Capitol introduces tool to measure LGU performance
A revised institutional evaluation system was introduced yesterday intended to become a tool for assessing the performance of local government units (LGU) and to serve as a development guide in planning and budgeting programs.
Dubbed Our Cebu 2.0, the updated system expanded its rewards and incentives.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III announced that the Capitol will be boosting the budget for Our Cebu from P9 million to P28.75 million.
Instead of awarding the top three performing local government units by the end of the year, the LGU will be measured against a set of standards, which means it has to compete only against itself.
“It is now a governmentoriented rather than competitiondriven among the local governments,” Davide said.
A panel of evaluators from the Capitol will assess the completion rate of an LGU’s outputs and if the initiatives are aligned to their development goals.
To evaluate an LGU’s progress, a set of rubrics is provided anchored on six attributes namely green, livability, inclusiveness and competitiveness, historical and cultural, resiliency and governance.
In the previous version, scorecards were used as an assessment tool.
However, the objectivity of the said method was questioned. This propelled the Capitol to shift from scorecards to a rubric method.
“We consider – to be more objective and fair to all LGUs regardless of their income class,” said the governor.
He continued that the change in the program’s assessment process is expected to produce more beneficial results for both the provincial government and the LGUs as it would certainly eliminate the seemingly less significant issues.
This time, a mobile application was also launched to capture realtime data so the LGUs know their progress in terms of the Our Cebu 2.0 guidelines. The automation of data collection will enable provision of better information in addressing gaps and challenges in LGUs.
In her speech, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale shared that measuring societal impact in local communities can be easier by institutionalizing evidence and performance-based mechanisms such as the Our Cebu 2.0
The assessment will only be done once a year instead of twice.
To ensure that the LGUs are guided throughout the program, a mentoring system is also introduced in the new Our Cebu. Technical coaching and assistance will be provided by the Capitol and its partner organizations. —
Lorraine Mitzi A. Ambrad/GAN