Malaybalay gets Galing Pook for integrated survey system

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Malaybalay in Bukidnon has been chosen as one of 14 Galing Pook 2009 awardees for its locally developed Malaybalay Integrated Survey System (MISS).

Of all the other awardees, it holds the unique distinction of being the only program that focuses on information technology (IT) as an effective tool for community development and action planning.

Malaybalay’s Planning and Development Office created the MISS to tackle inaccuracies in data gathering and city surveys.  Patterned after the DILG’s Community-Based Monitoring System, the survey has 231 questions covering the information needs of the different departments.

The data processing program was developed by in-house programmers of the city government. About 420 barangay health workers (BHWs) and midwives were tasked to learn the data processing program and work on computers provided to all 46 barangays. Almost 98 percent of the BHWs were initially not computer-literate, but were able to learn quickly. The city government shouldered their training, board and lodging, while the barangay councils provided their transportation.

The survey covers all the residents in the city, providing basic demographics and profiles of households. The accurate data gathered from the survey helped draw up the development plans of the 46 barangays. The information gave a better picture of the city’s constituents and their needs, thus providing the basis for development and action planning.

The MISS program proves to also be gender-responsive. The planning and budgeting process has already started being more gender fair, accommodating more programs and activities that will help improve the status of women in the neighborhood.

The Galing Pook Foundation is part of a global network of local governance awards spanning the United States, Mexico, China, East Africa, South Africa and South America. It conferred citations on 14 local government units (LGUs) this year for outstanding local governance programs.

The awards are annually bestowed to only 10 programs, but 2009 was deemed a banner year for good governance by the National Selection Committee chaired by Prof. Solita Monsod.

Five awardees hailed from Mindanao, two from the Visayas and seven from Luzon. Winning programs ranged from environmental management to health services to peace and conflict resolution to social services. 

From barangays to municipalities, cities and provinces, each unit was evaluated for innovation, positive results, transferability and sustainability, people’s participation, and efficiency.

“We have often heard of aspirations for more excellence in local governments. We wished not just for islands but for an entire archipelago of good governance. This year’s awardees are a proud addition to our growing contingent of outstanding LGUs,” said Rafael Coscolluela, Galing Pook Foundation chairman.

The other Galing Pook 2009 awardees were Barangay Luz, Cebu City; Sarangani province; Marikina City; Taguig City; Midsayap, Cotabato; Quezon City; Bayawan City; Surallah, South Cotabato; Makati City; Barangay Barobo, Valencia City; Tabuk, Kalinga; Bulacan province; and Parañaque City.