City Hall employee tops Bicol’s eSRE Champions

By Jason B. Neola

THE Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) in the Bicol Region, in collaboration with the Bicol Association of Assessment and Treasury, Inc., recognized the exemplary performance of Jay B. Bongalonta of the City Treasurer’s Office during its year-end conference on December 4, 2024.

Bongalonta, the focal person for the quarterly submission of the Electronic Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (eSRE), was honored as the Top 1 eSRE Champion among representatives from the seven cities in Region 5.

The recognition highlights his dedication to ensuring consistent, accurate, and timely submission of financial data that reflects the city’s fiscal performance.

In an interview, Bongalonta attributed the achievement to the teamwork and healthy working relationship within the City Treasurer’s Office. “This is not just my achievement but a collective effort of my colleagues. It is the result of our shared commitment to transparency and accountability,” he said.

Similar recognition was also conferred on the Top 1 eSRE Champions in the Bicol provinces and municipalities, emphasizing the region-wide efforts toward good governance.

The eSRE, a financial reporting system developed by the BLGF in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB), monitors the financial performance, borrowing levels, and creditworthiness of local government units (LGUs).

By promoting accountability, predictability, and transparency, the system aligns with the ADB’s good governance indicators and supports the Philippine government’s advocacy for transparent and accountable LGUs, as envisioned in the Local Government Code.

Through the eSRE, LGUs are encouraged to submit reliable financial data, post monthly collections and disbursements, and uphold their roles as champions of good governance.

The system not only streamlines the reporting process but also expedites checks and balances, ensuring greater accountability across the government sector.

Bongalonta’s recognition underscores Naga City’s commitment to excellence in financial management and its alignment with the national vision of fostering good governance at the local level.