2019

This is an Entry to the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards

Title

Enhanced Barangay Visitation Program

Organization

Local Government Unit of Oton

Best practice Focus Area(s)

Leadership, Customer and citizen focus

Summary

The Barangay Visitation Program of the Very Friendly Municipality started the year 2000 through the effort of then and now Mayor Carina V. Flores which aimed to meet the barangay officials in their respective areas. Through the years, it has evolved by the administration enhancing and adding free services offered to the constituents with its main priority, the senior citizens, the poor, and the sick.

It emphasizes information dissemination on the plans and programs of the present administration and benefits that the constituents can avail of with the delivery of other readily available services. Heads and representatives from the different administrative and operations offices discuss their respective functions, plans, programs and entertain queries from the constituents for better understanding and more availment of the services.

Background and Problem

Objectives:

  1. To deliver the LGUs free basic services to the barangay constituents
  2.  To establish a working relationship between the barangay officials and the Mun. Government Officials and employees
  3.  To meet the barangay constituents at their respective barangays and hear the concerns of the citizens especially the CSOs, Women & Family, and the Out of School Youth
  4.  To disseminate vital announcements/information from the municipal government to the barangays
  5.  Widespread information dissemination to the barangay folks pertaining to tax collections.

Solution and Impact

The Municipal Government believes that change is a must for improvement in the plans, programs, activities, systems, and procedures to deliver the best services to the general public.

Thousands of Ogtonganons have availed the administrative and other services of the municipal government with ease and comfort right into their barangays. This is a big show of concern and care for the marginalized people in the far-flung areas of Oton. The LGU, through the barangay visit, gives them free medical check-ups, dental check-ups, free dog and cat castration, civil registrar services, social services, and a venue for them to air out their concerns and connect with the barangay officials and the municipal government officials and employees. The spirit of volunteerism is likewise propagated among the people.

Steps

  1. Meeting of the Mayor with the department heads and barangay officials.
  2. Preparation of the plan of action with a budget.
  3. Evaluation and monitoring

The immediate results are the variety of free services that are readily available in the barangays and the thorough information on the legislation, plans, programs, and projects of the local government. The long-term impact of the program on the people is the knowledge in good governance that they can relay to their respective families and the appreciation of the benefits that they can get from the government, therefore, making them empowered citizens of the 37 barangays in the municipality of Oton. Increased Tax collections are also attributed to efficient information dissemination. Active participation of Civil society organizations and general citizenry are likewise nurtured.

Milestones

The Municipal Government of Oton has garnered high scores in client satisfaction surveys by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and West Visayas State University in 2017 in their Citizen Satisfaction Index System results.