The City Government of Balanga presented their breakthroughs and transformations from almost eight years of implementing the Performance Governance System (PGS) in a public governance forum last June 10 in the Unilab Campus Bayanihan Center.
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Balanga Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III enumerates the city’s gains during their transformation journey.
In the event headed by ISA and co-convened by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), local chief executive Jose Enrique Garcia III presented Balanga City’s achievements so far in their pursuit of the vision, Balanga University Town 2020: The Emerging Hub for Knowledge-Based Businesses in the Philippines.
Balanga City has been enrolled in the program since 2008, with significant wins to show for it, while also clarifying functions within city hall and generating more awareness and support from residents and key stakeholders:
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Photo: City Government of Balanga Institutionalization Revalida Report
At the forum, Garcia talked about the local government’s recent decision to anchor its strategy on knowledge-based businesses (KBB) since acknowledging the need to strengthen the local pool of knowledge-based workers and to identify an economic driver for developing a university town. Balanga came up with the following breakthrough programs now at the forefront of their strategy: COB Public WiFi, where select public areas of the city are provided with reliable wireless connection to aid tech startups and knowledge-based workers; Walk of Knowledge, which involves kiosks installed with educational games and other academic programs; and Walkipedia, which are kiosks distributed around the Plaza Mayor that provide information on government services and city history. All of these were put up to inspire a culture of learning and innovation among students and the rest of the city’s residents.
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Garcia answers questions during the Balanga Institutionalization revalida panel discussion.
Balanga’s forum panel consisted of Hanns Seidel Foundation Philippines’ Maryann Co, ISA’s Ryan Evangelista and Anneli Lontoc, Aboitiz Group’s Jasmine Oporto, and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Institute’s Ruel Rombaoa.
The city was conferred PGS Institutionalized after the forum, signaling its official graduation from the PGS. It also received the Gold Trailblazer, the highest recognition awarded by the panel for outstanding presentations.
To contact the editor of this story, email Marielle Antonio at [email protected].[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]