San Fernando mayor wins Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

Friday 14th of September 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept 14 (PIA) -- San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez was named on Thursday as one of this year’s recipients of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan award of Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Rodriguez was commended for implementing and embracing the Performance Governance System (PGS) as a new way of managing governance and performance of the city anchored on the principles of transparency, accountability and participatory governance.

“The Presidential Lingkod Bayan is one of the three distinctions given by our agency under the Honor Awards Program (HAP) with the other two being the Pag-Asa and Dangal ng Bayan prizes. It is bestowed to an individual or group for their extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance which had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony,” CSC Regional director Karin Litz Zerna said.

Under Rodriguez’s helm, San Fernando’s local revenues rose by 141 percent to P490.6 million in 2011 from P203.3 million in 2004 and reduced Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) dependency to 46 percent from 53 percent. He has also increased the budget for Special Education Fund to P125 million in 2010 from P44 million in 2004.

With Rodriguez’ strong advocacy for transparency in business transactions at the City Hall, the administration has attracted partnership projects with the private sectors leading to the establishment of two major economic facilities at no cost to the city namely: Double A Category Slaughter and Central Transport Terminal.

Another flagship project of Rodriguez was realized through partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency, the P700 million worth Sagip-Ilog River Rehabilitation, Flood Mitigation and Relocation Project.

“As an advocate in eliminating corruption and fixers in the core business processes of the organization, the LGU was able to standardize the processes involved in the application of business and building permit, Real Property Tax (RPT) declaration, civil registration and police clearance. He has instilled in the consciousness of city hall employees the value of excellence in governance by eliminating the so-called 8 to 5 culture,” Zerna shared.

“I am happy that I won the award. It will add another feather to San Fernando. But this is not solely my achievement rather of the entire city because without their support I will not be able to carry out my tasks,” said Rodriguez in an interview.

Apart from Rodriguez, fellow-Central Luzon Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III also bagged the Lingkod Bayan accolade.

Earlier, the commission named the recipients of the Pag-Asa prize where all six Central Luzon bets made the cut.

They are Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Chief Administrative Officer Maribel Blanco, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Public Relations Officer II Marilou Dungog, National Irrigation Administration Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS) Acting Operations Manager Engr. Josephine Salazar, City of San Fernando Public Employment Services Office (PESO) Manager Dominador Sayre, Orani Water District Operation and Management Excellence Team, and Balanga City Agriculture Office.

Pag-asa award is given to an individual or group for outstanding contributions resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefitted more than one department of the government. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)