by Recto Mantiza Jr

Xavier University - Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI), through its partnership with the project development and management unit of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 10 (PDMU-DILG 10) under the Water and Sanitation (WatSan) program, engaged in a seminar-workshop on the operations and maintenance for local government unit (LGU)-managed water supply at Dynasty Court Hotel and Restaurant on August 5-8.

The event drew together the LGUs from Lanao de Sur (Balindong, Buntong, Gannasi, Lumbag and Poona Bayabao), Bukidnon (Kalilangan), Misamis Oriental (Manticao) and Plaridel, Misamis Occidental.

During the presentation on “The Human Rights Based Approach Local WatSan Governance,” Dr Dixon Q Yasay, director of XU-GLI emphasized the crucial role of LGU officials in the implementation of WatSan Governance in their respective LGUs.

Yasay said that LGU officials must not look at this undertaking as “for compliance only” nor for plain profit-seeking, rather they must highlight water as a basic human right.

He also pointed out that in the operation and maintenance of water supply by LGUs, principles of human rights such as participation, accountability, non-discrimination, transparency, human dignity, empowerment and rule of law or otherwise known as the PANTHER principles should be sustained.  

Yasay concluded his talk by emphasizing that the supreme purpose of the said program is to improve the quality of life of every concerned constituent.

XU-GLI engages in the governance of water and sanitation as part of XU’s thematic agenda for greater societal engagement.

In this activity, Recto M Mantiza Jr, project officer of XU-GLI, also gave a talk on “The Formulation of Customer Service Code.” Mantiza also provided the participants a guide on the basic parts of a customer service code and emphasize the PANTHER principles as the fundamental references in crafting the said service code.