Outstanding Local Government Unit
Municipal Level class A
LGU: MUNICIPALITY OF PLARIDEL, BULACAN
Region III
Mayor: The Honorable Jocell Aimee R. Vistan-Casaje
Winning Points
1. A complete literacy profile of the municipality consisting of nineteen barangays has served as basis for an 18-point comprehensive, holistic, and integrated five-year (2011–2015) strategic development plan with a strong mobilization of every sector of the community. Literacy development is embedded in every program and project.
2. Programs, projects, and other municipal initiatives such as “Katarungang Pambarangay,” “Sagip Kababaihan,” “Early Childhood Care and Development,” “Techno Gabay,” and “Bayanihan sa Edukasyon,” are supported with policies and enabling municipal ordinances.
3. Budget allocation for the literacy programs and projects are sourced from the local government, the private sector, and sponsorships as well as small scale entrepreneurial initiatives like the “Techno Gabay program” of the farmers.
4. A change in the leadership of the community after winning twice in the National Literacy Awards as outstanding local government unit added more robust programs in education, health, social welfare and protection, farmers’ programs, programs for women, and environmental protection while continuing previous initiatives.
5. Plaridel was able to build the first university in the municipality in a span of one and a half years. It was the quickest response to the team’s suggestion in 2014 to build a resilient community. Fifty percent of the first enrolees in the new Ritchwell University in Plaridel are on scholarship program.
6. Good governance characterized by efficiency and effectiveness, transparency, accountability, shared responsibility and resilient communities, and “a hands-on leadership” are evident in the management and implementation of the programs and projects. Much community inspiration has been clearly derived from the previous and present leadership.
7. Monitoring and evaluation is continuous as Plaridel commits to build “Doors and Bridges to Universal Literacy” (Plaridel’s Report 2014)
The leadership of Plaridel derives inspiration from Kofi Ann’s “Literacy, a bridge from misery to hope.”