The National Competitiveness Council (NCC), in partnership with the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) and the Center for International Private Enterprise, staged the Public Governance Forum last March 19, 2013 at Edsa Shangri-La Manila. The forum was attended by major players from the public and private sectors, as well as foreign dignitaries, development agency representatives, and media. The semi-annual event forms part of the NCC and ISA’s good governance program, the Performance Governance System (PGS).

With the theme “Kickoff: The Race to 2015”, the forum focused on the improvements achieved by government institutions under the PGS to ensure that these developments are sustained in preparation for 2015 when the Philippines will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. NCC Private Sector Co-Chair Guillermo M. Luz opened the forum with a short speech on the importance of a systematic approach to raising the standards of competitiveness in the public sector. 

The Public Governance Forum serves as a venue for the public and private sectors to unite their efforts in creating a truly competitive business environment in which every Filipino can thrive. Beyond that, it aims to inspire citizens, communities, and institutions to do their part in promoting responsible governance. Most of the day-long affair was dedicated to the presentation and evaluation of local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) by a multi-sector panel. These included DOH, DepEd, CSC, DSWD, BIR, DOTC, DPWH, PNP, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, League of Cities of the Philippines, and the cities of Calbayog and San Fernando, La Union. Also undergoing Revalida were Governance Commission for GOCCs, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine International Trading Corporation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Army, and the cities of Mandaue and Masbate. The reports formed the basis for the awards conferred during the closing ceremonies.

27 PGS partners also participated in a commitment ceremony where they pledged to deliver specific and quantifiable breakthrough results by 2015. These were composed of 11 LGUs, 13 NGAs, and 3 GOCCs.

Together with the ISA, the NCC hopes to replicate these results in more government units by institutionalizing reforms and instilling a culture of transparency and accountability. The Philippines is off to a good start with recent gains in the economy and international competiveness rankings. Now that it is under the spotlight, more work has to be done to continue this trend.

(A NCC press release)