Ilonggos want good governance
Mismanagement of local funds, lack of transparency in government transactions and lack of political will are among the issues that concern the Ilonggos on how city officials run the affairs of the city government.
The three major concerns are among the 10 issues and concerns raised by Ilonggos during the Peoples Consultative Assembly. The assembly was basically to harmonize the legislative agenda of the city, executive agenda and the 10-points agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The same assembly will serve as guide to the members of the city council in drafting ordinances and resolutions needed in good governance. It was initiated by Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog.
The other issues that were raised during the assembly are the lack of training among barangay leaders in designing their development plan, establishment of base line data on city ordinances, fast tracking of the codification project, student representation in the city council, no grease money policy in transacting business with the city government and too many barangays in the city.
The people suggested that there should be clear and defined guidelines in the utilization of local funds and notice or advisory should be posted in the barangay hall regarding the barangay budget. Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) should be "posted in the barangay hall and project costs funded by the same." The observation came in as project briefs posted in each government funded projects do not already reflect the cost. Only the name of the contractor, project description and contract time is reflected.
They attendees likewise said local officials lack the political will for the strict implementation of laws and measures on traffic, rehabilitation of relocatees and relocation of dwellers in danger zone.
In the concern about too many barangays, the people suggested that there should be a legislation to cluster smaller barangays and abolition of barangays which are not qualified under the Local Government Code. With the proposed clustering of barangays, it is projected that the city will only have 75-80 barangays and not 180.
The government should also implement provisions of the anti-red tape law. "Civil society should be allowed to monitor the bidding and completion of government funded infrastructure projects."
Aside from the SK representation, the people want the city council to "make a proposal" to the House of Representatives to have a student representative before the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Moreover, the people suggested that "sunset ordinances" should be stricken out.