Bulacan is a province that is continuously reinventing itself.
The province applies the lessons gained from past reforms and the changing needs of people’s rising expectations to its reorganization program, which is now on its third wave.

Bing the gateway of Metro Manila to the North is both a boon and a bane for Bulacan. For one, it has to contend with “re-urbanization”, or the transition from rural to urban, against the backdrop on an agro-industrial economy and the pressures of globalization. But it takes advantage of its proximity to the nation’s capital to gain easier access to information, technology and social services.

The people of Bulacan set the tone by voting very competent and innovative leaders into office. Governors Roberto Pagdanganan (1986-1998) and Josefina dela Cruz (1998-present) worked as a dynamic duo in building the change process, providing succession and continuity. They epitomize innovation and systemic change. They helped craft the Bulakenyos’ vision of being a great province equitably and sustainably progressive, with a strong middle-class society, and where all citizens have equal access to resources and opportunities and share in responsibilities”.

Governor Pagdanganan revved up the province’s economy with the Kaunlaran sa Pagkakaisa or the Cooperatives Development Program, a Gawad Galing Pook awardee in 1994. From a fledging sector made up of 52 cooperatives with combined assets of P50 million in 1986, the program helped spawn a dynamic, multi-sectoral movement of 1,015 cooperatives with assets of P3.5 billion as of 1998.

There are currently around 300 “millionaire cooperatives” in the province. Forty cooperatives are composed solely of women engaged in stuffed-toy making, paper arts, embroidery, food processing, recycling, retailing and fruit vending. Seventy-eight cooperatives are headed by women who are either the president, chairperson or manager—reflecting the gender-sensitivity of the cooperative movement in the province.

This was followed by the Cultural Development Program, awarded in 1995, which aims to preserve and promote the rich historical and cultural legacies of the province, especially among the youth. Under Governor dela Cruz, this became an institutionalized program in 18 out of the 24 municipalities of Bulacan. The program has promoted a “culture of excellence” in the arts and encouraged cultural work as an economic opportunity that supports the tourism industry.

Another program is the Lakas ng Kabataan sa Bulakan (renamed as the Provincial Youth and Development Council Foundation), awarded in 1997. High school graduates unable to go to college are provided with skills training and upgrading, and job placement assistance. A total of 3,000 graduates were given skills training and 5,000 were recruited in job fairs annually. This earned Bulakan the Kabalikat Awards from TESDA in 2002.

The Alay Paglingap Program (awarded in 1996) improved the delivery of health and other social services in the province by training, organizing and mobilizing a total of 4,023 volunteer workers. Volunteers, mostly made up as women, serve as Lingkod Lingap sa Nayon for barangays or as Mother Leaders for sitios, delivering services on nutrition, population and other social services.

Recognizing their greater participation, these women now form the Panlalawigang Komisyon ng Kababaihan ng Bulakan (2003 awardee) which serves as the policy advisory council and coordinative mechanism for gender-responsive policies, programs and services. The provincial government is able to save on estimated P27 million annually from the volunteers. These savings in turn benefit the community through more improved services.

A program that won in 2000, dubbed Reinventing Public Service, streamlined the bureaucracy and generated personnel productivity and savings for the local government. Under the program, new organizational structures that matched the needs and priority concerns of the provincial government were created. The management of change was facilitated by constant dialogues that fostered transparency and participative decision-making. Incentives and benefits for personnel productivity were provided. Systems and procedures were computerized and helped the personnel become more productive, significantly reducing transaction time with citizens. As a result, collection efficiency increased to 123%.

Governor dela Cruz also instituted the Constituent-responsive Governance, Program, awarded in 2002. Using the survey research method, Bulakenyos are able to give their feedback to projects that the provincial government plans to implement. Past surveys covered the health insurance program, solid waste management, the real property tax billing statement, and the acceptability of a community radio station. Surveys have also now become part of Bulacan’s management information system that is factored into the decision-making process.

Bulacan is able to sustain and cultivate its tradition of excellence through two innovative programs: its Center for Local Governance, Research and Development Foundation, which formulates policies and programs on good local governance through training and education, technological and consultancy services, research and advocacy; and the Gawad Barangay, an annual search for outstanding barangay programs within the province.