Cebu guv wants LGUs to adopt purok system for good governance

By Fayette C. Ri�en

Wednesday 8th of August 2012

CEBU CITY, August 8 (PIA) -- Implementing the “purok system” as a good governance approach is a legacy Governor Gwen Garcia hopes the next leadership of Capitol will sustain.

Garcia in a press conference this morning said the best governance strategy is still community involvement down to the grassroots level and this she wants to be adopted down to the ‘purok’ units in all cities and municipalities in the province of Cebu.

“The purok system transcends beyond personalities and administrations” as we all “cooperate and collaborate to push for Cebu’s growth,” said Garcia.

The Provincial Government has found a partner in the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), a non-government organization, which shares its vision of accelerating development for a better Cebu which can be realized with community participation.

“The beginning of change for a livable Cebu begins at the grassroots level. It starts with ‘you,’ as we should do the things we can do and not expect them to be given to you,” stressed RAFI’ President Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz in the same presscon.

Aboitiz said there is no reason why the next leader of Cebu would not support the program. “We must not be afraid of change. We must always be optimistic,” as we all strive “to make the dream of Cebu as the number one livable province. Let us contribute to this goal,” added Aboitiz.

RAFI and the Cebu Provincial Government signed a memorandum of agreement back in 2008 for the eGWEN Our Cebu Program. eGWEN stands for expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures that basically aims to develop a better Cebu in the areas including cleanliness, health, sanitation, environment, culture and heritage promotion, and the recently added criteria of governance structure and system.

Garcia said the promotion of “purok” approach was already introduced to the local government units in the eGWEN Program but it was limited to the city or municipal level.

Under the program which started four years ago, cities and municipalities are directed to implement programs in line with the eGWEN thrusts and are graded accordingly by Capitol evaluators. Local government units with outstanding performance are then given recognition and cash incentives by the Capitol every August, which is part of the activities of the province’s founding anniversary on August 6.

The governor said they are focusing on the effectiveness of the purok system as an emerging model of governance. “It is a transformative program” that involves residents down to the purok level in making his surroundings better, said Garcia.

The “purok” is similar to a sitio, where the approach would be to organize purok communities in every barangay and involve them in local governance, Garcia disclosed.

“Sometimes, one barangay has eight puroks. The more, the better because this means more and more people are involved,” said Garcia.

Garcia said 19 municipalities out of the over 50 cities and towns of Cebu have already adopted the “purok” system approach.

This afternoon, recognition awards and cash rewards would be given to top three local government units, top three barangays and top three puroks in Cebu as over 1,500 participants are attending today the one-day ‘4th Partners Conference’ for the eGWEN Our Cebu Program under the theme “Puroks in the Forefront of Grassroots Governance” at the Cebu International Convention. (PIA-Cebu)