Sueno to LGUs: Dare to Innovate, Care to Share Best Practices

As the year 2017 quickly sneaks in, Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ D. Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) threw a challenge for local government units (LGUs) nationwide to “dare to innovate and care to share”.

Sueno is encouraging LGUs to join the “Innovative Solutions Bank” of the Local Government Academy (LGA) which hastens the collection, dissemination, and creation of practical yet strategic solutions for specific governance challenges faced by local governments. An LGU will be given a training to replicate selected policies of another LGU.

Sueno lauded the first three LGUs that “deposited” their solutions in the bank: Quezon City for its anti-drug and rehabilitation campaign; Tagum City for regulatory simplification; and Barangay Hingatungan from Silago, Leyte for its work in Katarungang Pambarangay, or barangay justice system.

“LGUs and the sovereign Filipino citizenry are in better times nowadays. Exemplar LGUs can systematically share their process of local governance best practice to replicating LGUs through the Innovative Solutions Bank. This is a manifestation of being partners for change with compassion (malasakit),” said Sueno.

“Let’s start the incoming year with the spirit of sharing and caring for an inclusive nation-building,” he added.

Molding new leaders

Moreover, Sueno urges more experienced local officials to act as a mentor to newly-elected officials (NEOs) through the LGA’s “Mentoring for Optimal Leadership and Development (MOLD) the NEOs Program”. A mentoring contract aligns the mentor and NEOs’ expectations and guides them throughout their mentoring time together.

“Let us share what’s within our capability to bring about real change. I call on our more knowledgeable and experienced local officials to share their time and expertise to the NEOs,” Sueno said.

The MOLD the NEOs program pairs local chief executives such as mayors and governors with more experienced officials to learn more effective leadership strategies.

The MOLD the NEOs program and Innovative Solutions Bank were launched recently during the 25th anniversary of the Local Government Code. (DILG)