CLARK FREEPORT — Governor Lilia “Nanay” G. Pineda strengthened linkages among all municipalities and cities of the province through the joint executive and legislative agenda (ELA) of the province held yesterday at Fontana Convention Center.

It can be noted that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recognized Pampanga as the first province in Central Luzon with 100 percent compliance on the conduct of ELA.

The governor said the activity is aimed at consolidating and anchoring all the ELAs of the towns and cities of the province to come up with a provincial master development plan that will target the basic needs of the Kapampangans and the full development of the province in terms of infrastructure and public utilities.

Myrvi Fabia, provincial director of DILG said the ELA for this year is the 2014 bottom-up and grassroots planning which focuses on the present issues and problems besetting the respective communities and its comprehensive and integrated response.

Fabia said the ELA is an integrated plan document mutually developed and agreed upon by both the executive and legislative departments of the local government unit, which contains and unites the development thrusts and priorities of the Local Chief Executive and the Legislative Branch.

“It is a three-year program of governance anchored toward the attainment of a unified development vision, mission, goals and objectives,” Fabia said.

The ELA is a product of a participatory planning and consensus building process participated by the Local Chief Executive, members of the Sanggunian and heads of the different departments and chairpersons of the different Provincial/Municipal Development Council (P/MDC) sectors facilitated by representatives from the DILG and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

In the preparation process, the governor encouraged the LGUs and all sectors to actively participate in the formulation of the ELA especially in prioritizing the much-needed programs and services.

Mayors Marino “Boking” Morales (Mabalacat City), Romulo Pecson (Magalang), Condralito Dela Cruz (Porac), Mylyn Pineda (Lubao), Yolanda Pineda (Sta. Rita) , Nardo Velasco (Sasmuan) Eddie Guerrero (Floridablanca) Dante Torres ( Guagua), Rene Maglanque (Candaba) Oscar Tetangco Jr, (Apalit), Lito Naguit (Sto. Tomas), Edgardo Flores (Minalin), Dan Guinto (Masantol), Annet Balgan (Macabebe), Emmanuel Alejandrino (Arayat), Venancio Macapagal (San Luis), Rommel Concepcion (Sta. Ana), Roy Manalastas (Mexico), Leonora Wong (San Simon), Edwin Santiago (City of San Fernando) presented their executive and legislative agenda in the respective towns and cities focusing on their vision, mission and top five issues and priorities.

During the presentation, the governor gave inputs on how they could achieve their plans plus giving them the idea on how the provincial government can augment to address the problems and put their plans into doable actions.

Pineda said the ELA is essential as it guides and enables the executive and legislative branches to agree on priority problems and issues and focus on a set of interventions.

“This activity also promotes the judicious use of LGU budget and mobilize resources through joint ventures and building partnerships among all stakeholders as increases the chances and speed up implementation of priority programs and projects,” she said.

The consolidated ELA of the whole province has targeted and set to achieve the following: strengthening the partnership and collaboration with peoples organizations and civic groups; Revenue Generation and Expenditure Management;Improve local taxes, fees, and charges collection; Establishment of an economic enterprise; Improve health service; Enhance employment generation and facilitation; Educational assistance program; Program for basic sectors; Livelihood programs; Natural Resources Development; Agricultural productivity; Industry promotion, marketing & product development; Eco-cultural tourism program; Effective disaster preparedness and management and Waste management.