INSTITUTIONALIZING THE “2028 FINISH LINES” AS THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF NAGA” ALIGNING PLANS, PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES ACCORDINGLY

WHEREAS, the Local Government Code of 1991 affirms the duty of every local government unit to serve as a catalyst of local development and a steward of public welfare, empowered to formulate and implement strategic Programs, harness local capacities and pursue innovations in governance that respond to the needs and aspirations of its constituents;

WHEREAS, City Ordinance No. 2017-072, or the “People’s Budget Ordinance of Naga City,” institutionalized participatory budgeting and full-cycle transparency in the preparation, enactment, and monitoring city and appropriations, thereby ensuring that public funds are programmed and utilized in direct response to the duly identified needs and priorities of the Nagueño community and in steadfast observance of people-centered Governance;

WHEREAS, the City Government recognizes the need to articulate and pursue a three-year, people-centered and evidence-informed agenda to ensure inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development for all Nagueños;

WHEREAS, the “2028 Finish Lines” sets forth the City Government’s strategic aspirations across eight thematic outcome areas: Economic Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Mobility and Order, Health, Education and Well-Being, Heritage and Identity, Digital Governance, Good Governance Innovation and Local Government Efficiency, that shall guide the planning budgeting and performance of the City Government offices;

WHEREAS, these “2028 Finish Lines” were formulated through data-driven processes, particularly through consultation with the 27 barangays of Naga City, sectoral, formal, and informal civil society organizations (CSOs), the public and private sectors, the academe, elected city officials, and other stakeholders, and are designed to align with the Philippine Development Plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the aspirations of Ambisyon Natin 2040;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to institutionalize the “2028 Finish Lines” to ensure their continuity, effective implementation, and integration into existing governance and development mechanisms;

WHEREAS, despite existing participatory and budgetary processes, current planning practices often result in the repetition of activities and programs that do not sufficiently address the evolving needs of constituents or deliver measurable improvements in sectoral outcomes;

WHEREAS, the absence of a robust, outcomes-based planning and prioritization mechanism has contributed to the fragmented implementation of city programs, missed opportunities for impact, and the misalignment of resource allocation with the lived realities of communities;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to adopt an outcomes-based approach to governance-one that links strategy, budgeting, and performance to clearly defined results, enabling the City Government to assess effectiveness, learn from past efforts, and deliver more responsive, equitable, and sustainable services;