DILG regional director Rodolfo Rasul told MindaNews the outgoing administrations among local governments around the region should ensure new officials assume a clean slate.
He said this should be the focus of outgoing administrations after the proclamation of winners in the elections and before the simultaneous oath-taking in June 30.
Rasul said non-government organizations in the community, especially those included in the Local Development Council, must make sure the transition is carried out.
Rasul said there are "exit mechanisms" instituted in government to ensure outgoing officials are cleared of responsibilities and are well accounted before leaving office.
He said the officials will have to go through a clearance procedure, which has to be transparent.
He said the mechanisms are internal to the local government units because it is the responsibility of the local chief executives such as the mayors and the governors, to make sure governance continues smoothly.
Rasul said at the least the outgoing administration should ensure an "appropriate turnover" to the incoming officials.
He cited the transitory management team composed of representatives from both the outgoing and the incoming administration, including representatives from national line agencies in the area.
He said incoming officials should also prepare before taking oath. He cited the need for them to ensure the outgoing officials are cleared to prevent disruptions to service later on.
Rasul said in most cases, incoming officials, particularly mayors and governors, who run opposing outgoing officials, will have a "rough" time in the transition.
He cited the key role of the NGOs to lead the public in scrutinizing the record of the outgoing administration to ensure the incoming officials can perform as expected.
He said LGUs are required to enlist the help of the NGOs in local government. The Local Government Code of 1991 mandated 25 percent of its membership for the community-based NGOs. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
Rasul said, however, that the DILG is yet to start pushing and reminding LGUs on the transition scheme. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)