ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL- The results of the Environmental User Fee (EUF) monitoring in the Island Garden City of Samal dubbed as G-Watch IGaCoS Bantay Kinaiyahan Project was released to public by the Local G-Watch in Brgy. Catagman, in the city' Samal District last September 26, 2012.
The public presentation was attended by resort owners, barangay officials, city government officials, department heads, civil society organizations and some national agency representatives stationed in the city.
Local G-Watch IGaCoS Bantay Kinaiyahan is a joint Citizen-Government Monitoring of the Environmental User Fee (EUF)organized and assisted by Government Watch (G-Watch) Program of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) ofAteneo de Manila University in partnership with the city government of IGaCoS and the Civil Society Organizations( CSOs) here to monitor the implementation of EUF pursuant to City Ordinance 2009-156.
In June 2012, the Government Watch (G-Watch), a social accountability program of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) organized a monitoring project that was meant to localize the G-Watch Social Accountability Approach with the objective to train LGUs and local CSOs to monitor and improve service delivery.
Extensive consultations were made in deciding what service delivery program will be monitored. The proposed three service delivery programs in the city namely: Bridge Financing, Agricultural Services and the implementation of EUF, the latter was eventually identified and chosen as the service delivery program in IGaCoS to be covered under the G-Watch Monitoring.
After series of capacity building of the monitors, the local G-Watch IGaCoS Bantay Kinaiyahan conducted the monitoring and evaluation of EUF, especially on the releasing of EUF tickets from the LGU down to the marketing and collection of EUF Fees in the barangay/ beach level and the recording of collection in the LGU and in the barangay level.
Ptr. Vitaliano Nuñez, Jr., G-Watch Core Group from Samal Evangelical Ministerial Fellowship, Inc.(SEMFEL),presented the accomplishments, results and recommendations in the conduct of EUF monitoring.
“Serioso kami sa among ginahimo ug dili kini alang ka namo apan alang sa atong isla. Isa sa among nakita mao ang kakulangan sa guidelines para sa honorarium alang sa mga EUF collector dinha sa barangay level ug kakulangan sa tamang pagsabot sa EUF”(We are serious in what we are doing, this is not for us but for our island. In our findings, one of the discrepancies is the guidelines for the honorarium to EUF Collector and the lack of clear understanding of the EUF) Vitaliano said.
Abel Unla, G-Watch Core Group from Transport Federation, Inc. stressed the need to sustain the monitoring practices and suggested to the LGU to conduct intensive orientation to collectors of EUF and to set standards in designating collectors underscoring the skill in dealing tourists.
Problems on multi-collection of EUF and lack of comprehensive understanding on the objective of the collection floated as common problems encountered for the project.
City Mayor Aniano P. Antalan pointed out the uniqueness of Samal compared to other tourist destinations due to its several “point of entry”. He challenged the concerned departments to look into the problem and to explore possibility of having one collection areafor EUF for those coming to Samal Island.
Teresita Briones , Ateneo School of Government , G-Watch Program Manager thanked the LGU and the community and urged them to continue with the initiative.
Briones was grateful for the cooperation and participation of the LGU for accepting the project and participation of the ordinary citizens for giving their precious time and willingness to join in the constructive engagement with government for the joint monitoring of a project.
She congratulated the LGU and the local partners for the successful implementation of the project. The joint monitoring conducted by the LGU and CSOs proved that constructive engagement in IGaCoS is possible.
Briones hoped that the joint citizen-government engagement in IGaCoS will continue and be an example to other LGUs.
A Symbolic launching of 2nd Round of IGaCoS Bantay Kinaiyahan and turn-over ceremony of the G-Watch Monitoring to the CSOs in the form of of tree seedlings by the city officials, ASoG and G-Watch Core Group to the CSOs was made. It was followed by a Book Launching of the G-Watch Manual on Monitoring the Environmental Users Fee based on the IGaCoS Experience which highlighted the event.
G-Watch is a program of the ASoG funded by the European Commission and implemented in six pilot sites in the Philippines, wherein the Island Garden City of Samal is one of the chosen sites.(melrose IGACOS cio)
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