Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Monday, Sept. 18, said the city government has conducted several benchmarking activities as part of her administration's efforts in promoting the healthy exchange of knowledge, programs, and initiatives between local government units both here and abroad.
Fresh from her participation in the Cities Power Partnership’s Climate Summit for Local Government in Melbourne, Australia which is considered as one of the world's premiere forums on climate change and promoting the use of clean energy in other cities and countries around the globe, Binay said officials from Dipolog City led by Mayor Darel Uy and other city officials visited Makati on Sept. 13 to learn the city's social services, education, and smart city initiatives.
"Sa gitna rin ng napakaabalang linggong ito ay malugod kong tinanggap si Canadian Ambassador David Hartman at ang grupo ng Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. Interesado silang malaman ang mga susunod nating hakbang para palawakin pa ang ating mga smart initiatives at digital transformation programs. Ang Canada Trade Commissioner Service ay matagal nang may headquarters sa Makati at isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit patuloy pa rin ang magandang relasyon ng Canada at ng ating lungsod pagdating sa trade and commerce (I also met with Canadian Ambassador David Hartman and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. They were interested to know our next steps to expand our smart initiatives and digital transformation programs. The Canada Trade Commissioner Service has long since had their headquarters here in Makati making it one of the reasons why Canada and our city have good relations in terms of trade and commerce)," the mayor explained.
"Bilang lider, binibigyang halaga ko ang mga ganitong pagkakataon dahil oportunidad ito para lalong lumago at lumawig ang ating mga proyekto kasama ang ibang bansa (As your leader, I give these kinds of events much importance because they give us an opportunity to further improve and expand our projects together with other countries)," she added.
On Sept. 14, Binay went to the United States to hold several important meetings which included her visit to the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, California where she met with Philippine Consul General Hon. Edgar Badajos.
"Sumunod akong nagpunta sa Los Angeles Downtown Medical Center (LADMC) para makipagkuwentuhan sa mga may-ari na sina Bill Nelson at ang Pilipinang si Vicki Rollins. Ang LADMC ay prestigious hospital sa Los Angeles at may five-star rating ito pagdating sa delivery ng healthcare services. Ang maganda sa ospital na ito ay isang kababayan natin ang namumuno at nagpapatakbo rito. Mula sa isang struggling facility ay napaganda at na-improve nang husto ang serbisyo rito, kaya naman naging interesado akong malaman kung ano ang naging approach at strategies nila (I then went to the Los Angeles Downtown Medical Center to talk with its owners Bill Nelson and Filipina Vicki Rollins. LADMC is a prestigious hospital in Los Angeles because of its five-star rating in delivering healthcare services. Another good thing about this hospital is that a Filipina leads and runs this facility. What started as a struggling facility now became a topnotch hospital that provides excellent services, hence, my eagerness to learn what their strategies are and approach in making this accomplishment)," Binay said.
"Naisip kong pupuwede natin itong pag-aralan at i-adapt din para ma-improve pa ang serbisyo at mga equipment natin sa Ospital ng Makati at barangay health centers (I thought that we can study and adapt these strategies to further improve the services and equipment at the Ospital ng Makati and in our barangay health centers)," she added.
Binay also met with Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioner Susana Reyes to learn about their best practices and methodologies with regards to public work. She explained that Los Angeles and Makati are sister cities and since 1992, the two cities have conducted several exchanges and cooperation programs.
"Bukod sa pagpaparanas sa akin ng Pilipino hospitality ng ating mga kababayan, ang pagbisita sa Los Angeles ay tanda ng kababaang loob at pag-aming napakarami pa nating puwedeng matutunan mula sa ibang komunidad. Hindi tayo dapat maging kampante sa ating mga nagawa at na-achieve na, laging mayroong mas mataas na pangarap at goals na kailangang abutin (Aside from making me experience Filipino hospitality, my visit to Los Angeles was a learning experience for me. We should not just sit on our laurels. We should aspire to reach much higher dreams and goals)," Binay noted.