SAN JOSE, Antique, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued Memorandum Circular No. 2010- 122 to all local government officials as a guide for all local government officials in promoting and sustaining good governance in their areas of responsibility. In a radio program aired in the province, DILG Antique Provincial Director, Victorio Pagapulan, said that local officials in all levels are mandated to promote good and sustainable governance. The DILG circular, said Pagapulan, emphasizes that the barangay as the basic political unit in the state plays a vital role in the development of the country. "It serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in the community as well as an avenue wherein collective views of the people are expressed and crystallized," he said, quoting from said document. He said that "this is in line with the commitment of President Benigno S. Aquino III to make transparency, responsiveness, accountability and honesty in governance as the strong pillars of his government so that poverty and the eradication of graft and corruption are properly addressed." Pagapulan underscored that transparency and accountability allow the people in barangays not only to know information such as pertinent facts and figures, but also the mechanisms and processes involved in the decisions made by local officials. "It can be manifested through the conduct of barangay daily and the regular reporting of income and expenditures and projects of such government unit," he pointed out.
For her part, Assistant Provincial Director Ma. Salvacion Alian said that aside from accountability and transparency, the circular also enjoined local officials to be responsive, that is, "extending prompt, courteous and adequate services to the people." Good governance, according to Alian, also promotes people's participation by providing mechanism for the public to express public opinion and ideally exert influence regarding decisions and actions made at the local level. She pointed out that "participation must be evident in various barangay activities like symposium, public hearings, membership in barangay-based institutions/councils, formulation of barangay development plans, among other activities."
