Responding Effectively to Its Citizens
Province of Bulacan

The provincial government of Bulacan has been tackling the targets set under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by implementing different programs that cater to the different needs of its basic sectors and special and vulnerable groups.

Bulacan has two advantages.

First, unlike most provinces that suffer from insufficient resources, Bulacan, as a first-class province located in Central Luzon, is blessed with abundant resources. While ample resources do not guarantee that programs will have an impact in the lives of constituents, it is an important factor. What counts is that these ample resources are put to good use through good programs that cater to the needs of the general population. Bulacan’s second advantage is that it has good leaders who are responsive to the needs of their constituents. These leaders ensure that resources are utilized for the benefit of the people.

Among the programs implemented successfully by the provincial government were the following: a cooperative revival program; a gender mainstreaming program; an education upgrading program; a detainees program; and a youth program. To empower its constituents and be more responsive to their needs, the provincial government pre-tested its programs before these were fully implemented. This process ensured that the people in the province provided feedback and inputs to the programs.

In addition, the provincial government undertook a reorganization program that streamlined the local government bureaucracy and made it more efficient. The reorganization saved a lot of resources for the province and encouraged the personnel to increase their productivity.
These LGU-initiated programs garnered awards and citations for their impact and innovativeness.

Cooperative development

The “Kaunlaran sa Pagkakaisa: Cooperative Development Program” revived the spirit of cooperativism, making the province a leader in cooperative development in the country. When the program was initiated in 1994, there were only fifty cooperatives in the province with assets amounting to PhP50 million pesos, half of which was owned by only one cooperative. Trainings were conducted under the program and a revolving fund was made available to start up cooperatives. A year after the program was implemented, Bulacan hosted the National Cooperative Summit, drawing other local governments to look into cooperativism as a means to help people learn self-reliance and fight poverty.

In 1998, four years after the program was initiated, the number of cooperatives in the province mushroomed to 1,015 with combined assets estimated at PhP3.5 billion.

A better learning system

The “Joint Systems Improvement in Education Project” or Project JOSIE, meanwhile, enabled significant improvement in both students’ and teachers’ performance in the “National Education Achievement Test” (NEAT).
The low NEAT scores of Bulacan’s children prompted the provincial government to launch an education program that was implemented in all 496 schools in the province. Before the program was implemented, the average NEAT score of a child was 39.4% in Math and 40.23% in English.

After the program was implemented, the average NEAT score in English rose to 76% in reading and 72% in comprehension. In math, the average NEAT score rose from 40.23% to 82% in computational skills and 71.5% in math problem comprehension skills. The program encouraged and harnessed the participation of the parents and the communities by providing workshops and conferences on the process of learning and proper guidance.

At present, each of the 496 schools has a core group of parents who assist teachers in preparing audio-visual materials and in providing remedial instruction when needed.

Empowering women

The Panlalawigang Komisyon para sa Kababaihan ng Bulakan (PKKB) or Provincial Commission for the Women of Bulacan empowered women by promoting gender mainstreaming at all levels (from the household to the workplace), encouraging full participation of women in governance, and ensuring women’s access to economic and productive resources through livelihood projects and trainings. Although it is primarily a government entity, the PKKB is run by non-government organizations (NGOs). This system ensured partnerships with concerned groups in the province. Another major achievement under the program is the establishment of a women’s desk in all the municipalities.

Constituent responsive governance

One of the most innovative programs implemented by the province of Bulacan is the “Constituent Responsive Governance Project” or the CRG Project. It is a pioneering activity that aimed to ascertain the particular needs of Bulacan’s people and gather feedback and views on programs that would be implemented by the provincial government. Through the CRG, four major programs—health insurance, solid waste management, real property tax system, and community radio broadcasting—were subjected to surveys and pre-tests. The findings were then used to tailor the programs to suit the intended beneficiaries. These also ensured that relevant projects were prioritized.

The four pre-tested programs showed remarkable results. For example, the Bulacan Health Insurance Program—“Medicare para sa Masa, Kalusugan mo, Katulong ako” (or Medicare for the Masses, Your Health, My Help) program— benefited 17,000 indigent families. Prioritization meant reduced spending as well as increased income and savings for both the local government and the communities. Through the health program, the LGU saved PhP1.7 million, which was poured into other projects. Philhealth, the government health insurance agency, shouldered part of the medical expenses of the beneficiaries of the program. The CRG also led to the establishment of the Center for Local Governance, Research and Development (CLGRD), which harnessed LGU expertise and resources towards efficient and effective local governance.

Reinvigorating government service delivery

Beyond initiating projects that improved the lives of its constituents, the local government undertook reinvention. Aptly titled “Reinventing Public Service,” the program streamlined the local government bureaucracy and increased personnel productivity and savings for the local government. Eventually, this process led to a more efficient and effective service delivery. This feat was attained by improving and creating new organizational structures that responded better to the needs and priority concerns of the provincial government. The management of change was eased by constant dialogues. Transparency and participative decision-making was enforced. Moreover, incentives and benefits were provided for personnel productivity. Also, systems and procedures were computerized. In addition, capability-building programs for both the department managers and the rank and file were implemented and a quality service improvement program was undertaken.

After the program was implemented, the bureaucracy was pared down to more productive levels that upgraded 23% of the plantilla yet generated savings of PhP13.8 million from personnel services alone. The savings increased the benefits for the employees and the funds for social services. Incentives for personnel productivity also increased revenue collection, e.g. real property tax collection rose by 27%.

Creating jobs and livelihood

The provincial government implemented a youth-centered program as well. The “Lakas ng Kabataan sa Bulacan through the Provincial Youth Development Council” program was basically an enterprise or livelihood project that provided opportunities for the out-of-school youth, new graduates and other non-working adults in Bulacan. Vocational and technical trainings as well as management trainings were given to the intended beneficiaries of the program. Job placement was also undertaken. Of the intended beneficiaries, at least 16% manage their own businesses now, while 76% have been given jobs. The provincial government reported that the combined income of the youth and adult beneficiaries was estimated at PhP178.1 million after the program was implemented.

Prisoner rehabilitation

In the Banyuhay (Bagong Anyo ng Buhay or New Kind of Life) program, the provincial government addressed the physical, social, legal, psychological, emotional and even religious needs of the prisoners of the provincial jail. The program enhanced the rehabilitation and reformation program for prisoners, provided prisoners a source of income while they were still in detention, helped improve the living conditions of detainees, and prepared them for their eventual integration back into society. Through the program, the detainees and their families were given an opportunity to reform and start anew.

Attaining a vision

Looking at the gamut of programs implemented, the provincial government of Bulacan attained significant improvements in practically seven of the eight MDG goals. The Banyuhay and the Cooperative programs addressed MDG goal 1 on poverty and hunger. Project JOSIE addressed MDG goal 2 on universal primary education as well as goal 7 on environmental protection. The PKKB’s significant gains on gender fit with MDG goal 3. The Alay Paglingap, which forms part of the health program addressed MDG goals 4 and 5 on reducing child and maternal mortality. The CRG program, through its health, component indirectly addressed MDG goal 6. CRG, Reinventing Public Service, Cultural Development and Project JOSIE responded to the need for ensuring partnerships and participatory governance.

In 1986, the provincial government aspired to make “(Bulacan) a great province that is 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.” Bulacan is well on its way to achieving this vision and in fulfilling the task of eliminating poverty.