Institutional Transitions and Sustainability
The Citizens Participation in Monitoring Local Government Unit Performance and Development Planning on Poverty Reduction (CML) is a four-year (2012-2016) development project of CODE-NGO. It is a project in partnership with Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs, Inc. (EVNET), Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), Western Visayas Network of Social Development NGOs, Inc. (WEVNET), Association of Foundations Inc. (AF), and Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA). It covers the twenty-four (24) municipalities of Matalom, Hilongos, Alang-alang, Barugo, Oras, Dolores, Sta. Margarita, San Jorge, Tagapul-an, Tarangnan, Tobias Fornier, Anini-y, Pandan, Sebaste, Tagbina, Tago, Barobo, Prosperidad, Banaybanay, San Luis, La Paz, San Isidro, Governor Generoso, and City of Mati, located in seven provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, DavaoOriental, Antique, Eastern Samar, Samar and Leyte. They are located in four (4) regions namely, Western Visayas (Region 6), Eastern Visayas (8), Southern Mindanao (11), and Caraga (13). The municipal partners are CODE-NGO member base organizations. They are Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc. (WESADEF), Eastern Samar Social Development Organization (ESSDOG), Leyte Family Development Organization Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Samar Island NGO Consortium, Antique Development Foundation, Inc., PROCESS Panay, PHILDHRRA Mindanao, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA) Mindanao, and Kasilak Development Foundation, Inc. The project formed, strengthened and partnered with civil society organization networks (CSONs) in every municipality with a total of 24 CSONs. There were more than eight hundred (800) CSOs which participated in the project activities, including initial capacity building, CSO assemblies, engagement in the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) cycles, Civil Society Satisfaction Report Card (CSRC) surveys, and local advocacy and monitoring.
The third year was the transition period to eventually turn over project results to partner CSONs and LGUs. The project was able to federate thirteen (13) CSONs and bring at the level of Formation Phase ten (10) other CSONs. These CSONs were critical in the conduct of the projects’ major components. The idea is for the CSONs to continue on their own engagements with the local government units (LGUs) on BUB and LGU accountability.
The project also prepared all the 24 CSONs for their engagement with the local governments in the first 2 years. They were able to participate in the three Bottom-up Budgeting cycles (for Y2014, Y2015 and Y2016). They formulated their evidence and rights-based Local Poverty Reduction and Development Agenda (LPRDA), and used these to objectively engage LGU partners at the Local Poverty Reduction Action Teams. They were able to lobby for inclusion of some of the LPRDA items in the LGUs’ Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP).
The CSONs were also able to conduct 2 CSRC surveys. The first was done at the start of the term of the newly elected officials last 2013. The second was done mid-term. The output of the survey was the summary of CSONs’ assessment of the performance of the LGU in relation to poverty reduction. They then presented the results to the local government officials for dialogue and joint action.
The transition was managed to ensure continued CSON participation in local governance, even after the project closes, especially in BUB, CSRC, Annual Investment Planning (AIP), and local/national policy dialogue in relation to people’s participation in governance. The local organizations and the member networks of CODE-NGO will also take a more active role in sustaining the gains together with the CSONs in every municipality.