DILG TO LGUS: ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF POWERS TO NEWLY-ELECTED OFFICIALS, NO MORE GRUDGES AND BITTERNESS

With the election of new faces in key positions in local governments, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reiterates its call to local government units (LGUs) to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of powers and responsibilities to the newly-elected officials in the recently-concluded May 13 midterm polls.

“We thank the Filipino people for exercising their right to vote and congratulate the newly elected officials for their victory. Now is the time to rise above party politics and interests and prepare for a smooth turnover of powers in LGUs to ensure continuity in local governance,” says DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.

Año says winners and losers in the recent polls should take the higher ground and let go of political grudges and bitterness for the sake of the people whom they have sworn to serve.

“The Filipino people have spoken and now is the time to move on. A greater agenda awaits and that is the task of nation-building. Kaya magkaisa na tayong lahat at magtulong-tulong para sa kapakanan ng ating mga lokalidad,” he says.

The DILG has earlier issued Memorandum Circular No. 2019-39 which requires the creation of Local Governance Transition Teams to be chaired by the local chief executive (LCE) with the vice-chair to be elected from among the members by simple majority vote.

The tasks of the transition team include conduct of an inventory of LGU properties, securing of all official documents and records of LGU transactions, and briefing on the key challenges for the incoming set of officials for a seamless leadership and management transition.

The members of the team are department heads of the local government unit (LGU) and a DILG representative such as DILG Provincial Director in case of provincial government, DILG City Director in case of city government, or DILG Municipal Local Government Operations Officer in case of municipal government. There should also be one representative from a civil society organization or people's organization.

“Now that the elections are over, let us unite and support our local leaders as we all share the same vision of peace and progress for our localities,” says Año.

The DILG Chief also says the Department through the Local Government Academy (LGA) is ready to train the newly-elected and reelected local officials through its Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) program to enable them to effectively discharge their duties and responsibilities and define their development roadmaps.

“We assure you of the DILG’s guidance and assistance to help the new local officials who have been given a fresh mandate by the people become good local government managers,” he says. # Source – www.dilg.gov.ph