The DILG Marikina Field Office established the “Marikina Linking Institutions for Knowledge and Sustainability” or MarLINKS which aids different clientele and functionaries in providing effective service delivery in their respective line of work. For the MarLINKS series conducted for barangay secretaries, the DILG Marikina Field Officers headed by City Director Mary Jane Nacario, CESO V and resource persons from the DILG Regional Office, LGOO III Ronald Portales and Data Administrator John Mark Vergara, spearheaded the discussion in the Market Multi-Purpose Hall, 3rd Floor of the Marikina Market Building, last February 28, 2024.

In the activity, Cluster Head LGOO VII Christiane Millabas began facilitating by informing the barangay secretaries of how they should be equipped in specific skills and expertise, and be flexible with the changes that these responsibilities entail. LGOO III and designated Regional Information Officer Ronald Portales from the DILG NCR Regional Office then proceeded with the first topic, “Spare Before You Share,” where he discussed responsible social media management as well as basic netiquette rules that one must observe especially as public servants. As barangay secretaries hold power and responsibility as social media focal persons of their respective official barangay social media accounts, LGOO III Portales discussed social media responsibilities in the second topic entitled, “Ground Rules of Being a Responsible Social Media User” as well as “Press to Impress,” which talked about creating powerful and effective powerful presentations and other tips on creating engaging and interactive powerpoint presentations.

In the second half of the activity, DILG-NCR Data Administrator John Mark Vergara took charge of “Googled”, a discussion series navigating and harnessing the perks of online applications and platforms. It was in this discussion where he introduced Google Apps such as Google Drive (cloud storage service for storing, accessing, and sharing files), Google Docs (online word processor for creating and editing documents), Google Docs Powerpoint (cloud-based presentation tool for creating and sharing slideshows), Google Sheets (online spreadsheet tool for organizing and analyzing data), Google Forms (tool for creating online surveys and quizzes), Google Classroom (learning management system designed for educators and students to simplify teaching and learning), Google Sites (online diagramming tool for creating flowcharts, diagrams, and wireframes). He then proceeded to the discussion of the Barangay Information System – Barangay Officials’ Profiling System (BIS-BOPS) where the barangay secretaries were given a hands-on training to encode and update the data profiles for submission to the DILG Field Office.

Towards the end of the whole day activity, City Director Mary Jane Nacario reiterated the importance of how the ability to upscale one’s skillset in public service is a requirement in adapting to the changes in public service. She also mentioned taking into account how the participants should always being aware of their character and their behavior as public servants, since they are stepping into a platform of public life with a high level of accountability.

DILG Marikina’s MarLINKS is one of three capability development programs which provides technical assistance and other interventions to its clientele. The two other programs are Marikina Promoting Empowerment and Active Community Engagement or MarPEACE, which is centered on increasing stakeholder participation, and Marikina Empowering Electorate for Community Transparency and Sustainability, or MarELECTs, which focuses on fostering citizens in well-founded and maintainable processes and systems.