On July 19, 2023, employees and officials from various Local Government Units in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) gathered in Itogon for a benchmarking activity titled “Building Business Friendly & Competitive LGUs.” This initiative aimed to share and learn best practices in business processing from Itogon.
The Local Government Academy (LGA), the training arm of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) organized the benchmarking activity. Officials and employees from 1st and 2nd class municipal LGUs, including Paracellis, Bontoc, Mankayan, La Trinidad, Kabugao, Conner, Kalanasan, Bangued, Tineg, Tinoc, Aguinaldo, and Pinukpok, actively participated in the event. Additionally, Mayor Divina Fontanilla and Vice Mayor Francisco Angelito Fontanilla of Bacnotan, La Union were also in attendance.
The selection of Itogon as the subject LGU was driven by its notable rise in the 2022 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) in the first to second class municipalities category. From ranking 317th in 2021, Itogon climbed to the 175th spot in 2022. DILG-CAR Focal Person, Kevin Royce Bugtong, stated that the aim of the activity was to understand and adopt the successful approaches from Itogon for other first and second class CAR municipalities.
Vice Mayor DAX Godio expressed gratitude to DILG and LGA and acknowledged that the rise in CMCI ranking was primarily attributed to the efforts of the Business Processing Licensing Sector of the LGU.
Amy Ibarra, head of Itogon’s Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), presented the best practices in business processes related to licensing and tax collection. Success stories from the local economic development sector were also showcased, and an open forum allowed participants to address their queries to concerned LGU officials and employees.
Municipal Administrator Arnel Bahingawan emphasized that the municipality’s economic development hinged on the political will of Itogon’s past and present leaders, especially concerning tax collection from mining and power corporations operating within the municipality.
Mayor Bernard S. Waclin expressed sincere appreciation to all the delegates, emphasizing the significance of a public service-oriented attitude among officials and employees in attaining a competitive LGU. He trusts that this benchmarking activity in Itogon served as a crucial platform for Itogon and other LGUs to exchange knowledge and improve their capacities.
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