Author: Lorielyn Patoc

On December 10-12, 2018, G-Watch Organization sent two of its researchers to check on and document the best replicable practices of RESOURCEGov Project. A total of 31 (Make 16, Female 15) participated in the 3-day activity. RESOURCEGov Project Coordinator Mr. Jobe C. Tubigon and Documenter Ms. Lorielyn P. Patoc escorted Ms. Maria Victoria Manlanque and Ms. Anna Margarita Bueno to project sites in South Cotabato and Sarangani. The LGUs visited were: LGU Polomolok (ODK in the MPDO and LITS in the SB Office), LGU Lambayong (ODK in the BPLO), LGU Tampakan (LITS in the SB Office), Sangguniang Panlungsod General Santos City (LITS Nook and LITS cascade in the 26 barangays), and LGU Maasim (CSO Participation in the local government). Aside from the replicable practices, the researchers found out that the success of the project also lies on the relationship between the LGUs and the project implementer.

This activity aims to document the best practices of the different EU-funded projects under its CSO-LA Programme in the country to be compiled and made into an EU Guidepiece.

RESOURCEGov Project Manager Roel Ian P. Blanker was the resource speaker during the “Appreciation Course on Maximizing Open Data Kit (ODK) and Qlik Systems for Improving Local Revenue” for the five (5) LGUs of North Cotabato assisted by the Action Against Hunger (ACF) through the Reinforcing, Instituting and Scaling up Efficient CSO-LGU Interaction Towards Enhanced Local Governance (RISE-LGU) Project. The training was held on November 28-29, 2018 at Hof Mansion Hotel, Kidapawan City. It was attended by 21 (Male 8, Female 13) participants.

ACF Head of Project Mr. Isabelo Julio “Jules” Cesar Benitez gave the welcome address, acknowledging the partnership with Mahintana Foundation, Inc. in the said activity to capacitate the LGUs under RISE-LGU Project in enhancing their revenues using the ODK and Qlik Systems. DILG Cotabato Province Outcome Manager Mr. Jay Abdillah gave a message of support saying to the participants, “You are blessed to have been invited to attend this training on these systems.” He thanked Mahintana and ACF for rolling out the ODK and Qlik Systems in Cotabato Province. Mr. Blanker was then introduced and he welcomed the participants. Mr. Blanker presented the project overview and the possible uses of ODK and Qlik.

At the end of training, the participants from Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Provincial Assessor’s Office, LGU Pres. Roxas, LGU Magpet, and LGU Antipas were able to make their own ODK-based monitoring forms and used the data of Region 13 SREs to make data visualizations in Qlik. The RISE-LGU Team and their assisted LGUs appreciated the systems for better, faster, paperless collection and aggregation of data.

RESOURCEGov 2 Team Staff Project Officer Mr. Kurt Jurgen Von D. Lumbao and Project Documenter Ms. Lorielyn P. Patoc visited LGU Banisilan, LGU Alamada and LGU Pikit to monitor their use of the Legislative Information Tracking System (LITS) on November 26, 2018. This activity was participated by 15 (Male 5, Female 10) including the SB secretaries and their respective staff.

The team first visited Banisilan SB Secretary Mr. Relly Deocampo and his staff Mr. Julius Peter Dominado. Mr. Deocampo said that they had only encoded around 30 ordinances and that they were not able to buy the hub and the LAN cables for networking more computers to the LITS’ main server. He promised to note and buy the needed materials before the year ends. After, the team went to LGU Alamada. They were received by SB staff Ms. Corazon Soriano and Ms. Maylyn Saldua. Ms. Saldua said that the she tried to install LITS to the newly bought system, however, the LITS was not successfully installed. Mr. Lumbao checked the computer’s operating system and found out that the OS didn’t meet the requirements of LITS. The project officer suggested that the computer be reformatted. The team traveled to LGU Pikit and was welcomed by SB Secretary Jaime Gornez and his staff Ms. Tifanny Cabaña. The staff told the team that she wasn’t able to encode yet. Mr. Lumbao suggested that the encoding will be done from present legislative documents backwards.

Other LGUs are scheduled to be monitored on December onwards.

PHILDHRRA, as the implementer of EU-funded CCCE PAG-PR Project, tapped Mahintana to conduct the CCCE PAG-PR- RESOURCEGov Peer Learning Exchange on November 19-21, 2018 to the RESOURCEGov-assisted LGUs. The learning activity aims to replicate the best practices of the LGUs in South Cotabato and Sarangani including the use of ODK/Qlik?LITS Systems, revenue generation and The PHILDHRRA Team, headed by its National Coordinator Ms. Caridad R. Corridor and Regional Coordinators, and the LGU and CSO representatives from 27 LGUs of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.  Around 60 participated in the said peer learning exchange activity.

The 1st day was orientation and division of the participants to 3 groups. Ms. Corridor gave the welcome address and PHILDHRRA Regional Coordinator for Visayas Mr. Hally Atienza presented the house rules. RESOURCEGov Project Manager Mr. Roel Ian P. Blanker oriented the participants about the RESOURCEGov 2 Project and introduced Mahintana Foundation Inc. through its video briefer. Group 1’s facilitators are RESOURCEGov Project Manager Mr. Blanker and PHILDHRRA Regional Coordinator from Luzon Ms. Germaine De Runa. Group 2’s facilitators are RESOURCEGov 2 Project Documenter Ms. Lorielyn P. Patoc and PHILDHRRA Regional Coordinator for Mindanao Mr. Mr. Glenn Bais. Group 3’s facilitators are RESOURCEGov Project Officer Mr. Byron Delandrino and CCCE PAG PR Project Manager Ms. Katlea Zarra Itong. On the 2^nd day, Group 1 visisted LGU Polomolok, South Cotabato and LGU Tampakan, South Cotabato. Group 2 went to LGU Polomolok, South Cotabato and LGU Maasim, Sarangani. Group 3 went to LGU Tampakan, South Cotabato and LGU Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. ODK, Qlik and LITS systems sparked the interest of the participants as they were presented by LGUs assisted by the RESOUCEGov Project.

Moreover, Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO) was featured during the visit to LGU Tupi. On the last day, each group presented their participants’ learnings, impression and action plans from community exposure. They expressed their high hopes in replicating the best practices and that there will be a CCCE PAG-PR Project Phase 2.

The meeting started a prayer led by Project Cashier Ms. Rhogelyn G. Diana. Project Manager Mr. Roel Ian P. Blanker gave the welcome address. DILG 11 MLGOO for New Bataan Ms. Rosalie Agunod and DILG 13 Provincial Director for Surigao del Sur Mr. Pedrito Alacaba spoke their messages of support and gratitude. Security Dept. Supervisor Mr. Charlie Jose oriented the participants of the Hotel Safety and Emergency and the house rules. Mr. Blanker then presented the Project Implementation Plan (PIP) for Years 2 & 3.

During the presentation, comments and suggestions from the body were welcomed. Partnered form DILG were also encouraged to speak and comment on the activities and schedules. MLGOO Ms. Gultiano suggested to do the CSO activities on the 2^nd quarter to prepare them for the call of accreditation 90 days after the election period. It was agreed by the body to efficiently implement the empowerment of CSOs. After the lunch break, Project Bookkeeper Mr. Jason Inot presented the Consolidated Spending Plan. Partners raised their financial concerns. After reaching the agreements, MINCODE Executive Director and Project Coordinator Ms. Raizsa Mae Anayatin presented the key agreements.

RESOURCEGov 2 Team composed of Project Officers Mr. Kurt Jurgen Von D. Lumbao, Ms. Myra Macla and Ms. Llenie Grace Cebuala and Project Documenter Ms. Lorielyn P. Patoc, facilitated the learning visit of LGU Tagbina to the two existing partners of the project in Sultan Kudarat Province: LGUs Lambayong and President Quirino. It was attended by 43 (Male 21, Female 22). LGU Tagbina Team was spearheaded by Vice Mayor Hon. Antonio Adlaw and included the department heads and their respective staff.

The benchmarking activity aims to help LGU Tagbina to replicate the best practices of LGU Lambayong and LGU President Quirino particularly on the use of ODK-based forms to increase revenue collection.  Lambayong Mayor Hon. Ramon Abalos welcomed the delegates and joined the body during the presentation. Business Permits and Licensing Officers (BPLO) of both municipalities presented how ODK has helped them increase their revenue collection by mapping business establishments using the forms they had generated. They entertained and answered questions asked by the visitors.