LGUS TO USE CLUSTER-BASED APPROACH FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Recognizing the enormous responsibilities of LGUs and the need to synchronize and harmonize local committee policies and actions, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) introduced the cluster-based approach in the conduct of council and committee meetings.

DILG Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said this approach will ensure closer and strategic coordination and efficient implementation of government programs and projects at the local government level.

“Sa pamamagitan ng cluster-based strategy, mapagtutuunan ng sapat na pokus at atensyon ng mga lokal na pamahalaan ang samut-saring isyu at suliraning hinaharap nila araw-araw,” said Sarmiento.

In a directive to local chief executives, Sarmiento urged them to group their local special bodies, local councils and committees into five clusters: Economic; Social Protection; Environmental Management and Climate Change; Peace and Order and Public Safety; and Infrastructure.

The local chief executive may assign any concerned office to provide secretariat support to each of these clusters.

However, the Local Development Council is exempted from the cluster mandate and shall independently function as prescribed by law, considering that its mandate encompasses the concerns of the above clusters.

The local chief executive who shall call and preside the same shall determine and conduct the Cluster meetings. A special meeting may be conducted to respond to urgent concerns involving a specific cluster or committee.

Individual committee meetings, regular or special, are expected to be held as prescribed by existing laws, rules and regulations. The local chief executive may designate an official to chair said regular or special meetings.

As stipulated in the memorandum, a Cluster Oversight Committee (COC) may be created with representatives from the bodies, councils and committees within each cluster. Members of each council or committee shall select from among themselves their representative to the COC. The local chief executive shall serve as chairperson of this committee, with a vice-chair who may be selected from among the representatives of the councils and committees within the cluster.

Meetings of the committee may be conducted to look into the status of the cluster-wide implementation of plans and programs, among other things, and ensure efficient and effective implementation of the same. Upon guidance from the chair, the vice-chair may also call for COC meetings. # Source – www.dilg.gov.ph