CSOs’ Statement of Commitment on the Participatory Bottom-Up Budgeting and Planning

One hundred thirty nine (139) NGOs, people’s organizations and cooperatives, who value good governance and contribute to the fight against poverty through people’s participation and constructive engagement, stand together and commit to influence and monitor the government’s Bottom-up Budgeting process (BUB) in more than 380 municipalities and cities in 47 provinces. See their statement of commitment and list of participating CSOs and municipalities.

PARTICIPATORY BOTTOM UP BUDGETING AND PLANNING

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

We, the civil society organizations (CSOs) participating in the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) process or the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP), who value good governance, poverty reduction and national development through people’s participation and constructive engagement, stand together and commit to engaging and enhancing the Bottom-up Budgeting process BUB or GPBP in more than 375 municipalities and cities in 47 provinces (see attached list).

We stand by our experience and lessons learned from our involvement and engagement in the BUB/GPBP both in its initial run in the year 2012 for the national government budget for 2013 and in its second run in the year 2013 for the 2014 budget, where we saw the important role of legitimate CSOs (including people’s organizations, cooperatives and non-government organizations of NGOs) as partners in governance and representatives of people’s interests, concerns and recommendations. We affirm that in the listed municipalities/cities, the leaders and members of the communities and sectors have taken part in the BUB/GPBP process and/or are willing to take part in the next BUB/GPBP processes and related activities such as the monitoring and evaluation of projects approved through the BUB/GPBP.

While we acknowledge that the BUB/GPBP process, systems and structures are not yet perfect, we commit to help the national and local governments in improving the clarity, quality and effectiveness of these towards the goals we all share – good governance, social justice and people’s well-being.

We firmly believe that through this important reform initiated by the Aquino Administration and implemented through national government agencies and the local government units, the well-being of citizens will be uplifted and that governance led by the people will finally become the common practice.

Signed:

ANDREA MARIA PATRICIA SARENAS
Chairperson, Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)

WILFREDO HOMICILLADA
Chairperson, Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA)

ROSEMARIE JOHNSON-HERRERA
Chairperson, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA)

EMMANUEL AREÑO
Executive Director, Western Visayas Network of Social Development NGOs (WEVNET)

ANTON DIGNADICE
Chairperson, Central Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (CENVISNET)

PAULINE LAWSIN-NAYRA
Executive Director, Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (EVNET)

FELICITAS RIXHON
President, Association of Foundations (AF)

MARIETTA PARAGAS
President, Cordillera Network of Development NGOs and POs (CORDNET)

RAIZSA MAE ANAYATIN
Regional Coordinator, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE)

FR. GRANWELL PITAPIT
Chairperson, Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD)

MARIAN OPEÑA
Officer-in-Charge, National Council of Social Development (NCSD)

RAUL SOCRATES BANZUELA
National Coordinator, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)

FRANCISCO MABASO JR.
Chairperson, Change Politics Movement (CPM)

BETH YANG
National Coordinator, Pilipina

MARICEL GENZOLA
Convenor, Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL)

DENNIS CALVAN
National Coordinator, NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR)

ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSING INTERST:

People’s Coalition for ARMM Reform and Transformation (People’s CART)

Download the List of Participating CSOs and municipalities in the BUB/GPBP