Local Chief Executives (LCEs) of the NCR met with the national and high-level proponents of devolution in an Executive Briefing on the Transition to Full Devolution Process held on September 28, 2022 in Pasig City.
Department of Budget and Management – NCR (DBM-NCR) Regional Director and Chairperson of the NCR Committee on Devolution (ComDev), Ruby P. Muro, set the direction of the Executive Briefing, assuring the readiness of the ComDev to provide the technical assistance and capacity development support that LGUs may need to ensure a smooth and sustainable transition to devolution.
DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III, provided a situationer on devolution-related activities region-wide. RD Agustin presented the different ongoing efforts being undertaken to date and gave a preview of what’s next in the journey towards full devolution, based on the inputs provided by the NCR LGUs and their barangays.
DILG Secretary Atty. Benjamin Abalos, Jr. graced the activity and delivered a Keynote Message to the LCEs, where he presented the President’s directive on the devolution process, which calls for setting priorities based on what is available in terms of resources and capabilities of the local government units (LGUs).
Also in attendance were key officials that presented updates on devolution activities. Among them were Dir. John Aries S. Macaspac, CESO IV, Director of Systems and Productivity Improvement Bureau – Department of Budget and Management and Dir. Anna Liza F. Bonagua, CESO III, Director of the Bureau of Local Government Development-DILG.
In an open forum, a panel composed of representatives from different government agencies addressed a range of devolution-related concerns from LCEs. The members of the panel were: Atty. Alberto C. Agra of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Director Brenda L. Miranda of the Department of Finance, Director Judith Dongallo-Chicano of the Civil Service Commission – NCR, and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Assistant General Manager for Planning Mark Navarro of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Through the discussions, NCR Mayors received strategic updates and guidance on the technicalities of moving forward with the devolution process in the region. Foremost were the directives on local administration considerations, local resource mobilization strategies, and guidance on the organizational structure and staffing needs of LGUs.
DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez, CESO V, concluded the Executive Briefing with a synthesis of the proceedings, highlighting the next steps to be taken by the Regional ComDev and especially the LGUs. ARD Baltazar-Cortez called for everyone’s commitment to the devolution process and to give due consideration to the insights offered by LGUs and concerned agencies in order to ensure a smooth transition and the uninterrupted delivery of services under a system of full devolution.