It was an anniversary celebration like any other – cheers erupted when DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin thanked every personnel for their selfless dedication to work and announced additional prizes in the Tiktok cultural dance challenge – the only difference is, everyone’s behind the camera.

October 12, 2021 marked the 33rd founding anniversary of the organization which coincided with the celebration of the local government week. Employees of DILG-NCR clad in green, yellow, blue, and red that represented the length of service in the office. These employees who stayed with the organization ranging from less than a year to more than 30 years all share the same passion for public service as a way of life.
33 years bear so much significance, as RD Agustin put it in her message, since this is a year of rebirth, awakening, and reinvention in the new normal.

The birth of new breed of leaders

In the opening ceremonies, six DILG officials who started their careers in NCR have shared their memorable experiences in the office while they were still building their names in their respective professional tracks. And the common thought that makes them #TatakNCR is the shared admiration for the DILG-NCR as an enabling environment for future leaders to thrive.
DILG Region 6 Regional Director and former DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero said that the organization, through the years, has put primacy on cultivating the capacities of its people towards quality service delivery to the public.

This creative environment, according to Region 3 Assistant Regional Director Jay Timbreza, honed him and other employees to becoming a Matino, Mahusay at Maaasahang lingkod bayan.
The same idea was echoed by two former clerks who rose from the ranks and are now serving as provincial directors of Sorsogon and Pampanga. PD Julius Cal-Ortiz and PD Myrvi Fabia highlighted the importance of completed staff work, composure, and critical thinking that working in the DILG-NCR had taught them and still plays a role up to this day in their respective work outside the region.
Testimonies like these including those from RD Karl Caesar Rimando of DILG Region 3 and retired RD James Fadrilan inspired the young generation of DILG-NCR personnel to take the same road and brand of leadership that the organization espouses.

Covid-19 and the pursuit of public service

While the DILG leadership recognizes the job and efforts that the regional office poured into public service over the years, it is but no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic is testing
the resilience and the capacity of the agency to respond and make decisions given that NCR is in the epicenter of the crisis.

But over and above these challenges, the emergency highlighted the need to understand limits and create opportunities even in the face of uncertainty. The DILG-NCR has gone out of the way to assist locally stranded individuals and steered the direction of the regional interagency task force on emerging infectious diseases (RIATF) to ensure the health and safety of Metro Manila residents.

From policymaking to its implementation, DILG-NCR and its field offices became a consistent support and force multiplier to LGUs in tirelessly creating a path for their constituents towards the new and better normal.

“I take pride in the significant strides that you have achieved in the past despite the seemingly never ending challenges and insurmountable trials that you all face in serving the LGUs in the metropolis,” Secretary Eduardo Año said in his keynote message.

Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan also pointed out the critical role of the DILG-NCR in shaping the governance landscape in NCR, being the center of economic and political power. It was with optimism that Usec Iringnan wished that everyone would be facing better times ahead.

For her part, Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development Florida Dijan, likened the employees of the region as ordinary government workers who practice extraordinary goodness and sacrifice while heeding the call for public servants – sometimes even endangering their own health and life.

Evidently, the organization has reached its shared goals. And it did so with the dedication of its employees who have persevered and persevered even more after reaching every milestone. This pursuit for quality service is now a reality, and will still continue in the years to come.

Innovations for the new and better normal

As part of its commitment to deliver unhampered services, the DILG-NCR also launched its Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP) with the assistance of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.
The plan will guide operating units of the regional office to respond effectively to any form of disruption and restore essential services to the public as quickly as possible in situations such as the pandemic.

With the PSCP in place, the goal of DILG-NCR in building resilient and safe communities has taken another concrete step and will translate to the reduction of socio-economic impact brought about by any disastrous events.

Meanwhile, the DILG-NCR virtual event likewise featured a different twist to the Tiktok dance challenge by featuring cultural dances and costumes to encourage participation and instill camaraderie among employees.

The rest of the week will also be filled with activities showcasing engaging and relevant discussions on local governance amidst the challenges of the pandemic, such as local government code quiz, an online wellness and retreat, and a tribute to DILG-NCR’s pioneers and frontrunners.

For some, the online gathering is just a simple anniversary celebration, but for the people behind the organization, the 33rd founding anniversary is a testament of what the DILG-NCR is really about – quality public service for the people. #