Quirino Governor Dax Cua, the national president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), underscored the significance of a service delivery-oriented approach in local governance during a roundtable session organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on “The Future of Local Governance in the Philippines” held on May 12, 2023.
Cua’s emphasis on a service delivery-oriented approach aligns with ULAP’s stance on LGU collaboration. He emphasized the need to go beyond simply devolving functions to LGUs and instead proposed a comprehensive evaluation of the services being offered.
“By being clear in identifying the scope and scale of the services to be delivered by each level of government through the service delivery-oriented approach, we are holding the concerned local government unit or national agency accountable.”
According to Cua, it is crucial to identify the most essential services, assess their effectiveness, and determine the responsible entities for their delivery.
By adopting this approach, LGUs can efficiently and effectively provide high-quality services that directly address the needs of their constituents, he said.
“We must realize that overprescription to local government units tends to stifle creativity in service delivery. We must veer away from generic solutions and come up with solutions that fit the needs of each LGU.”
“Instead of omnibus policies and programs, we must shift to a data-driven, scientific, and research-based service delivery approach,” said Cua.
Cua commended the DILG for establishing coordination mechanisms that streamline collaboration and promote overall cooperation.
“The DILG has been actively fostering clear communication channels through regular meetings, forums, and workshops, facilitating the exchange of best practices and collaborative approaches to address national concerns,” he said.
Cua also said that this approach reinforces accountability at the local and national levels.
“By being clear in identifying the scope and scale of the services to be delivered by each level of government through the service delivery-oriented approach, we are holding the concerned local government unit or national agency accountable. It allows us to fix the problem instead of fixing the blame,” Cua added.
By advocating for innovative approaches and collaboration between national and local stakeholders, Cua hopes to create a cohesive and effective local governance system that leads to a “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay” for all Filipinos.
