Training development programs for employees such as like this is important because it is a venue for us employees to learn new things and gain tools to perform our job better. It is also an opportunity to reduce build up stress in the workplace because we are given the chance to visit and explore places we have never been to, and observe their best practices and apply them in our own organization.
Boracay, as a world class tourism destination, is an excellent venue for seminars & conferences. The place provided a calm environment that is favorable to learning.
The seminar itself is very engaging. The resource speakers were very knowledgeable in their focus areas. I enjoyed listening to them and learning from them, as most were very enthusiastic in discussing their topics. Learnings:
1. The first speaker was Ms. Venus Raj, Ms. Universe 2010 4th runner up. She did the inspirational topic entitled “Pangarap”, her story of trials, faith and success. She motivated us that it is not the level of position you are holding in the office that matters, what is important is your dedication to your work. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michael Angelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a street sweeper who did his job well”. The formula to success may be different from one person to another but if you persevere and believe in the Lord Almighty, you will succeed.
2. The second presenter was Director John Aries Macaspac, DBM Local Government and Regional Coordination Bureau. He discussed about the DBM updates on FY 2023 National Tax Allocation (NTA) of LGUs and FY 2023 Local Budget Preparation, updating of PFM manuals, and FY 2022 Local Government Support Fund Components.
In his first topic about the updates of FY 2023 NTA of LGUs, he informed that the share of LGUs is based on the certifications issued by the BIR, BOC, and the Bureau of the Treasury on the computation of the share of LGUs from the actual collections of national taxes in FY 2020. LGUs shall have 40% share in the national taxes based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year, thus our share for 2023 will be lower compared to our share this year. He also discussed about the allocation of NTA per LGU level with our being a city having an allocation of 23% of the total collection. This is to be divided among cities according to population, land area and the fixed equal share of 25% of the 23% of the total collection.
His second topic is about the salient features of Local Budget Memorandum re: FY 2023 National Tax Allotment Shares of LGUs such as the implementation of the SC ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia Case wherein the funding support for local projects shall be limited to LGUs belonging to the 5th and 6th income classes, the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Areas (GIDAs), and LGUs with highest poverty incidences. The LGUs that may no longer be covered by the pertinent NGAs are expected to provide funds for the implementation and delivery of devolved functions and services.
His topic on the Local Budget Preparation of FY 2023, he enumerated the various forms to be used. He also stressed that LGUs are encouraged to continue to provide funds for COVID-19 related PPAs and expenses such as those items related to the prevention of the spread of COVID- 19, e.g. face mask & alcohol. Also the provision of basic services to the affected population, support to frontline workers, procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, and other programs, projects and activities related to COVID-19 response and recovery measures. He also discussed about the waiving of the Personal Services limitation of LGUs in order to support the additional personnel/manpower who will implement the devolved services and functions of these programs and projects.
3. The third technical session is tackled by Mr. Joselito Caballero, retired Senior Technical Specialist from the Commission on Audit. His main area of concern is the One-Time Cleansing of Property Plant & Equipment Accounts (COA Circular 2020-006).
As PPEs generally constitute a significant portion of the total assets of the government, there is a need to clean these accounts because of the existence of discrepancies in the books and the actual presence of these assets. This will ensure the accuracy of the PPE balances presented in the financial statements. A fairly presented financial position is very important because it will not deprive the government of reliable and useful information in the decision making of the organization.
One objective of this process is to know the guidelines and procedures on the conduct of inventory taking of PPEs. Also, to know the proper disposition for items found at station but not recorded in the books, and for non-existing and unverifiable PPEs.
The Head of Agency shall create an Inventory Committee composed of adequate members to be able to complete the physical inventory in 3 months or less. The members of the Committee shall be temporarily relieved of all their regular duties to devote their full time on the conduct of the physical count of inventories until the same is completed. The committee shall plan & strategize on how to conduct and complete the physical inventory within the prescribed period which is 3 months. The entire process shall be witnessed by a representative from the COA. The committee shall prepare a Physical Inventory Plan (PIP) which shall be approved by the Head of the Agency. This approved plan shall be the submitted to COA at least 10 calendar days before the schedule of the inventory taking activities. Property records shall be updated based on the results of the physical inventory and reconciled in the books to come up with reconciled balances of PPE accounts to be considered as correct balance of the agency’s PPEs.
Disposal of unserviceable properties if found value less or unusable shall be destroyed in
the presence of the inspecting officer. If found valuable, the same shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder under the supervision of the Committee on Awards and in the presence of an authorized representative of the COA.
4. Atty. Odilon Pasaraba, DILG Assistant Secretary, discussed the updates from his department which about incentivizing good governance and financial administration. This is through institutionalizing the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) and creation of the SGLG Council. The standard of the SGLG is the condition wherein an LGU demonstrates positive and stable economic performance, and maintains, preserves and mandatorily upholds the practice of fiscal discipline, sustainability, accountability and transparency. Indicators of which are an unqualified or qualified COA opinion in the financial statements of an organization, the full disclosure policy compliance, local revenue collection growth and utilization of the 20% component of the National Tax Allocation for local development projects. The aim of the SGLG’s incentive, honor and recognition-based program is to boost the LGUs drive to constantly progress and sustain its performance across various governance areas.
His second topic is about procurement updates, policies and innovations. Procurement does not refer to the selection of the lowest bid but rather to the selection of offers that provide the optimum combination of quality and cost (O.C.Q.C.). It must be the government’s policy that all public procurement should be based on value for money, having due regard to propriety.
His third subject matter is regarding efficient procurement measures during state of calamities or implementation of community quarantines, or similar restrictions where movement of people and mass public and private transport are limited. Because of this restrictions, he said that the organization should use videoconferencing, webcasting and similar technology in the conduct of BAC meetings. Also the use of digital signatures is encouraged, as long as there is an established system on who is allowed only to paste the concerned individual’s electronic signature. He also said to streamline and simplify the conduct of procurement and address the challenges and disruptions brought by calamities & crisis. Submission of procurement related documents, except for the submission and receipt of bids, through electronic mail or facsimile shall be allowed, subject to the submission of the printed copies as soon as feasible, as determined by the BAC. Submission through electronic means should be in archive format compression and with password protection. Passwords shall only be disclosed by the bidders during the actual bid opening.
Online submission and receipt of bids through the GPPB Online Portal shall be further developed. Once operational, the GPPB Online Portal shall ensure the security, integrity and confidentiality of the bids submitted and generate an audit trail of transactions for the security, integrity and authenticity of the bid submissions.
With regards to expired Business or Mayor’s permit, the alternative is to submit the Official Receipt of renewal application, subject to submission of Business or Mayor’s permit after award of contract but before payment. The same is true with the nonnotarized Omnibus Sworn Statement, subject to compliance therewith after award of contract but before payment.
Also he spoke about the creation of the GPPB Online Blacklisting Portal and its advantages. Only the authorized representative/s, designated as official or alternate user of the OBP will be able to access and use the OBP to ensure secure online transactions. Users can perform direct and immediate posting of Blacklisting Orders in the OBP which will be timely posted in the Consolidated Blacklisting Report as well. Procuring entities are mandated to register and use the OBP.
5. The last speaker was Mr. Felix G. Delos Santos, Jr, Chief Tourism Operations Officer of the Municipality of Malay, Aklan. His topic is about rebuilding local tourism. The Governor of Aklan formed a technical working group known as the Public-private Alliance for Boracay (PPAB). They were responsible in the crafting of health and safety guidelines for Boracay Reopening. PPAB is represented by Boracay stakeholders which formulated the new normal system and protocols. They have 8 standard health and safety protocols namely, airport, transportation, jetty port, accommodation & restaurants, health referral system, marketing & promotion, peace & order & security, and tour activities protocols. The LGU of Malay and other government agencies formulated a Resiliency and Recovery Plan that paved the way to gradually recuperate the municipality’s economy and somehow give chances to business entities to restart and to continually minimize the effects brought by the global pandemic. It aims to bring back the losses in the industry particularly in its tourism industry where Municipality is dependent. They also created a Tourism Crisis Management Plan that aims to ensure the welfare of its constituents through the municipality’s concrete plan in dealing with sudden and unexpected events that they may encounter. This plan is essential to prepare the tourism industry of Malay to face unexpected circumstances, as it analyzes the causes of the crisis and devises strategies to uncertain conditions, and help decide on the future course of action.
Behavior:
I was able to learn about the updates on the different topics concerning the DBM, COA, GPPB, and the local tourism in Malay, Aklan. I was introduced to topics that I have only heard and knew little about. These new learnings that I acquired, I will be able to contribute inputs and insights whenever needed.
Also, the seminar gave me the chance to interact with fellow public servants and hear about the challenges & problems they face in their own organization and how they deal with these challenges. I can relate to them as they also face the same problems and challenges that we are experiencing in our own department. It gave me sense of kinship to my fellow “tagapag-tuos”.
Results:
The seminar was a huge morale booster for me for I felt like a valued member of the organization because of the management’s willingness to make such an investment in me. I felt recharged and renewed after immersing myself in work-specific topics. Rest assured that whatever methods I learned I will also apply for the benefit of the organization.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”
Prepared by:
THIRDEE EDGARDO BACLIG
Division Federated SSLG President Schools Division of the City of Batac
