CODE-NGO and CBD organized Media Conference on Participatory and Decentralized Governance,

celebrated gains from programs inspired by Robredo

Tez Cruz

NAGA, Camarines Sur – In memory of Jesse Robredo’s second death anniversary and National Heroes Day, CODE-NGO and the Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD) organized a Media Conference on Participatory and Decentralized Governance last August 25, 2014. Participatory mechanisms facilitated by the late Sec. Jesse Robredo have given ordinary citizens more venues to push people’s interest in government. The Full Disclosure Policy, Seal of Good Housekeeping, and Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) are some of his most enduring legacies.

With the theme, “Turning everyday citizens to everyday heroes through participation in decentralized governance,” civil society organizations (CSOs) were honored in the event. PANGOPOD, ALPRODEV, and Open Heart Foundation shared stories from their involvement in government initiatives inspired by the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary.

“We are responding to the challenge of Sec. Jesse. We are making every effort to push for citizen’s interest in the government. Heroes are being made out of ordinary citizens with every meaningful engagement towards a people’s government,” explained Fr. Granwell Pitapit, Chairperson of the Coalition for Bicol Development.

Sec. Jesse Robredo’s long record of people-oriented governance began in Naga City. He supported the initiatives of Naga’s NGO and PO Council, a multi-sectoral formation that advocates people’s participation in local governance. During his term as mayor, the Empowerment Ordinance was enacted and the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC) was institutionalized. NCPC is composed of accredited organizations taking an active role in legislation and capacity building of civil society organizations (CSO) in the city. Dumaguete City, through a network of CSOs and POs in Negros Oriental, has adopted the NCPC mechanism in promoting citizen participation in local governance processes in their city.

The 1991 Local Government Code mandates CSO participation in local special bodies in health, education, development, and peace and order. Special laws also create local councils that require CSO participation.

Open Heart Foundation, a CSO based in Biñan, Laguna is active in provincial councils for provincial disaster risk reduction and management, and for the protection of children. “Capacity-building of partners leads to better outcome. They must have ownership on the projects, a motivation to strive for its success,” shared Davilyn Fajardo, Coordinator of Open Heart Foundation.

Despite these gains in participatory governance, some individuals doubt the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB). GPB is a participatory budgeting mechanism, introduced during Robredo’s term in DILG. CSO elected representatives are allowed to join the Local Poverty Reduction Assembly Team (LPRAT) to determine projects that will be forwarded to the National Government for review and approval. 

BUB 383, a coalition of CSOs actively participating in GPBs in at least 390 municipalities, tells a similar story. They recognize challenges in the process; foremost is the weak capacities of CSOs, LGUs, and NGAs for a more participatory and inclusive local government planning and budgeting. They agree, however, that these issues can be addressed. The constraints do not provide enough reasons to prematurely end a promising process for people’s involvement in identifying development projects that matter to them.

Members and partners of Caucus of Development NGO Networks or CODE-NGO, the largest coalition of development NGOs in the Philippines, affirmed their support to GPB in a recent statement. Similar to Sec. Jesse Robredo, they are pushing for transparent, accountable, and participatory governance in the country.

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Tez Cruz is the Communications Officer at Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO).