eGwen program to be replaced

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board yesterday has finally approved the ordinance establishing the Our Sustainable Cebu Program to sustain the environmental program initiated by suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The ordinance authored by PB members Thadeo Ouano and Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. was originally known as institutionalizing the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (eGwen) Program of the Province of Cebu.

But some cause-oriented and non-government organizations condemned the proposal saying that it is “illegal and a brazen insult to the citizenry”.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., the private partner of the Province of Cebu for the said program, proposed to replace the eGwen into the “Our Cebu” program but the PB finally decided to call it Our Sustainable Cebu Program.

The ordinance provides for the creation of Our Sustainable Cebu Program Council as governing body to formulate policies and programs geared towards building sustainable cities and municipalities of the province.

The governor and the vice governor shall act as council’s chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively.

The members are representative from RAFI, PB members who head the committees on planning and development, environment, trade and industry, tourism, and arts and culture, presidents of the mayor’s league and Association of Barangay Captains of the Province of Cebu.

There shall also be a technical committee and evaluation team composed of the manager of the Our Sustainable Cebu Program as chairperson and the members are representatives of the offices social welfare, health, engineering, agriculture, environment, veterinary, planning, tourism and heritage council, and other national agencies involved.

Under the program, a scorecard system for good governance is put in place and the performance management standards and rating system shall be prepared by the council.

Program partners and implementers that have shown ingenuity and outstanding performance as shown in the scorecards will be honored to be conferred annually.

These include the Green Champion Award, Model Town Award, and Good Neighbor Award.  The 2013 budget for the eGwen Program shall be used for the implementation of the program amounting to P15 million.

Garcia proposed last year the P30 million appropriations for the said program but the PB slashed it by half when the 2013 annual budget was passed last month.  (FREEMAN)