CODE-NGO held National Conference on Participatory and Decentralized Governance,

pushed for strengthened citizen participation

Tez Cruz

QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila – CODE-NGO gathered all the lessons and challenges faced by civil society organizations (CSOs) in engaging the government and other stakeholder partners not only in GPB, but also in other areas of engagement in local governance such as Local Development Councils (from barangay to regional levels). CSO members shared their stories in CODE-NGO’s National Conference on Participatory and Decentralized Governance, with the theme Strengthened Civil Society Participation towards Decentralized Governance through CSO-initiated Local Poverty Reduction and Development Agenda” last July 17-18, 2014.

Member and partner organizations of the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) from all over the country, met to push for policy recommendations geared to make government-led reforms truly inclusive, participative, and in service of the poor and the marginalized. These include the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB), now called Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB). CODE-NGO’s members and partners are actively engaged in at least 390 municipalities and cities all over the country in the GPB.

“GPB enables the participation of organized groups even those who do not have the capacity to be accredited by the Local Sanggunian due to limited resources. CSOs contribute in the identification of projects that require critical attention and funding at the local level,” said CODE-NGO Chairperson Patricia Sarenas.

Asked about the potential danger of malicious groups using fake NGOs to take advantage of the process, Sarenas explained the safeguards of the system, edof malicious groups using fake NGOs to take advantad groups, elects members who will represent them in the Local Poverty Reduction Agenda Team (LPRAT), where GPB is implemented. LPRAT is composed of 50% CSO representatives and 50% government representatives.”

Despite its credits, GPB is still a work in progress. Member organizations of CODE-NGO have identified the following challenges in GPB: limited CSO participation in, and last-minute invites for the assembly; lack of capabilities of communities to engage in the process; differing rules of LGUs in the recognition of non-accredited groups; and government representatives overpowering CSO representatives during GPB.

Backed with actual experiences on the ground, the conference participants crafted and presented policy recommendations to representatives of government. NEDA Director Carlos Abad Santos, DSWD Assec. Camilo Gudmalin, DILG Usec. Bimbo Fernandez, NAPC Dir. Jesusa Rebete and Mayor Flora Villarosa of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte shared responses to the recommendations.

In response to the attacks hurled at GPB, the conference participants also drafted a support statement for the process. They expressed their commitment in ensuring the continuous improvement of GPB, and made a pledge to monitor GPB projects in their municipalities. 

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