Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), a cause-oriented movement led by local chief executives across the Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) last Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, forging partnerships to combat corruption and improve service delivery in local government units (LGUs).
The MOU signing event, dubbed “Partners for Good Governance,” was attended by Isabela City, Basilan Mayor Sitti Djalia Hataman, one of the M4GG convenors, and ARTA’s Sec. Ernesto Perez and Dir. Rabin Quilala, ISA’s Chief Executive Officer, Evaristo Francisco Jr. and Vice Chairman and President Rex Drilon II, Assistant Sec. Lilian de Leon of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other mayors.
M4GG said the partnerships with the public and private sectors would help good governance take root and ensure more Filipinos would reap its benefits.
“The partnerships aim to solidify the commitment of M4GG to innovative leadership by collaborating with different organizations and agencies that will empower each locality through effective implementation of programs that will benefit stakeholders through community development and public service enhancement,” the group said.
M4GG added that the MOUs signed with ARTA and ISA would unlock additional opportunities for local chief executives, including capacity-building programs and other tools critical to promoting transparency and accountability in their respective LGUs.
“If we want our crusade for good governance to succeed, we need to foster collaboration with other groups that are aligned with our vision for a better Philippines,” M4GG said.
M4GG is comprised of 157 mayors who signed the Manifesto for Good Governance and is currently led by its convenors, Hataman, Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro, and Mayor Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.