Officials and employees from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Central and Regional Offices convened for the 2021 year-end assessment program last 15 December 2021 at the Royce Hotel and Casino, Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The activity was likewise blended with the virtual participation of employees via Zoom.

The 2021 year-end assessment program – the first performance review held during the pandemic – was conducted in line with the BLGF’s thrust to continuously improve the effectiveness and quality of its internal systems and processes and deliver its service commitments and stakeholders’ expectations.

Highlighting its milestones, Executive Director Niño Raymond B. Alvina presented the BLGF year-end performance management report pointing up the Bureau’s response mechanisms to emerging risks and its implications on local fiscal policy development and in monitoring the LGUs’ fiscal performance and treasury and assessment operations, as well as, in sustaining the Bureau’s interventions for the professionalization of local treasurers and assessors, and the enhanced collaboration with stakeholders.  Organizational strengthening efforts were likewise underscored which, along with its client-based deliverables, still form part of the BLGF 2022 priorities.

Executive Director Alvina added that the BLGF has become more responsive, forward-looking, and proactive, with LGUs and key stakeholders, and other oversight agencies and regulatory bodies looking up to the Bureau as a key reference for high-quality local finance and administration.

Under the 2022 priorities, Executive Director Alvina said that the Bureau’s way forward is through local fiscal strengthening initiatives, full implementation of the Standardized Examination and Assessment for Local Treasury Service (SEAL) Program, roll-out of updated treasury and assessment manuals, LGU awards for successful treasury and assessment reform (STAR), capacity building interventions, expansion of the Local Finance Modernization Program, Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform advocacy in Congress, the establishment of the BLGF BARMM and support to Marawi rebuilding, office improvements and expansion of the BLGF ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, and implementation of the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP).

“The central theme of all this work is focused on innovation, improvement, and inspiration, that through resilience, adaptability, and collaboration, we will uplift the local economy towards recovery,” Executive Director Alvina in his year-end report.

“With this pandemic right at our midst, it is more than ever that we accomplish things together, working hand-in-hand, fostering collaboration, resilience, and adaptability, for the greater good of the Bureau and the public we serve,” BLGF Deputy Executive Director Atty. Flosie Fanlo-Tayag said in her opening remarks.

Atty. Fanlo-Tayag added that the BLGF aims to streamline and harmonize the systems and processes; innovate, improve, and sustain operations; and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation towards a formidable network and partnerships with stakeholders.

BLGF regional offices were also awarded in the Regional Performance and Compliance Awards as part of the Bureau’s recognition of the invaluable efforts in the performance of duties.