KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Kicking off the Local Government Month and the 31st Local Government Code anniversary celebrations, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 12 launched three locally initiated major initiatives, Monday, October 10.
"The DILG Rehiyon Dose, in celebration of the 31st anniversary of the Local Government Code, launches the DILG Rehiyon Dose's own programs, namely: the DILG Knowledge Management (KM) System, Drug Free Workplace (DFW) Seal Certification Program and the GAD (Gender and Development) Seal Certification Program for LGUs," Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa said.
"These three innovations are owned by the multi-stakeholder partners of Region 12," Director Leysa said, emphasizing that the mentioned programs were crafted with help from other government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and other stakeholders.
Knowledge Management System
The LGRRC (The Local Governance Regional Resource Center) Knowledge Management System is an online repository with open access to and availability of knowledge materials produced by DILG Dose and its partner agencies.
The KM portal features latest news and events, information about the MSAC (Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Council)-member agencies , approved resolutions, and e-knowledge hubs as well as knowledge products including publications, e-books, instructional materials, among others.
"The primary goal of LGRRC is to provide a knowledge hub for sharing of exemplary practices, and solution-seeking innovations to address developmental gaps and improve public service delivery," Director Leysa said.
Drug-Free Workplace Seal Certification Program
"In accordance with the national government's top priority program to address drug abuse and to provide a more effective and efficient measure for the prevention and eradication of dangerous drug abuse, the DILG Dose established policies against drug abuse for the purpose of institutionalizing drug awareness as a common component and development and drug testing as an element of safety and productivity of national government agencies and local government units, thus, the push for the Drug-Free Workplace Seal Certification Program," Leysa said.
This initiative has received approval of the MSAC 12, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 12, and the Regional Development Council (RDC) 12.
Under the DFW Seal Certification Program, NGAs and LGUs will be subjected to an assessment process based on the following criteria: establishment and institutionalization of DFW program; conduct of meetings; conduct of authorized drug testing, implementation of DFW employee assistance program; advocacy, education and training; allocation/utilization of substantial for DFW program implementation; support mechanisms to sub-regional offices or its equivalent; maintenance of records and compliance to confidentiality; innovations on the DFW program implementation; and monitoring and evaluation.
Besides NGAs and LGUs, the DFW seal certification also covers government-owned and controlled corporations and state universities and colleges.
Only those that achieve at least 80 percent in the evaluation will be awarded the DFW seal certification.
GAD Seal Certification Program
Director Leysa explained that the Gender and Development (GAD) Seal Certification Program for national line agencies and local government units was developed after the success of the initiative of the Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) 12 declaring the Prime Regional Center in Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City as "GAD Zone" in 2021, which was later adopted by the RDC 12.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, this innovation of declaring a GAD Zone is the first in the Philippines, she added.
SOCCSKSARGEN's GAD Seal Certification has gained praises for the DILG, which according to Leysa, has been visited by officials from CARAGA, Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Cordillera Autonomous Region for benchmarking.
"Our own Local Government Academy has signified intent to come and do benchmarking activity for the GAD Seal," she added.
Under the GAD Seal Certification Program, NGAs and LGUs are assessed for their compliance with GAD parameters such as the utilization of at least 5% of the agency’s total budget for GAD, the institutionalization of a GAD focal point system, and the establishment of GAD database, functional committee on decorum and investigation, breastfeeding station and child-minding station, GAD corner, and GAD-related initiatives or GAD best practices.
In June, DILG Dose awarded GAD Seal Certificates to the first batch of regional line agencies that passed the evaluation, including the National Economic and Development Authority 12, DILG 12, Civil Service Commission 12, Police Regional Office 12, Mines and Geosciences Bureau 12, Department of Trade and Industry 12, Department of Science and Technology 12, Department of Energy-Mindanao Field Office, and Sultan Kudarat State University.
With its launching on Monday, the GAD Seal Certification is expanded to include local government units.
As in the DFW Seal Certification, NGAs and LGUs need to reach at least 80 percent rating to be awarded a GAD Seal Certificate.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr, during his visit to Koronadal City for the general assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines on September 30, announced that the DILG will replicate DILG Dose's GAD Seal Certification Program and the Drug-Free Workplace Certification Program as well as the CSO (Civil Service Organization) Academy for a nationwide implementation. (PIA XII)
