Replicating Best Practices
For
the last decade, Galing Pook has put together a harvest
of best and innovative practices through its awards program.
These practices have proven to be effective, efficient and
have greatly improved local systems, management and service
delivery.
Every year since its
inception, Galing Pook has evolved into a coveted local
governance award, with a roster of 215 local governance
programs showcasing best practices as proofs that devolution
works in the country despite the challenges that go with
the process.
Aside from the recognition
of these exemplary programs, Galing Pook Foundation assists
in building the capacities of local government units by
disseminating, popularizing and replicating these practices.
To accomplish this, the Foundation provides the venue in
the form of learning and replication circles that will serve
as a means for policy discussion, model building and cross
fertilization of lessons among LGUs.
By providing the venue
to share, discuss, explore and adopt best practices, Galing
Pook hopes that LGUs will be able to explore their potential,
respond to local needs, maximize their resources, --- and,
realize good governance.
MODES OF REPLICATION
Galing Pook employs several
modes to pursue its replication efforts.
Winner’s Circle
A conference workshop series involving past Galing
Pook winners and other award-giving bodies with selected
LGU officials. This sharing and dialogue between and among
LGU winners and international counterparts will provide
new perspectives and strategies to local leaders on how
to address development and governance concerns in their
localities. Galing Pook winners are also organized as a
resource pool for peer to peer learning.
Palihan ng Galing
A technology exchange workshop series on specific development
themes where LGUs, civil society organizations (CSOs) and
governance experts will analyze award-winning programs against
their own situation towards identifying and refining framework,
strategies and tools that can be replicated. This exchange
hopes to catalyze capacity development in local governance
and sharpen responses to address local problems.
Galing Pook Natin
This is community-based replication program that will allow
a group of LGUs to adapt a refined framework, strategies
and tools in a collaborative arrangement with Galing Pook
and other governance institutions and CSOs. The Foundation
provides technical assistance in program design, monitoring
and evaluation, case study documentation and mass media
popularization while LGU adaptors and their partners provide
on-site resources.
ICT
Enabled Knowledge Sharing
This an information-communication technology mechanism to
connect LGUs that need knowledge in local governance and
development. A knowledge network that is user-driven, responsive
and participatory . A demand driven Help Desk, composed
of individuals with various technical expertise in local
governance, will freely give their expert advice through
on-line consultation for those who need information and
knowledge at the local level.
“Ang Galing mo, Mayor”
Exemplary municipal governance practices of the League of
Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) are showcased during
LMP’s island-wide conference and assemblies in a forum
aptly called, “Ang Galing mo, Mayor!”.
Media Advocacy & Promotion
Galing Pook recognizes that media plays a key role in promoting
good local governance programs and exemplary practices.
Feature articles and short stories will be released more
systematically to effectively promote the good news in the
field.
DEVELOPMENT THEMES
FOR REPLICATION
Participatory
Local Governance
Effective citizenship participation in local governance
is a turnkey to poverty alleviation and sustainable human
development. Democratization in local governance, whereby
citizens are active participants in governance, is a difficult
process to undertake. Galing Pook highlights the value of
people’s participation and empowerment as a prerequisite
to good local governance.
Solid Waste Management
Galing Pook supports the implementation of RA 9003 otherwise
known as the Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act for a better and a more sustainable care for nature
throughout the country. Galing Pook SWM awarded programs
of Carmona and Santa Barbara (Iloilo) were showcased in
learning circles / workshops in Quezon City and Negros Occidental
to spur replication, in partnership with the Empowering
Communities for Participatory Governance (ECPG) Inc.
Coastal
Resource Management
Being an archipelagic country, most rural communities depend
on coastal resources for livelihood. Our coastal resources
continue to decline at an alarming rate. Galing Pook, in
a bid to do its share, seeks to inspire the replication
of the CRM experience of Looc, Romblon (awarded in 1999)
in 17 municipalities in Quezon Province. Study tours and
workshops were organized to facilitate the replication process.
Improving the Quality of Public Education
Focusing on education is an affirmation of Galing Pook’s
commitment and dedication to invest on the country’s
future, --- the children and the youth. Galing Pook supported
the efforts of Synergeia Foundation in the strengthening
of local school boards to improve the public education system,
using the Naga City experience as model. Galing Pook organized
a learning workshop in Bacolod City as well as a study tour
in Naga City for several municipalities in Negros Occidental,
who willingly took on the challenge. Aside from Synergeia
Foundation, Galing Pook is closely working with ESKAN, Inc.
in this endeavor.
