RANIAG ARINGAY: PROBING INTO THE LOCAL GOVERNANCE OF ARINGAY, LA UNION

Abstract

Local governments play a critical role in delivering services to the public. It is the forefront of delivering and providing the public services on which citizens rely, and performance is thus of both timely and enduring importance to researchers, policymakers, and citizens alike. This study examines the performance of the local governance of Aringay, a 2nd class municipality in La Union, within its socio-economic and political framework. The study aims to evaluate constituents' perceptions of governance effectiveness and to identify exemplary practices among local officials. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys on constituents and interviews with local government officials. Findings indicate a high-level perception of performance on ten governance areas, resulting in strengths from community engagement, transparency, accountability, and resource allocation. Challenges persist in staffing and infrastructure, underscoring the relationship between local government initiatives and citizen awareness. A proposed performance framework was developed to extract performance successes.