Cordillera leaders met during the first administrative summit to consolidate into one all administrative procedures of agencies in government that will make it easier and simpler to comply and make the delivery of public service faster.

Attended by Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac, Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr., Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, Baguio Rep. Bernardo Vergara, Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Sr., Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr., and Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the three-day summit looked into the consolidation of the procedures being applied by the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, the Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“The bureaucracy is always segmented and highly differentiated. We work well on our own but we work better if we work together,” CSC Regional Director Fernando Porio said in his opening message.

He added, “Governance has a circle. Today we draw a big circle, a governance friendship or kinship. Inside the circle are people who believe in good governance. The common denominators of good governance are the three Ps: pinuno, people, at plano.”

“The quality of leadership, the empowerment of the people to make decisions, and a working strategic set of priorities for development are the key. The critical factor to better administrative governance in any organization is still leadership. This is the reason why many of our political leaders are here. Their governance trademark, leadership brand, political beliefs, values and philosophies, and development priorities are exposed for all of us to compare notes on and learn from. It is no secret that the development of the country is largely dependent on local administrative governance. There is no development unless the local government is developed,” Porio said.

Bishop Carlito Cenzon, who officiated a mass as part of the summit, focused on the importance of public service and the heroism that must emanate from the service, which he said is far from reality.

He however said, “Heroism in public service is not only going beyond the call of duty but also thru simple acts like smiling when serving the public and showing respect to the people we serve at all times.”