Malungon Personnel :: Citizens Charter (ARTA)

FOREWORD

Government service is often tagged with incompetence, inadequate accountability and red tape. Public officials and employees are faced with much adversity to bring back the utmost trust of its constituents to the government. The challenge for change has risen to all government agencies, particularly to all who are holding public office. That is why transparency and accountable governance has been the battle cry of all Filipino people.

The greatest satisfaction of the people is felt when there is adequate and adept delivery of public goods and services. To combat dissatisfaction and corruption, all government entity has to work hand in hand to attain optimum service distribution. To achieve this purpose, it requires a better scheme wherein every individual in public service and the people as well share responsibility to make a livable and content community.

The institution of the Citizen’s Charter will redefine public service as against red tape and inefficiency. This will hopefully bridge the disparity between government entity and the people providing a leading edge in public service. Contentment and satisfaction is a product of “PUTTING THE PEOPLE FIRST” in every aspect of government and public service.

INTRODUCTION

Republic Act 9485, otherwise known as the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007, mandates all government agencies and instrumentalities to deliver public service in the most efficient manner for the sake of the convenience of the public. It intends to remove red tape by doing away with cumbersome procedures in the government agencies’ provision of services to the public.

This act aims at promoting accountability, the proper management of public affairs and public property as well as to establish effective practices aimed at the prevention of graft and corruption in the government.

With the above as the premise, a Citizen’s Charter is hereby established for every government sector where the commitment of every official and employee be placed to serve as a service standard that communicates information on the services provided by the government to its citizen’s.

With the concern for the good of its constituents as its utmost priority, the Municipal Government of Malungon creates and hereby adopts its own Citizen’s Charter in order that the transacting public in particular and the people of Malungon in general be given a guide as to the different frontline services being offered by the different offices. The Charter describes the step-by-step procedure for availing a particular service. Further, it will serve as an Operational Manual of the employees of the local government unit. It will also serve as a reference on how to go about their work in the level of performance that is expected of them by the public.

Frontline services refer to those processes or transactions between clients and government agencies involving applications for any privilege, right, permit, reward, license, concession, or any modification, renewal or extension of the same and/or request which are acted upon in the ordinary course of business of the government agency concerned.

CHAPTER 1

Socio-Economic Profile and Organizational Milestones

A. Brief Socio-Economic Profile of the LGU

Geographical Location and Land Area

The Municipality of Malungon is located in the Northeastern portion of the Province of Sarangani and is 37 kilometers from General Santos City and 45 kilometers from Alabel, the provincial capital.

It lies within 6⁰ 12’ north to 6⁰ 33’ northeast latitude and 125⁰ 04’ south to 125⁰ 32’ east longitude the Province of South Cotabato. Malungon is bounded on the northeast by the Province of Davao del Sur; on the south by the Municipality of Alabel; southwest by the Municipality of Polomolok; on the east by the Province of Davao del Sur; and, on the west by the Municipality of Tupi.

Malungon has a total land area of 89,662.92 hectares that straddle 31 barangays.

Demography

Based on the 2000 report of National Statistics Office (NSO), Malungon has a total population of 93,323, which is about 22.71% of that of Sarangani Province. The total number of households is 18,924 indicating an average household size of 4.92.

Malungon has a low population density of 104.08 person per square kilometer. About 25% or 23,308 of the total population reside in the urban area while 75% or 69,924 live in the rural area. About 51.46% or 47,571 of the population are male while 48.54% or 44,862 are female.

As of 1995 Census, Malungon has a total working age population of 50,275(population 15 years old and over) or 54.39% of the total population. Of this, 37,955 are in the labor force while 12,320 are not. Population in the labor force who are employed registers at 33,411 or 88.03% of population in the labor force, while those unemployed registers at 4,544 or 11.97% of those in the labor force.

Some 87.85% of the population or 54,796 are literate while 12.15% are illiterate.

Economic Sector

The economy of Malungon is anchored primarily on agriculture. As of 2000, it has approximately 27,781.15 hectares actually cultivated with various agricultural crops. Its leading agricultural products are rice, corn and coconut. Other major crops include mango, banana and sugarcane.

The industry sector in Malungon is largely undeveloped. Despite the availability of raw materials, there are no local businesses or facilities that convert the agricultural produce into high value processed products. Post harvest processing activities remain rudimentary and are limited only to rice and corn milling.

Major trade centers where trading is conducted daily and in a larger scale are located in Malungon Poblacion, Malandag and Banate. Minor trading centers include the barangays of Talus, Malalag Cogon and Upper Mainit where trading peaks during market days and the harvest season. There are about 650 registered trading and service establishments and most are small-scale.

The municipality also has its share of tourist spots. These include the Busagan Falls at Sitio Sabangan, JP Laurel; Supan Falls, Brgy. Datal Tampal; Kabuwawan Cave, Brgy. Panamin, and; Hot Springs at Barangays Datal Bila and Datal Batong. The privately owned 18 hole International Standard Golf Course and Country Club on a 60 to 100 hectares area at Sitio Pulatana, Malandag will surely attract additional visitors to Malungon.

Social Services

Malungon has five (5) government doctors, three (3) private doctors, sixteen (16) nurses, one dentist from the government and three from private, 30 midwives, three sanitary inspectors, one nutritionist, 34 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), and 120 functioning Barangay Health Workers (BHW). There is one primary public hospital located at Poblacion Proper. All in all, however, there are not enough health personnel to adequately serve the population.

Malungon has 73 public and private primary schools, 17 secondary schools. All barangays have primary or elementary schools but 14 barangays are without secondary schools. There is one (1) tertiary school located at Malandag, Malungon, Sarangani. Pre-vocational schools training, however, are being conducted in different barangays. Most of barangay public schools lack facilities like classrooms, Home Economic buildings, libraries, playgrounds and other play facilities.

At present, the housing situation is still manageable. There are existing and proposed private subdivisions in Barangay Poblacion and Malandag. While almost all households have dwelling units, the quality of the units is not always up to standard especially in the rural areas.

The peace and order situation is also not much of a problem. There are 55 policemen assigned in the municipality. They are supported by Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVO) and the 601^st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army located at Sitio Pulatana of Barangay Malandag.

Almost all barangays have existing recreational facilities in one form or another. Basketball courts are found in almost all barangays. Other barangays are more fortunate to have billiard halls, pool tables, volleyball courts and other facilities. In more urbanized barangays, there are sing-along joints and drinking parlors. Organized sports and recreation activities normally spring up during fiestas and other special town celebrations.

Environmental Concerns

The present environmental situation of Malungon can be considered as critical. About 80% to 90% of the forest cover is gone. The remaining forest cover can be found only at the vicinity of Mt. Matutum at Brgy. Datal Bila, Mt.Magolo at Brgy. Datal Batong, and Mt. Latian at Brgy. Tamban. Other classified forest zones do not even have secondary forest cover. The traditional practice of slash and burn farming and the presence of illegal logging activities in some areas has led to the depletion of the soil cover and, consequently, to erosion and soil infertility.

Infrastructure

Eight barangays are served by irrigation systems, to wit: Atla-e, Datal Tampal, Malalag Cogon, Nagpan, Malandag, Tamban, Upper Biangan and Poblacion. However, the capacity of the existing irrigation systems cannot serve all irrigable areas in the said barangays for lack of a water supply and a distribution network. The municipality has still water sources which can be tapped for irrigation.

Most barangay have no central water system for drinking and domestic use. Malandag and Malungon Proper have a Level III system in a portion of their areas. Other barangays only have Level I and Level II systems. In most cases, there are available sources but the distribution network is lacking. Some 42% of households are being served with potable water, while the rest depend on natural springs and dug wells.

All of the 31barangays and a total of about 6,029 households have already been supplied with electricity by the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II (SOCOTECO II). There are only a few consumers in some of these barangays because other residents cannot afford the cost.

Almost all barangays are accessible to transportation during the dry months but not during the wet or rainy months. Malungon is traversed by the National Highway (45.1 km) from Malungon Gamay to Malandag. It has 79.23 kilometers of provincial roads, 56.87 kilometers of municipal roads and 245.86 kilometers of barangay roads. Public transport includes buses, jeepneys,weapon carriers, vans, tricycles and motorcycles. The number of registered and non-registered common carriers is more or less sufficient to service the needs of the commuting public.

Communication services include national and regional newspaper, magazines and tabloids, radio, television, Philippine Postal Company, Western Union, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop Pera o Padala, two-way radio communication, internet services and mobile phone services (Globe, SMART and Suncellular) . There are two (2) post offices at Barangays Poblacion and Banate.

Only Nine (9) barangays (Malandag, Nagpan, Poblacion, Malalag Cogon, Upper Mainit, J.P. Laurel, Banate, Malungon Gamay and Talus)) have a garbage collection system for their commercial areas. The municipality’s dumpsite is located at Sitio Nanima, Poblacion, Malungon, Sarangani. Household wastes are collected by dump trucks/garbage trucks and are disposed at the identified dumpsite. Other wastes are either disposed by burning, burying or feeding to animals. Garbage disposal is not yet a big problem for most barangays as the waste generated is still not so voluminous so as to cause problems. It is , however, expected to become a threat with increasing population.

B. LGU Organizational Milestones

Malungon was formerly a barrio of Buayan (now General Santos City). It became a municipality on July 15, 1969 by virtue of Republic Act No. 5522, sponsored by the then Congressman James Lee Chiongbian. It was first composed of 16 barangays namely: Poblacion, Ampon, Malandag, Tamban, Upper Mainit, Lower Mainit, Upper Lumabat, Malalag Cogon, Banate, Upper Biangan, Malungon Gamay, San Miguel, Kawayan, San Juan, Demolok and Kilalag. The last nine barangays mentioned were formerly under the municipalities of Malalag, Sta. Maria and Malita, all of Davao del Sur. These barangays were ceded to the Municipality of Malungon, South Cotabato in a Supreme Court decision dated August 5, 1981.

Since then, several barangays more were created until Malungon eventually had 18 barangays. Barangays Demolok and Kilalag of Malita were not formally turned over to Malungon, hence some data with regards to these barangays has not been ascertained.

Malungon created 13 more barangays namely: Banahaw, Nagpan, Atla-e, Kiblat, Datal Tampal, Kibala, Alkikan, Datal Bila, B’laan, Malabod, Panamin, Kinabalan, J.P. Laurel. Thus, the LGU now has a total of 31 barangays.

The first appointed municipal mayor was Gaudencio Padernilla, Sr. and in 1972 he was succeeded by Mayor Felipe K. Constantino up to 1986. Constantino was then succeeded by Mr. Juan Fantin, Sr. as OIC Mayor during the EDSA Revolution. But in December 1986 the OIC Mayor met his untimely death and was succeeded by Judge Teodorico F. Diaz. In the 1988 elections, Ex-Judge Diaz was elected Mayor, but in 1992, Mayor Diaz lost and was replaced again by Mayor Felipe K. Constantino. The latter eventually became Vice-Governor of Sarangani Province in 2001 and in the same year, Teody Padernilla assumed the position of Municipal Mayor of Malungon.

In 1993, new and mandatory offices were created in the LGU to carry out devolved functions prescribed in the Local Government Code of 1991, namely the Municipal Health Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Budget Office and the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office. The General Services Office, an optional office in an LGU, was also established in 2001. Consequently, with the creation of these offices, the total LGU workforce grew from 286 in 1992 to 386 in 2012.

In terms of income classification, Malungon was classified as a second class municipality from 1996 to 2002. It became a first class municipality with an Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of P 168,266,592.00 effective January 1, 2013. With the increase in IRA, there has been an increase in the budget for basic services and for personnel salaries. Additional personnel have been hired to carry out programs and services.

Milestones and Indicators of Achievement

The local government of Malungon is implementing programs and projects supportive to the promotion and development leading to the realization of the vision of the Municipality of Malungon.

Economic Development

Provided livelihood assistance to less privileged individuals and different groups of individuals through Municipal Flagship Program, MRDP-CFAD, SMI and Municipal Livelihood Development Programs.
Facilitated the inclusion of about 7,000 indigent families to Pantawid Program
Extended subsidy and support to low income farmers in form of technical assistance, farming equipment and material inputs
Assisted in the strengthening of different coops. & associations such as women groups in rural areas by funding the Rural Improvement Club Project.
Established strong linkage to external funding institutions e.g. MRDP-Rural Infra, KALAHI-MT, DAR-ARC helping the low income communities.

Social Development

Able to improve health and nutrition program by increasing its appropriation funds such as for health and nutrition development, construction and improvement of municipal health center and birthing homes and municipal hospital facilities and equipment and increased number of indigent families enrolled to philhealth.
Provided bigger fund allocation for child and youth welfare development program.
Gave importance to the promotion and advancement of Gender and Development (GAD) Program
Provided full support in the activation of women groups by providing technical and skills development training and assistance.
Provided continuous literacy training to indigenous people through its Alternative Learning System Program.
Sponsored scholarship program/educational assistance to more or less 500 college students
Provided augmentation fund to Department of Education for elementary and high schools particularly QUEST Program.
Able to maintain zero crime rate

Infrastructure Development

Constructed and opened additional farm to market roads (estimated 50 kilometers)
Maintained the existing municipal and barangay roads
Able to established sufficient potable supply of water at barangays Poblacion, Malandag, Malalag Cogon, Talus and Banate through LGU-Malungon Water District
Able to decrease the number of households without access to potable water from an estimated of 13,000 to 7,000.
Constructed additional Gymnasiums and sports and recreation facilities
Facilitated and provided fund counterparts for the construction and improvement of municipal hospital and municipal/barangay health centers and birthing homes and facilitaties.
Able to access external funding (MRDP, KALAHI-MT, DAR etc.) for infrastructure development projects.

Local Administration Development

Provided sufficient funds for human resource development (attendance to seminars and trainings)
Strengthened the participation of NGO’s and PO’s by having continuous trainings and seminars, consultations, forum, symposia, dialogues and other form of gatherings.
Strengthened the participation of the Local Special Bodies in all municipal development undertakings.
Formulated and passed different vital plans helpful in the development of Malungon e.g. CDP, AIP, ISWMP, DRRMP etc.
Procured additional computers and office machines to ease office work and transactions
Successfully installed and utilized the socio-economic database of the municipality through the Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS),

Environmental Management & Development

Able to increase the number of hectarage planted with mango and other fruit varieties through the municipality’s Plant Now Pay Later Program and Agro-forestation program
Able to reforest and rehabilitate an estimated of 1000 hectares within the protected zones of Barangays Datalbatong and Datalbila and portions of Barangays San Juan, Malungon Gamay, Panamin and Upper Lumabat.
Able to come-up and implement the Approved Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.
Able to pass and enact the Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Plan

With the above-mentioned accomplishments, the municipality was able to receive a number of notable recognitions, namely:

Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner on Nutrition Program from 2006 to present
National Winner on Nutrition Program Implementation (CROWN 2009 and 1^st Maintenance CROWN 2010)
National Winner Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar 2011
National Winner Outstanding MSWDO 2011
Best LGU on Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Program Provincial Level
Outstanding LGU in the implementation of MRDP program (2^nd winner) provincial level 2012
Outstanding Peoples Organization in the implementation of MRDP-CFAD Program (2^nd winner) provincial level 2012

Chapter II

LGU’s Vision, Goals/Objectives and Strategies

Malungon is envisioned to be:

“A progressive and agro-industrialized municipality, where people are self-reliant and living in harmony with nature and where governance is steered by capable, God centered, and pro-people leadership.”

Vision Elements, Descriptors and Success Indicators

Qualities of the people as individuals and as community:

Malungon’s residents are God fearing, well educated, healthy and self-reliant.

God fearing. This trait is said to have been attained if everyone cares and respects one another. That the citizenry have enhanced spirit of volunteerism and cooperation in community affairs and have effected the decrease the number of crimes.
Well-educated. This is manifested in their being culture-sensitive; at least there is 90% literacy rate and many have achieved higher education wherein 75% of labor force is technically and vocationally knowledgeable and skilled.
Healthy. This is when the status of 90% of the malnourished children has been changed from severe to moderate, from moderate to mild and from mild to normal. Also, an observable significant decrease in morbidity and mortality rates hall have been achieved with the improvement of health conditions of children.
Self-reliant. This trait is said to have been attained when the citizenry is able to provide sufficiently for their families’ basic needs (food, clothing and shelter); when the dependency ratio is decreased by 50%; and, when 75% of population aged 18 years and above that are technically and vocationally knowledgeable and skilled are employed (formally or self-employed).

Nature of the local economy

Malungon’s economy is envisioned to be modern, progressive and diversified.

1. Modern. This is when modern and appropriate technology and scientific farming methods are applied by most farmers and producers to increase their level of production. By allocating the necessary funding and infrastructure support to farmers and paralleled with effective mentoring, monitoring and evaluation strategies, local agricultural endeavors are envisioned to succeed.

2. Progressive. With the private sector coming in to invest and establish state-of-the-art yet, environment and people-friendly development technologies and infrastructures like fruit processing plants, sustainable irrigation facilities, post -harvest storage facilities and the like, a more stable economic matrix is installed whereby the local economy can progressively build on. The other dimension of a progressive economy is when farmers’ and people’s organizations are organized and strengthened to partner with the LGU and the private sector to undertake innovative approaches in developing agriculture.

3. Diversified. A diversified local economy starts with a strong and highly productive agriculture that will make Malungon self-sufficient in food commodities. In more concrete terms, this means that cooperatives/farmers’ organizations pervasively adopt diversified farming systems (DFS). This scenario is possible with legislative support to adopt DFS and supported with the establishment of learning centers that are made available to every farmers’ groups and cooperatives.

A diversified local economy also means that while Malugon seeks to establish self-sufficiency in agriculture, it is also able to create other sources of local employment for its people. The development of local industries as a result of agro-industrialization is able to provide additional sources of employment and increase people’s income. With the provision of micro-financing support from the LGU and other sectors, small and medium enterprises are developed, thereby increasing the capacity of the people to be more economically engaged and productive. A diversified economy is also hastened with the creation of a conducive investment policy that encourages inflows of resources, rather than net outflows.

The promotion and development of tourist resources and facilities that are oriented to the vast natural resources of Malungon, alongside with the improvement in the transportation and communication, will propel the development of the services (sub-sector) of the local economy.

State of the environment

1. Living in harmony with nature. For people to live in harmony with nature, a sustainable agro-forestry program is in placed. This program is able to bring back the balanced state of the environment requiring rehabilitation of forests, rivers, lakes and other inland bodies of water. In order to restore the critical watersheds to their normal status, these reforestation activities are well managed and coordinated and PAMBS for protected areas are established and operationalized. Likewise, the municipal recovery facility (MRF) has to be promoted and implemented from the municipal down to the barangay level through effective LGU enforcement.

Other more visible indicators of people living in harmony with nature are the establishment of eco-tourism centers, households properly managing their solid wastes, the LGU effectively regulating bio-diversity extractions by prohibiting illegal and destructive fishing, slash and burn agriculture and illegal hunting within the protected areas.

Desired Qualities of the local leadership

The people of Malungon envision that they would be led by their local leaders who are capable, pro-people and God-centered.

Capable. The leaders demonstrate a strong political will in developing and implementing policies in pursuit of local development and posses the competence to effectively carry out its governance functions. Part of this competence is being technically equipped in various facets of governance.
Pro-people. Local governance is seen as maka-tao, transparent and consultative as well as being responsive in the delivery of basic public services. It further means the LGU being concerned with and responsive to the needs of the people through adequate delivery of public services in the fields of health, education, social welfare, housing and other basic social services. Being transparent and consultative means that the local government is able to provide sufficient venues to inform and generate feedback from the constituents. Holding of consultations on policies, programs and projects and other key decisions is regularized and institutionalized as part of LGU operations.
God-centered. The local leadership is fair, morally upright, loving and lives-up to Christian values. Being fair means that the local leaders are fair in their dealings with people. Being God-centered also refers to the leaders living up to their Christian values by being morally upright and loving especially to the needy.

Vision

The Local Government of Malungon is committed and able to pursue its development thrusts, is continually upgrading the efficiency and quality of its services for the greater satisfaction of its constituents, has a dedicated and competent workforce, responsive human resource management and development technologies and facilities, and adequate structures to carry out the functions required by the ever-changing needs of the municipality.

Chapter III

REDRESS AND FEEDBACK MECHANISM

The Municipal Government of Malungon has put up a Public Assistance and Complaints Desk (PACD) located at the lobby of the agency. The PACD is manned by the Officers of the Day whose main purpose is to assist the public when they transact services with the different offices in the organization.

Our valued partners toward improvement in public service delivery can help provide feedback on the kind of services rendered to them by the office/department concerned. They can fill up the SMILEYS (happy and sad faces) found in the PACD to be dropped at the Suggestion Box for consolidation every end of the month by the MO-Personnel Section.

Consolidated feedbacks will be forwarded to the Department Heads concerned for their information and/or appropriate action.

Commendations will be given to highly performing office/s with the highest degree of satisfaction rating gained from their clients.

Feedbacks which are negative will be properly dealt with by the concerned department and if needed for further action/s, the Local Chief Executive.

PROCEDURES FOR FILING COMPLAINTS

Step by Step Procedure	Employee Responsible	Amount of Fees	Documents to be presented	Duration/Period
1. Fill-up Complaint Form available at the Public Assistance & Complaints Desk(PACD)	Officer of the Day (OD)	None	Complaint Form	5 minutes
2. Submit the complaint form to the Officer of the Day(OD)	Officer of the Day (OD)	None	Complaint Form	5 minutes
3. OD to submit the form to the Grievance Committee through the HR office	Officer of the Day (OD)	None	Complaint Form	3 minutes
4. The Grievance Committee will handle all complaints being filed	Bilis Aksyon Partner	None	Complaint Form	Not to exceed 10 working days
5. Information be given to the aggrieved party on the action taken of the Grievance Committee concerning the issue complained about	Bilis Aksyon Partner	None	Resolution of the Case	10 days
6. If the complaints were not resolved by the Grievance Committee, the case will be forwarded to the proper forum for its proper action	Bilis Aksyon Partner	None	Documents of the Case	15 days

GRIEVANCE FORM

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(Date Filed)

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Name of Aggrieved Party Section/Division/Office

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Position Title/Designation(if any) Aggrieved Party/s Higher Supervisor

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Nature/Subject of Grievance

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Action Desired:

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Signature of Aggrieved Party

Download/Print Grievance Form

Information Billboard for all Frontline Services in the Local Government Unit of Malungon