DILG to train mayors on good governance

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pushing for formal training on local governance for mayors, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said yesterday.

Sarmiento said the modules are being finalized and would be ready for mayors to be elected in the May 2016 elections.

“Local government officials work for political survival. We want to tell them good governance is good politics,” Sarmiento said during an Oplan Lambat-Sibat anti-crime meeting at Camp Crame.

“We will give our elected mayors guidelines to make them effective in local governance. The target is to give them some lectures then expose them to some existing best practices. In class, copying is discouraged but copying best practices in local governance are encouraged,” he said.

 Sarmiento said the Philippine National Police also needs the support of local government units in implementing its anti-crime efforts.

He cited the support of the mayors of the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Marikina in the Eastern Police District (EPD)’s peace and order campaign.

Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, EPD chief, said the mayors in his area of jurisdiction have been deploying local government personnel to assist policemen in maintaining peace and order and implementing ordinances.