WV local governance resource consortium signs MOA

By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Thursday 6th of September 2012

ILOILO CITY, Sep 6 (PIA6) -- A memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the proposed Western Visayas Local Governance Resource Consortium (WVLGRC) was signed here on Sept. 4 to formalize the organization of the consortium that will serve as a center for local governance excellence via knowledge sharing and innovation.

Signatories to the MOA were the Department of the Interior and Local Government – 6 (DILG6) as the lead agency and its partner academic institutions, namely University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, Central Philippine University and University of San Agustin, all based in Iloilo City.

The project is supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) which has committed to support the consortium through equipment, technical and financial assistance under its Decentralization Program and by the Local Government Academy (LGA).

DILG6 Regional Director Evelyn A. Trompeta said the MOA signing marks a “revolutionary change” in the efforts of their agency to sustain the operationalization of the Local Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC) by tapping the support of academic institutions through their research and extension services and human resources.

The WVLGRC is an offshoot of the Local Governance Resource Center project which was introduced by DILG as early as 2005 through its training arm, the Local Government Academy. The Center is a dynamic, interactive and virtual program that contributes to building the DILG as a knowledge centric organization (KCO) and builds learning communities that pursue local governance excellence through knowledge sharing and innovation.

DILG - Western Visayas is one of the very first few regions that implemented the LGRC and made it operational. The Center pioneered the Development Talk, Land Use Forum and Codification Project for Local Government Units, among others.

Despite these pioneering accomplishments in terms of local governance capability building, DILG6 said there are still areas to improve on to ensure the sustainability of its undertakings and to allow them to respond to the increasing demand of local government units for support particularly through the consortium.

DILG6 said their partner academic institutions would be a big help towards the pursuit of local governance excellence through their research and extension services as well as their valuable human resources.

Joining Director Trompeta to also sign the MOA were WVCST president Dr. Luis Sorolla, Jr., Associate Professor Lenny Rose P. Mucho on behalf of CPU president Teodoro Robles, and UPV Chancellor Dr. Rommel Espinosa. The signing event was witnessed by DILG staff and other stakeholders. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)