Mandaue City gets award for transparency campaign

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government was recently awarded with the Seal of Islands of Good Governance by the Institute of Solidarity in Asia (ISA), a seal equivalent to that from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

City Administrator James Abadia, in a press conference yesterday, said of the 1,600 local government units (LGU) in the Philippines shortlisted for the award, only five, including Mandaue, were given the recognition.

 The other four were Butuan, Talisay City in Negros Occidental, Balanga in Bataan and Dipolog City.

 Abadia said the seal was the result of Mandaue City’s continuing campaign on Performance Governance System, which provides transparency and accountability in public service.

Mandaue is on its fourth and last stage of PGS, which was first implemented in 2011.

 Abadia said the PGS is a work in progress, wherein the city changed its “brand of governance” which includes general development planning and then implementing it.

 “LGUs are the same, but what sets Mandaue apart? We focus on our identity. We plan and focus on how to achieve it,” he said.

There was no cash grant for this award, but Abadia said it is good on Mandaue’s portfolio, especially that it is gearing towards the promotion of its “I am Mandaue” program.

One of the goals of such program is for small- and large-scale businesses to showcase the city’s products to other areas in the Philippines and outside it.

Abadia said the award will help draw in more investors to the city.

Abadia, Mayor Jonas Cortes and other city officials received the award last October 21 in Manila.  (FREEMAN)