Balanga City. On 15 August 2016, the City Government of Balanga joins Project i4J, a project that aims to promote local government units (LGUs) as sustainable networks for integrity and business and investment promotion.
Project Integrity for Jobs (i4J) is a programme being implemented by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, co-funded by the European Union and in partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Centrist Democracy Political Institute, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Provinces of the Philippines and League of Municipalities of the Philippines in 63 LGUs in the country. Its main objective is to improve the investment climate and increase job creation in LGUs through strengthening the culture of integrity and efficient business registration and promotion procedures in LGUs. In order to achieve this, very concrete and detailed "Integrity Mechanisms" are developed in cooperation with LGUs, civil society organizations and business sector groups which create Integrity Circles to monitor and support the implementation of these mechanisms. This process shall lead to a culture of integrity in the respective LGUs, one that is sustainable beyond the legislative terms.
Balanga City Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia shared his commitment to continue promoting the culture of integrity in the city. "We should be connected to each other and lend a helping hand to every Balangueno all the time. We should always strive to gain integrity in our dealings and live with it" he said.
As a culminating activity, the City Government of Balanga established the Integrity Circle that will be responsible in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the identified Integrity Mechanisms. With the partners from civil society organizations and business and investment groups present, the Integrity Circle commits to uphold the culture of integrity to serve and lead the people of Balanga City. Balanga City is one of the 14 cities replicating the good practices of the project.