Post by tracymack on May 15, 2008 9:29:46 GMT 8
Commentary: Alaminos, Urdaneta - info-friendly cities
By Behn Fer. Hortaleza Jr.
Pangasinan (14 May) -- A LOCAL government unit's performance and overall efficiency is usually measured by the time it takes for either the city executive or his administrator to get department heads moving to secure for him the data he needs – even at a moment's notice.
In my visits, (and these, always for official matters) to the cities of Urdaneta and again, just last Thursday, May 8, to Alaminos, it has been such a welcome experience for a mediaman like me to be practically given the answers to my questions, or resource persons summoned to come around to answer as my cup of coffee was being mixed and served hot.
The prompt and courteous response alone bespeaks of a well-oiled, synchronized and dedicated human machinery at work, its members fully realizing the need for their mayor or his chief administrator to be (or at least appear) in control always with facts at his fingertips.
* * *
Small wonder many of our colleagues in this trade easily gravitate to the mayors of these two urban centers of Pangasinan, filling newspaper spaces and the airwaves with news on developments from these cities far more frequently than on any other LGU.
In fairness, I have not been to the mayor's offices of the other two cities of Dagupan and San Carlos of late – possibly by choice – preferring to make contact with them thru their information officers only who have, to their own credit and to no one else's, been more than able and responsive each time to requests for information assistance.
Sometime soon, I intend to do just that, drop by and see for myself if this contagion of courteous, fast and reliable public service has rubbed off on the officials of the other two cities.
Until then, I reserve full comment.
Source: www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080514.htm&no=50
By Behn Fer. Hortaleza Jr.
Pangasinan (14 May) -- A LOCAL government unit's performance and overall efficiency is usually measured by the time it takes for either the city executive or his administrator to get department heads moving to secure for him the data he needs – even at a moment's notice.
In my visits, (and these, always for official matters) to the cities of Urdaneta and again, just last Thursday, May 8, to Alaminos, it has been such a welcome experience for a mediaman like me to be practically given the answers to my questions, or resource persons summoned to come around to answer as my cup of coffee was being mixed and served hot.
The prompt and courteous response alone bespeaks of a well-oiled, synchronized and dedicated human machinery at work, its members fully realizing the need for their mayor or his chief administrator to be (or at least appear) in control always with facts at his fingertips.
* * *
Small wonder many of our colleagues in this trade easily gravitate to the mayors of these two urban centers of Pangasinan, filling newspaper spaces and the airwaves with news on developments from these cities far more frequently than on any other LGU.
In fairness, I have not been to the mayor's offices of the other two cities of Dagupan and San Carlos of late – possibly by choice – preferring to make contact with them thru their information officers only who have, to their own credit and to no one else's, been more than able and responsive each time to requests for information assistance.
Sometime soon, I intend to do just that, drop by and see for myself if this contagion of courteous, fast and reliable public service has rubbed off on the officials of the other two cities.
Until then, I reserve full comment.
Source: www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080514.htm&no=50