DILG 6 cites benefits of Gabay centers
GMAC
The Department of the Interior and Local and Local Government 6 (DILG) said functional Gabay sa Mamamayan Action Centers (GMACs) in the barangays have brought government closer to the people.
DILG 6 GMAC Technical Person Ana Carolina Jardiolin said experiences of operational GMACs in far flung and depressed barangays in the region would tell that government services have been brought closer to the people, with barangay-level assistance that made transactions easier and faster.
As of this time about more than half of the 4,049 barangays in the region have organized their GMACs and DILG has provided incentives in the form of awards for best performing GMACs so that those who have not organized yet, or have not made theirs operational, can be encouraged to put up and activate them.
"GMAC Action Officers have been saying that with active and operational Gabay centers, the people save time, effort and money in their transactions because from the useful information they get from the GMAC, they are already guided on what and how to transact business with the LGUs or agencies of government," Jardiolin said.
The GMACs, as per guidelines embodied in Executive Order No. 130 issued by President Gloria Arroyo several years ago, primarily act as information centers where people at the barangay level can gain access to data about the ongoing programs and services of national government agencies, where they can go to for help, getting medical an educational aid, developing livelihood projects and even assistance for civil registration.
Jardiolin said the municipal offices also appreciated the role the GMACs is playing in helping them upgrade their services, serving more people in shorter period and doing it faster because the people have already complete papers and other requirements when they go to them, as they have been facilitated by the Gabay centers.
"People don't have to go back and forth and spend much because hey already bring with them the necessary requirements when they go to the municipal halls," Jardiolin added.
Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno said over 18,000 barangays all over the country have benefited from the GMACs, which the DILG had helped established in compliance with President Arroyo's directive to set up institutional linkages between the government and the people at the grassroots level. (PIA 6/ESS)