By: Sheila Covarrubias
ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 6 (PIA)- - Local
Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday commended Mayor Celso Lobregat for
being a partner of the DILG and the national government in promoting good
governance, as he explained the basis of conferring the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi
Award to City Government of Zamboanga.
Sec.
Robredo together with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary
Teresita Deles graced the turnover of 60 computer units by the city government
to the Department of Education (DEPED) yesterday morning in City Hall.
The
60 computer units, with complete accessories, were funded by the city
government’s prize money of P2 million which it received when it was adjudged
as the regional winner in the Pamana ng Lahi Award for excellence in governance
in October last year.
“The
Pamana ng Lahi Award is really a contest among LGUs and in this region
Zamboanga City was chosen as the recipient of the award”, he said, stressing
“it speaks of both the seal of
housekeeping and performance, the assessment is that by the standard of
other LGUs (local government units), Zamboanga City is far better”.
For
a long time, he stressed allocation and prioritization of money was simply need
driven and that transparency in expenditures was not consistently practiced.
However, when President Aquino took over, he said, the national government
introduced various instruments—one of which is the seal of good housekeeping
wherein LGUs are required to practice full disclosure as required under the
General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“We
introduced the seal of good housekeeping and all this really is a testimony
that Zamboanga City has complied with the basic requirements of good governance”,
Sec. Robredo affirmed in his message during the turnover of the computers
witnessed also by Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde, members of the City Council, ARMM
Vice Governor Bainon Karon, Presidential Assistant on Muslim Affairs Yasmin
Busran-Lao, Tawi-tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan,
Mamintal Adiong Jr. and several others.
From
Sec. Robredo and DILG Regional Director Paizal Abutazil, the computers were
turned over to Mayor Lobregat and finally to the DEPED through City Schools
OIC-Superintendent Pedro Natividad.
Recipient
public schools are Labuan Central School, Talon-talon Elementary School,
Talisayan Elementary School, Curuan Central School, Ayala Central School,
Maasin Elementary School, Zamboanga East Central School and the national high
schools located in Ayala, Sangali, Recodo, Talon-talon and Culianan.
Associated
with the DILG-initiated Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award is the P2 million cash prize
which the winning LGU should use in the implementation of local development
projects in line with the priorities of the national government on the
Millennium Development Goals.
The
provision of the computer units to public schools is in line with the goal of
increasing the passing rate in the National Achievement Test (NAT) as well as
increasing computer literacy. Specifically, the project will address the gaps
in achieving primary education and aims to address Goal 2 of the MDG as it will
increase the net enrolment ratio in primary education and boost the proportion
of pupils and or students who finished schooling by stimulating interest on
basic computer learning.
The
project likewise hopes to supplement teaching strategies and enhance efficiency
in teaching to achieve better literacy rates.
Mayor
Lobregat said the donation and turnover of computers form part of the city
government’s continuing thrust to assist and support the education sector.
Highlight
of the ceremony was the signing of the deed of donation between eh city
government and DEPED. The document details the roles and functions of both
agencies in the implementation of the project.
Local
legislators present during the activity, held at the City Hall lobby were
Councilors Myra Paz Abubakar, Lilia Nuno, Rudy Lim, Abdurahman Nuno, Eddie
Saavedra, Percival Ramos, Rogelio Valesco Jr. and VP Elago.
Secretaries
Robredo and Deles were in the city yesterday on their way to Basilan Province
to witness the signing of a peace agreement between two warring families in
Basilan. (JPA/SC /CIO/PIA9-ZBST)