Concepcion town certified GO-FAR model

The town of Concepcion in northern Iloilo was among several local governments nationwide which have been certified “replicable” by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Local Government Support Program  (LGSP).

Concepcion is considered a model child-friendly municipality, which means that it is included in the GO-FAR model areas, that is, its good practices in implementing child-friendly projects are endorsed for replication by other communities.

GO-FAR is Good Practices in Local Governance: Facility for Adaptation and Replication Project.  The municipality, like Concepcion, which is considered as GO-FAR, should have the appropriate facilities and its personnel have skills which can answer the needs of the Project Management Teams from local government units wishing to replicate the LGU.

Under the GO-FAR scheme, local governments may consult with the DILG about other local LGUs that would fit their needs. An LGU that wishes to replicate may send three to five key local officials and functionaries to comprise the Project Management Team.  The Mayor acts as team leader and the DILG Local Operations Officer are among the members.  The team then brings back the technology to their home LGU to start the replication process.

There are several criteria for replicating LGUs, which include the need for assistance, the demonstration of the will to replicate a specific practice; the willingness to take part in an institutional cooperation process with the other LGU, readiness to implement the good practice,  willingness to provide the resources required for the replication process, competent LGOO assigned in the locality, willingness to abide by, commit to the rules and responsibilities within the GO-FAR Project and maximum participation in the inception workshop.

These conditions are embodied in a Memorandum of Agreement signed by replicating LGU, the model LGU and the DILG.

The DILG 6 has been identified as laboratory region for Western Visayas.  The DILG Regional GO-FAR Team is presently briefing and evaluating LGUs that have enrolled in the project.  The first five Replicating Teams will be accommodated in the Inception Workshop on August 3-5 at Linamon, Lanao del Norte, which is also a GO-FAR mode. (DILG/PIA 6)