MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

Of the four functional elements of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling), the first plays a most vital role. Thus, in the Philippine government bureaucracy a specific planning office has been created for every LGU. Gone were the days where the Chief Executive of the Municipality, City, or Province had to be a master of all responsibilities, and end up deficient on all four counts.

Decentralization is an effective management approach, with major decision-making the concern of the topmost in the bureaucratic ladder. In Tagbilaran the CPDO (City Planning and Development Office) is never nonchalant with its role in community progress. Manning the Office is Eduardo Colico Macalandag (ECM), an amicable head of office who has impressed both his superiors and subordinates with his grit in tackling seemingly insurmountable odds.

Starting in 1977 as a college instructor at Japer Memorial School in Cebu City, he was hired at the Department of Agriculture in Cebu City, from 1981 to 2002 as OIC of the Tagbilaran Breeding Center, Superintendent of Ubay Stock Farm, Regional Livestock Officer, Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Officer, and Project Manager of the Visayas Livestock Integrated Facility Complex. These exposures were augmented by other seminars, trainings, and studies, including a Master of Science Degree at Central Luzon State University.

LMP: When you started your job as City Planning and Development Coordinator, were you fully equipped for the responsibilities?
ECM: It would be too assuming to say that I was FULLY equipped. I would say I had the minimum qualifications and basic knowledge and skills, though I was fully aware of the responsibility of a City Planning and Development Coordinator of a growing city like Tagbilaran. I was ready to learn even more just to give justice to the position given to me and contribute something for the development of Tagbilaran.

LMP: What other trainings/workshops/seminars did you have to augment your capability for the job?
ECM: Aside from my supervisory experience and management exposure in the Department of Agriculture, I have attended the following techno-capability enhancement programs: Project Cycle Management; Project Monitoring and Evaluation; Project Proposal and Feasibility Study Preparation; Technology on Participation Trainors Training (GOLD, CDS and EPM); Urban Physical Framework Planning and attended course on Spatial Planning and Decision Support System (GIS-based); Private Sector Participation; Urbanization; Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) Preparation Process; Public Entrepreneurship; Solid Waste; Environmental Planning and Management; Public Governance System (PGS); and City Development Strategies.

LMP: Had there been any fear. Anxiety you felt upon assumption into office? What are they, and how did you overcome them?
ECM: Fear, I don't think there was any fear. Anxiety, maybe, yes. But it could be part of the transfer and that I have to adjust to my new job, new officemates and of course the transfer from working in a National Office to a Local Government Unit. I have to make adjustments, did lots of reading and listening. Adjustment period was rather easier because I already had a good working relationship with many City Hall officials, my being one of the local counterparts of EPM projects of the City and my membership in the City School Board, having been elected President of the Federated PTA of Tagbilaran from 1992-2001.

LMP: You started with Mayor Joe Torralba, and now you are with Mayor Dan Lim, how did you adjust to the situation?
ECM: Actually, I started working with the City Government of Tagbilaran during the incumbency of then Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha in 1992 as representative of the Federated PTA of Tagbilaran and later as local counterpart of EPM project. The engagement was formalized in March 2002 when I was appointed as CPDC. I am a professional development worker, and I have maintained my professionalism in the office and served especially in giving my superiors relevant information so that whatever decision they may make, they are highly grounded.

LMP: What are the common problems at the City Planning and Development Office? How do you solve them?
ECM: The functions of the office basically include project development, development control, database maintenance, coordination (within and outside), and spatial framework planning and management, among others. The common problems arise from the implementation of development control measures as mandated in the zoning ordinance. There are lots of explaining to do in order for the clients to know the provisions of referenced laws, ordinances and other legal issuances and for them to understand the spirit of such references in as far as making the city livable, sustainable and relevant to changing times.

LMP: Do you have any problem with your staff? Are all of them doing their respective tasks well?
ECM: I have no problem with my staff. They are very professional, technically capable and knowledgeable. If there are new issuances, technologies or information that would enhance or improve their performance, I see to it that they will acquire or be familiar with all these recent knowledge. I am an output-oriented person and my co-workers have positively responded through their performance.

LMP: What is the importance of the CPDO?
ECM: CPDO is the core facilitator of development of the city through the City Development Council (CDC). This is basically right in providing information to the decision-makers, coordinating or linking to the different stakeholders, conducting research or linking to research institutions, monitoring progress, exercising control so that developments are in accordance with what is logically planned, and collaborating with other departments so that plans have both backward and forward components for successful implementation.

LMP: How do you link with other Departments in the performance of your responsibilities? Do you have any problem with any of them?
ECM: I am a team player and the performance of my present position calls for close linkage with other departments. I always see to it that they will be consulted or informed especially that I have two important functions to do per Local Government Code, RA 7160, that need their cooperation and participation, such as to formulate, integrated economic, social, physical, and other development plans and policies for consideration of the local government development council, to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the different development programs, projects, and activities in the local government unit in accordance with the approved development plan. So far, I have no problem with any of them and I hope to enhance this good working relationship that we have right now.

LMP: What are the plans on the following? Infrastructures, Waste Management, Squatting, Water, Light?
ECM: Infrastructure. It is the strategic goal of the city to have an adequately developed infrastructure that supports socio-economic growth and environmental protection, taking into account the eco-cultural landscape and the carrying capacity of city's ecological resources. Examples are: Sports Complex, Road Network, Business and other Institutional Centers, and Drainage System, among others.

Waste Management. Complying with the requirements of RA 9003 is the main focus of the city. Presently, detailed negotiations with Pro-Environment Consortium (PEC), a private consultancy group, are on-going in establishing an integrated solid waste management facility in Taloto that basically maximizes cost-effective waste recycling as an approach to maximize area requirement and do away expensive sanitary land fill facility. One thing very necessary is for people to realize that managing solid waste is everybody's concern.

Squatting. Squatting or illegal settler problem as a result of urbanization. Usually, the illegal settlers are coming from other places temporarily making makeshift dwellings in vacant lots (public or private), shorelines and even in esteros. Though illegal, but there are those who qualify protection under the law and must be considered in the socialized housing program of the government. The city is into land-banking for socialized housing purposes and it envisions constructing tenement housing units for qualified informal settlers. Again, there has to be a deliberate cooperation from the barangays officials and local residents in order to minimize squatting.

Water. The main source of potable water in Tagbilaran is the underground source. Based on the very recent hydro-geological survey of Tagbilaran, the rate of underground extraction is more the source could sustainably provide such that many deep wells are now experiencing salt intrusion. Further, the natural underground water recharge system is much distorted due to structures and utilization of natural sinkholes (pi-ong). The plan of the city is to look for alternative source, possibly top water source, through fresh investments in order to rehabilitate the aquifer and provide adequate water supply for the growing population and industries of the city. On the city's franchise area, the priority is improving the efficiency of the system through pipeline rehabilitation, pump improvement, and developing new source or pumping stations.

Light. Fortunately, every legally built household dwelling in Tagbilaran has access to power. However, the power producer and distributor shall adhere to their social responsibility for doing business in Tagbilaran and they should value commitments and pay every conceivable revenue that the host LGU may legally receive.

LMP: How do you help on the problem of budgeting and fund-sourcing, considering that the City coffers may not be adequate to answer the needs?
ECM: As member of the Local Finance Committee, I am duty-bound to take part in fund-sourcing activities in order to raise revenue to finance planned activities. Besides, it is part of my function to do analysis of income and expenditure patterns, and formulate and recommend fiscal plans and policies for consideration of the finance committee of the city. In fact, the local finance committee came out with a policy recommendation to adopt a plan-based budget and this is now a policy of the city to connect funds and plan.

LMP. How do you envision Tagbilaran City ten years from now?
ECM: There are adequate indications and I am certain that the City of Tagbilaran will realize its vision as "A prime eco-cultural tourism hub where God-centered people enjoy comfortable lives and shared responsibilities in an environmentally sustainable city that is progressive and equitable propelled by a responsive governance."

Ed Macalandag has had his share of problems in helping set the direction of Tagbilaran City, foremost of which is on infrastructure. Urban development is presently his main obsession, and he has prepared himself for the eventualities, especially when public censure takes an upper hand.

There are times when the human factor becomes an obstacle, but being guided by time-tested tenets in the performance of his job, he knows he can successfully implement the plans and reach the City goals. This requires total dedication to his job and he is ready to make sacrifices to justify the outcomes of his endeavors.

He believes he is lucky that the administration of Mayor Dan Neri Lim gives him full support.

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