Rizal and Tanauan, Leyte visited Pasig City to learn and exchange best practices in various fields of governance with city officials on Monday, March 20.

During the benchmarking activity, City Councilors Volta Delos Santos and Angelu de Leon welcomed the delegations.

Among the topics discussed and led by the councilors were the programs and policies within the five “priority thrusts” of the Pasig local government, namely health, education, housing, diligent service, and good governance.

(Pasig PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)

In return, representatives from Jalajala, Rizal focused on learning more about the city’s Freedom of Information (FOI) program since Pasig was the first Metro Manila city to pass its own FOI legislation back in 2018.

Ordinance No. 37, the “Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance,” authored by then Councilor Vico Sotto, upholds citizens’ rights to information, enabling them to access, examine, and copy public records. Through this, the local government is duty-bound to approve requests to disclose these documents.

The FOI ordinance is implemented through the “Ugnayan ng Pasig” group that primarily handles and assists citizens with these requests.

Meanwhile, officials from Tanauan, Leyte shared their best practices in community relations with the Community Relations and Information Office, previously known as the Barangay Affairs Office, as well as the Liga ng mga Barangay.

Discussions on Pasig’s TAPAT (Tulong At Pampuhunang Ayuda para sa Taga-Pasig) Loan Program were also held.

The delegations also visited other offices in the city hall to view and inquire on its actual day-to-day operations.

(Pasig PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)

This year alone, many local governments from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have come to Pasig City for their benchmarking activities, attesting to the well-known governance of Mayor Vico Sotto.

Last Feb. 2, the government of Carmona, Cavite exchanged best practices on programs, projects, and activities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and children with special needs.

Aside from presenting Carmona’s Comprehensive Approach Responsive Education and Rehabilitation and Community-Based Inclusive Development for PWDs, the delegation also visited facilities in Pasig such as the BML SPED Center and Training and Development Center with the city’s Disability Affairs Office.

Last Feb. 21, officials from the municipality of Barugo, Leyte came to Pasig and were welcomed by 160 barangay officials from the local Liga ng mga Barangay.

On March 3, representatives from the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar exchanged valuable learnings with the Pasig government pertaining to business permit and licensing, along with management information systems.