Planet NAGA

Military personnel honoring the shrine of the 15 Bicol Martyrs commemorating its 113th year of heroism.

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Naga hailed Youth Friendly City. Councilor Ray-an Rentoy receiving the Gawad sa Kampeon ng Kabataang Pilipino 2009 Plaque of recognition from PGMA and NYC Chairperson Richard Nalupta. The Awarding Ceremony was held in Malacanan Palace

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Mayors of the Metro Naga Development Council sign a partnership agreement with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), formerly known as NCRFW, for the establishment of Common Service Facilities in their respective LGUs. (Seated from left: Mr. Francisco M. Mendoza, representing Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo, Gainza Mayor Romeo A. Gontang, Magarao Mayor Nelson B. Julia, Milaor Mayor Rogelio A. Flores, Pili Mayor Romeo S. Salazar, and Bula Mayor Benjamin S. Decena.) Also present during the signing activity to represent the PCW is Ms. Luzviminda A. Villanueva, Manager of the GREAT Women Project (standing 3rd from right) and MNDC?s Executive Director Reuel M. Oliver (standing 2nd from left).

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PSO Executive Officer Lito del Rosario demonstrating the power of the newly installed CCTVs at selected location, the equipment is aimed to beef-up peace and order situation in the city. Mayor Jesse Robredo along with city officials and office heads graced its formal opening.

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This book provides a new institutional economics perspective on alternative models of local governance, offering a comprehensive view of local government organization and finance in the developing world. The experiences of ten developing/transition economies are reviewed to draw lessons of general interest in strengthening responsive, responsible, and accountable local governance. The book is written in simple user friendly language to facilitate a wider readership by p (more…)

Government Accountability, Countries, Developing, Governance, Local, Paperback, Public, Sector

MOA signing between LGU Naga City represented by Mayor Jesse M. Robredo with representatives from the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. in cooperation with Ai Hu Foundation Inc. for the Computer Van Aralan project to be held at the Cityhall compound.

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Review”An important and valuable report about an important and valuable project. The information and statistics about procedural variations in governments around the nation and the status of their management systems have never been compiled and presented before with anywhere near this level of detail and analytical rigor.” — Hal G. Rainey, University of Georgia, author of Understanding and Managing Public Organizations, 3rd ed., and Modernizing Human Resource Management in the Federa (more…)

Government Government, Hopkins, Johns, Local, Management, Performance, Pursuit, state, Studies, Systems

This book examines patterns of economic governance in three specific, contrasting, contexts: machinery-producing districts; declining steel cities; and clusters of high-technology activities. Building on the work of their previous book (Local Production Systems in Europe: Rise or Demise? OUP 2001), which charted the recent development of local clusters of specialized manufacturing among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, th (more…)

Government Changing, Economies, European, Governance, Kindle, Local, Production, Responses, Systems

Review
“The authors have undertaken nothing less than tracing and evaluating the links between global governance and environmental politics, with a clear-cut and original stress upon the ways in which local and global dynamics interact. Their conceptualization of these interactions is especially compelling, partly because the links are so crucial to the ways in which environmental issues are subjected to governance but mainly because they probe the links in highly creative and persu (more…)

Government Earthly, Environment, Environmental, Global, Governance, Local, Paperback, Politics, Science

Review
`Its strength lies in combining theoretical insights with an impressive range of empirical material. The analysis is subtle and multi-layered…. This is a timely and important book’ – Political Studies `Local governance have gained massive attention among scholars and practitioners during the past several years. Peter John’s book fills a void in the literature by tracing the historical roots of local governance and by placing his findings in a comparative perspective’ – P (more…)

Government Europe, Governance, Local, Paperback, Politics, SAGE, series, Texts, Western

The eleven recipients for this year's Outstanding Bikolano Artists pose during the Bikolinismo Awards. Awardees from left, are, Pancho Piano (Mural Painting), Alvin Yapan (Literary Arts), Cathy Garcia-Molina (Film), Wilson Belarmino (Painting), Ricky Lee (Film/Broadcast Arts), Dr. Zeus Salazar (Literary Arts), Abdon Balde (Literary Arts), Ricardo Perez (Photography), Francisco Peñones, Jr. (Literary Arts), William Espejo (Theater Arts), and Jose Barcena, Jr. (Sculpture).

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Various forms of decentralization are recently pursued in the world, including developing countries. However, there has not been a coherent framework to access these intended outcomes generated by decentralization measures implemented in Asian and African countries. This book provides such a framework based on comparative analyses of different experiences of decentralization measures in six developing countries, where the policy rationale to ‘bring services closer to people’ origin (more…)

Government Comparative, Decentralization, Edition, Foundations, Governance, Kindle, Local, Perspective

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

Government Forum, Governance, MAGAZINE, SUBSCRIPTION

Brings together enterprising pieces of new research on the many forms of organization in East and Southeast Asia that are sponsored or mandated by government, but engage widespread participation at the grassroots level. Straddling the state-society divide, these organizations play important roles in society and politics, yet are dimly understood.

About the Author
University of California, Santa Cruz. USA. Washington University, USA

(more…)

Government Asia, East, Governance, Local, Organizations, society, Southeast, state, Straddling, Urban

Mayor Jesse M. Robredo with Senator Pia Cayetano during her recent visit here, September 23, 2009.

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Senator Bong Revilla with Mayor Jesse Robredo during the civic and military parade

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Review
“Marshaled a team of young scholars to survey 30 medium-sized counties in Mexico to assess the accomplishments of political decentralization.” — Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs
–This text refers to the

Hardcover
edition.
Review
In analyzing the exciting array of promising reforms as well as the inertia of clientelistic traditions, Grindle weights the introduction of political-party competition, the role of innovative ideas and entrepreneurial leaders, the implem (more…)

Government Decentralization, Democratization, Going, Good, Governance, Local, Paperback, Promise

Fil-American Loida Nicolas-Lewis, one of the top business- women in the United States of America and a native of Sorsogon, confers with Vice Mayor Gabriel H. Bordado Jr. during her recent courtesy call at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Photo by: Jose Collera

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NAGA CITY --- The 2,000-member strong Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DSAP) will be holding its 13th annual convention at Villa Caceres Hotel here on September 10-12, 2009 as the city prepares itself for the 10-day Penafrancia Festival.

With the theme ?The DSAP Competitive Advantage: Developing Creative Strategies to Surmount Economic Challenges?, the national convention will bring together drugstore owners from different parts of the country to tackle issues affecting the industry, according to DSAP North Bicol Chapter President Vicente Uy Magadia.

For over 25 years now DSAP as an organization shaped the landscape of pharmaceutical retailing by engaging in activities that best serve the interest of the grassroots and the other sectors of the community.

Supported by pharma and retail trade partners, the gathering of the country?s drugstore owners and operators will also revisit DSAP?s commitment to boosting the professionalism of the health care industry, as well as reinforcing the role of its members in the community.

For more information, interested convention participants are requested to call (02) 631-4254 or (0917) 880-2727, or log on to www,dsaph.org.

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NAGA CITY --- Underscoring that it was to be his final state of the city report, City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo in last Tuesday?s session of the Sangguniang Panglunsod here declared that in less than a year from now, a new mayor would be reporting on the state of the city.

The incumbent city mayor is due to bow out in 2010, after serving the city for two 9-year consecutive terms that were broken only in 1998-2001 when he took a leave in accordance with constitutional term limit on elected officials.

?If there is one thing I will assure you, it is the confidence that the next administration will be inheriting a city poised to take on and do greater things,? the mayor said.

He explained through his report six reasons why the city is geared towards greater things in the next administration:

First, a robust economy. The number of enterprises rose from 614 in June 2008 to 781 this year, an increase of 27%. Helped by competitively priced construction materials, property development rose by 163% compared to 46% last year. More growth is expected in the housing subsector as the city had issued development permits this year for 6 new subdivisions, twice the number issued last year.

Two important developments, according to the mayor, will further boost the city?s economy: completion of the 10,000-seater Naga City Coliseum whose bidded cost was P122 million or a 21% savings from the original estimated cost; and rehabilitation of a ?practically new Naga City Public Market?. According to the mayor, the physical upgrade of the 40-year old structure is an opportunity that has to be taken advantage of: improved layout, lighting, internal and external access, and other amenities that will ensure the competitiveness of the downtown area vis-à-vis the burgeoning CBD2 where SM City Naga reigns.

Second, a highly competent city hall. The real strength of city hall lies not in the edifice that has seen better days (?ang pangit-pangit ng city hall n?yo!?) but with the 1000-strong men and women who comprise the city government. According to the financial management assessment (FMA) conducted by Standard and Poor?s, a prestigious international credit rating agency, Naga?s overall FMA score is the highest among assessed Philippine LGUs to date, that include Quezon City, Marikina, Malabon, and Mandaluyong, among others. The report said Naga?s FMA score reflects ?a fairly high level of disclosure, adequate performance in annual budgeting and debt management skills which are more sophisticated than most local peers (cities).?

Third, bigger revenue base. According to 2007 RDC report, the IRA dependency of cities in Bicol range between 64% (Legazpi) to as much as 90% (Tabaco), whereas Naga?s IRA dependence is pegged at only 54%. ?If you take these national allotments away, most local governments will collapse like an empty sack,? the mayor noted.

The city?s less dependence on IRA indicates a progressively growing local revenue base that will enable city hall to fund its own development programs, deliver quality services and attain key outcomes. As of June 30, 2009, the city treasury collected P148.1 million, representing 75% of the P195.8 million projected local income by the Local Finance Committee for the current year.

Fourth, world-class governance system. As a testament to the city?s laudable governance system many LGUs from different parts of the country visited Naga to learn about its Citizen?s Charter. The city hosted study tours for the visiting local officials to learn about the Naga City Charter which predates by seven years Republic Act. No. 9485, or the Anti-red Tape Act of 2007 that requires all national and local government agencies to come up with their own service charters. The city has also been selected as pilot area for key development projects such as World Bank?s UPSURGE Project, MDG Localization (UNDP), Localized Community Mortgage Program (Social Housing Finance Corp.) Urban HEART (WHO and DOH), the Performance Government System (Institute of Solidarity in Asia) and the World Bank?s credit rating of cities.

Fifth, competitive city of a proud people. Naga has been affirmed as a major convention destination, with major events held in the city bringing a large number of tourists, the biggest for a Bicol city. Local airlines have already increased their frequencies to Naga. Combined the busy Naga airport now services 39 flights a week compared to only 14 last year. SM?s entry also meant that Naga has finally joined the big leagues.

Sixth, an enlightened philosophy that balances economic growth and social development. The city has been unbending in its commitment to equalize opportunities in favor of the marginalized sector of the society. Of the 8,285 urban poor families, 1,793 households have already secured the title to their respective homelots. Availment of P50 million pilot facility is also ongoing, intended to support land acquisition and upgrading activities in five urban poor project areas. The city also continues to bring down malnutrition incidence among public school children, from 22.6% during the opening of classes in June 2008 (already the lowest in the region) to only 10.9% at the end of school year in March 2009.

Reminding that election time comes in less than a year, the mayor cautioned that electing leaders carries an inherent amount of risk. ?For instance,? he said, ?if we choose wrongly as to who we put in Malacanang, we (the Naguenos) may end up with buyer?s remorse again for the third time running.?

The mayor said his personal task before the remainder of his term, before he goes back to being plain citizen Jess Robredo ?is to ensure that there will be a peaceful, orderly transition in the next administration.?

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Visitors from League of Cities of the Philippines during a courtesy visit with Mayor Jesse Robredo prior the workshop om "Achieving the MDG Through the Local Procurement Process" held at Avenue Plaza Hotel

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