The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) in partnership with the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA) and Dumaguete’s People’s Council held an e-tour session entitled “Pasyal Na! Dumaguete City People’s Development Council: Influencing government, Charting our future” on October 14, 2021 via Zoom conference and was aired on CODE-NGO’s official Facebook page.

The e-tour session is part of CODE NGO’s celebration of Social Development Week with the theme “Network, Empower, Transform: Our Response to Effective Social Change.” The session was attended by various representatives from civil society organizations, cooperatives, government agencies at both local and national levels, private and business sectors, academe, and professional groups. 

Background

Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)

CODE-NGO is committed to becoming the trusted national voice of civil society, this includes advancing the capacity of CSOs and exercising transformative leadership. Today it has 6 national and 6 regional member networks, representing more than 1,600 development NGOs, people’s organizations, and cooperatives nationwide. CODE-NGO has three core programs, the advocacy program, membership program, and strategic communications program. 

The advocacy program focuses on policy advocacy, being the voice of civil society, and advocating for participation, transparency, and accountability in all levels of governance. Priority advocacies are asset reform, CSO good governance, disaster risk reduction, management and climate change adaptation, participatory local governance, and peace. 

The membership program seeks to achieve membership development to advance the capacities of internal governance in exercising transformative. Under this member network support/grant program, provision of technical assistance, and institutional reforms such as adherence to the code of conduct, PCNS requirements, and good governance checklist. 

Lastly, the strategic communications program ensures all communication among external and internal stakeholders documents good practices and disseminates to partners, and contributes to building a body of knowledge of  CSO effectiveness. 

CODE NGO would not be possible without the competent, credible, and committed development civil society organizations operating all over the country. Its member networks are the Association of Foundations, Central Visayas Network of NGOs, National Confederation of Cooperatives, Coalition of Bicol Development, Cordillera Network of Development NGOs, National Council of Social Development, Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas, Western Visayas Network of Social Development NGOs, and Philippine Business for Social Progress. 

Since then, CODE NGO has thrived to influence public policies, shape development, and create a tangible impact on its partners. Together with its members, CODE NGO responds to development challenges through advocacy, partnership building, and sharing of good practices to the realization of a peaceful, just, and sustainable society.

Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council

PDC is one of the partner members of CODE-NGO. According to its Chairperson, Ms. Nancy Estolloso, it was organized because of ordinance no. 84, series of 2012 called People’s Empowerment that aims for the different sectors to have their own agenda such as transport, environment, women, and urban poor. Their agendas were then gathered collectively which formed a collective effort as an expression of their desires and dreams as members of the People’s Development Council in Dumaguete. Thus, it was called the People’s Development Agenda of PDC.

Meanwhile, their campaign against the 174 Reclamation Project, a project that seeks to build two large islands which will greatly affect the natural resources and the livelihood of the locals in Dumaguete City,  is being supported by CODE-NGO. 

PDC made an effort to identify their strengths and weaknesses, gains and challenges as they continue to move forward as a council and as an organization, part of this is their call for support against the reclamation project. 

Opening Remarks

The  National Coordinator of PhilDHRRA, Ms. Caridad “Caring” Corridor gave an opening message to all the participants. 

She welcomed and acknowledged all the participants and partners from civil society organizations, government agencies, private sectors, business groups, academe, and most especially, the chairperson of Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council, Ms. Nancy Estolloso. 

Ms. Corridor mentioned that learning from peers is a dynamic way of sharing knowledge and experience between and among others. In their case as CSO, they usually travel and visit the areas that they serve and learn from their experiences. But due to the COVID-29 pandemic, there are strict community quarantines and mobility restrictions. Hence, the network of PhilDHRRA, in partnership with CODE NGO organized this online peer learning exchange through this e-tour session pasyal na. She proceeded saying:

“This online peer learning exchange is part of the social development week celebration 2021 that aims to enhance CSO leaders’ understanding of networking and empowering as it is applied to community building and participatory local governance in different forms. This afternoon, we will learn about Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council, their history, accomplishments, challenges, and how they have overcome them. We encourage everyone to actively listen and participate to understand how to network and collaborate with one another. Our old stakeholders together transform in order to achieve effective social change. Again, we welcome everyone and we look forward to a productive day ahead. Thank you, maraming salamat.”

Overview of Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council

Mr. Leo Mapicpic one of the core members of the organization, shared an overview of Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council.  Mr. Mapicpic mentioned that they have focus group discussions among the various groups such as the farmers, women, transport, and PWDs. They conducted consultation meetings and dialogue with them to address different issues on political, socio-cultural, and environment among others. He elaborated that PDC is a collective effort, still, it remains to be a work in progress in addressing social issues in the community. 

He further explained, “I am glad we are bringing this up because now, Nancy will be very happy because she’s gonna talk about this. We have to do our sectoral questions so that we can focus on what our sector needs or wants from the People’s Development Council, we can’t just go about this, whatever, we have to consult them, really consult them even with all the minor details. We have the questions for processing farmers groups, kababaihan, and motor cabs, political, socio-cultural, environment, urban poor, we have questions from within these areas and those things had to be addressed. “

In closing, Mr. Mapicpic emphasized that people must be involved in consultation and decision-making, and that there must be an avenue and workshop for the various sectors in addressing the social issues. 

He said, “We had to fight for them, we had to incorporate them in the agenda.

In addition, we have to have an avenue for our members to speak out, we have to train them, we have to give them an avenue so that they will be comfortable in speaking and maybe addressing in ways that they never would have done before. So, we will be creating workshops for them so that we can launch applications for them so we can target them and make them realize that they can do something.”

Best Practice of Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council

Ms. Nancy Estolloso, chairperson of PDC shared about the history, goals, accomplishments, best practices, and future goals of PDC. 

History of PDC

• PDC was organized under Ordinance no. 84, series of 2012, People’s Empowerment, because of this ordinance PDC was established in Dumaguete City, an ordinance authored by Albert Aquino
• In the early part of 2016 the PDC in Dumaguete was established under ordinance no. 62, it spelled the formation not only of the PDC but also the participation of the PDC in the legislative body.
• One of the achievements of this ordinance is that they were able to be represented at the committee level at the local sanggunian. There were 11 standing committees in the local sanggunian at that time, there were two coming from the PDC representing PDC at the committee level. 
• There are 22 members of the PDC sitting on the committee. 
• Mayor Ipe Rimollo was supportive of participatory community governance. Aside from the representation at the level. They were allowed to participate in the plenary discussion, related to the ordinances that we are pushing. 

Ms. Estolloso also added, “I think this is a milestone for the civil society organizations that when we see, look at the baseline of zeros, zero participation at the legislative body, ordinance 84 and ordinance number 62 is really a big leap towards a people’s participation. And so immediately after, in September we had this general assembly. The purpose of this assembly was to discuss the situation, and the socio-economic condition of the city. This will be the basis for the coming up of the development agenda. This assembly was very important and very significant to us because the 70 organizations in the city came together, and discussed the situation of the different sectors. Months later, we also had a different series of workshops to come up with a sectoral agenda.”

Accomplishments of PDC

• PDC is now successfully lobbying ordinances 62
• They were able to participate at the committee level, at the local sanggunian
• 22 members of the PDR actually sit on the different committees, the committee on the environment, the committee on infrastructure, and others.
• They have successfully mainstreamed ordinances from the PDC. 
• The committee on the environment was able to push for the zero-waste program. 
• On the issue of women, PDC actively participated in the formulation of the GAD plan and budgeting, and they became active members of the gender focal point system in the city. 
• The transport sector was able to push for two ordinances. 
• Ordinances from the private sector and fellow NGO members in the PDC were able to mobilize distribution of more than 10,000 food packs during the ECQ last year and we were able to raise more than 200,000php because of the initiative of PDC in our campaign “No one should be left behind”. 
• The fisherfolks, transport, urban poor, and NGO came together and made a stand on the 174 reclamations of the local government unit. 

Moreover, Ms. Nancy explained why they are campaigning against the reclamation project, “We think that the project will affect their livelihood and their safety. The NGO community also in Dumaguete is going to say no to the reclamation project because environmental protection and sustainable development are really in the fiber of our work. We see that the reclamation project runs counter to our vision, mission, and goals and will affect the people that we serve. We feel that this is anti-poor, number 2, we have not been consulted in the process. The PDC feels that we are marginalized, we were set aside in the conceptualization of this project and therefore we do not own this project. It is their project, not ours, it is not pro-people. All the members are quite active right now, fisherfolk, the transport sector, and the urban poor. On Fridays, we go to the boulevard, more than a hundred members of the PDC go there and we bring our streamers and our banners and we say no to the reclamation project.”

Challenges and Learning Opportunities

Ms. Estolloso elaborated on the challenges and how they were overcame, she explained the following: 

• The PDC members came from different organizations. Although they have different ways on how to analyze issues and concerns, they decided to stick to the agenda which became their common ground in PDC. 
• They were able to overcome challenges by maintaining independence. They do not ask for money from the local government but only use resources from their own pockets so they will not be indebted to them. 
• They remained discerning in choosing leaders. 
• Always remained transparent in their ways. All issues and discussions were decided collectively from the core members to the council leaders of PDC. 
• They addressed challenges in cultural issues by developing the practice of having a critical mind. 
• They trained their members to carefully analyze issues, be articulate and assertive in discussing issues and evaluate actions of the politicians.. 

Ms. Estolloso also added, “They need to develop a critical mind, kumbaga maging analytical, maging discerning ka sa mga issues sa society and also the actions of our politicians. Paano kaya makukumbinsi na me-empowered ang mga members natin na maging critical minded na mag-analyze sa mga issues and maging articulate sa mga issues, maging assertive, yun yung challenge ng PDC. On the final note, kahit na we have achievements, we have so many things pa to really counter these challenges.”

Testimonies were also shared by selected individuals from the transport sectors. 

On good governance and leadership

“There is no magic in the success of PDC, in terms of effective governance. Number 1, we lead with integrity. Integrity is very important because, without integrity, the members of the PDC will not listen to you. That is I think the reason why we are able to gather the different sectors, we lead according to the interests of the people. We bring their sectoral interests and their dreams and their desires because of this, we get their trust. Everybody collaborates and works together. I think that’s a very simple formula, easier said than done. But when you practice, that work and activities will be accomplished.” 

Ways Forward

In sharing the future goals and plan of the council, Ms. Estolloso mentioned the following: 

• Immediate response to strengthening the organization by conducting workshops and training, leadership training, and organizing skills. They go to the communities, encourage everyone to be proactive in the election process, and ensure the awareness of their constituents in the PDC about the local issues in the community. 
• They have also come up with criteria for a very good leader in the community
• Plan to conduct barangay hopping and election education campaigns. 
• They are planning to come up with a candidates forum sometime in January where PDC will invite all the candidates and they will present our agenda and we will see their response. 
• Amending ordinance no. 62 to increase participation and refine the sectoral agenda. 

On the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Estolloso explained how they adapt to the limitations and changes it brought saying

“We have to find ways to continue the discussion even during the pandemic about paano i-push forward yung mga issues in different sectors na members ng PDC. Challenge kasi ang COVID no. Unlike before na meron tayong big issue, we can come together easily. We still meet quarterly through the council of leaders to discuss yung issues ng bawat sector. Kailangan hindi siya stop kahit COVID. Kasi pag nastop yun, they will be their own tapos wala ng relevance sa kanila yung PDC. We become flexible, we adopt so that we can continue to meet and discuss to resolve the issue kasi alam mo during the pandemic, ang daming mga issues tuloy na lumalabas. We have to be with them in their struggles, in their rallies, we have to be with them.”

Network, Empower, Transform: PDC’s Response to Effective Social Change

Ms. Nancy summarized the response of PDC to social change saying 

“Social change is a collective dream that needs collective effort. To achieve this, we have to network with other groups and other like-minded people.”

“Networking is really an effective approach. We have a common problem, we have to share this and dream for the new Philippines. Ang aspeto ng empowerment is very important. Know the situation, you decide to change the situation and act on the situation. 

So, halimbawa may network ka, but you don’t do something about it, then that is not empowerment, it will just be a social network but not a network towards social change. I think the transformation part is a result of the empowerment process. That’s why I say that this is a very relevant and timely theme, yung sa peer learning experience because I think at the present situation, not only in the COVID pandemic but even sa political climate natin ngayon na ang daming mga blinders, hindi natin minsan alam kung ano ang truth, what is just, what is  genuine. Very important ang core message. I congratulate you on your annual activity and I also take your very timely and relevant input for this year. Padayon!”

E-tour 

An AVP featuring tourist spots Negros Occidental was played.  The beauty of Negros Oriental is worth preserving and worth saving, many beautiful spots were shown. The AVP campaigns support for the PDC and their advocacy to preserve that beauty by saying no to the reclamation project. 

Call to Action

Ms. Nancy Estolloso gave her message about the journey of PDC towards participatory local governance and empowerment. She is thankful for the opportunity to share the story of PDC

She hopes that the PDC experience will inspire other local government units, civil society organizations, and the marginalized sectors to replicate it in their areas as a vehicle for empowerment and development. Furthermore, she encourages everyone to replicate, possibly improve, and tailor-fit it according to practices and strategies to their own context. 

According to her, the elements of PDC’s success are the following: 

• A clear analysis of the situation as a basis for planning. 
• PDC development agenda embodying the sectoral interests, demands, and dreams of the members. 
• An ordinance to institutionalize people’s participation. 
• PDC leadership with credibility and integrity and political independence. 
• An important element also in the success is the empowered members articulating and asserting their rights. 

She leaves a challenge for everyone saying 

“PDC is a work in progress, we celebrate our gains and at the same time learn the lessons from our mistakes. We did it, you can do it as well. I leave this challenge for all of us. 

Number 1, to continue constructively maximizing the spaces where we can engage and participate in the local governance, especially in the light of DILG memorandum circulars on the establishment of people’s councils. 

Number 2, to educate local government unit and officials, and functionaries on participatory local governance, equalization, and operationalization of democracy. You know, democracy is not just an intangible or theoretical thing, but we can actualize it through a people’s council. 

Number 3, to empower the people as claim holders to articulate and assert their political, environmental, and socio-cultural rights through people’s councils. 

Finally, the challenge is to lead with integrity, embody good governance in the established organization, and in this case a people’s council, one that is participatory, accountable, responsive, co-relevant, and transparent. Daghang salamat and padayon” 

She ended her message with greetings and gratitude. 

Closing Remarks

Closing message was given by Ms. Mariefe Del Mundo, Deputy Executive Director, CODE NGO

Participatory governance has always been the framework of CODE NGO’s development work. Starting from our foundation year, even as we were engaging the government for the enactment of the local government code at that time in 1999. We do believe that the active participation of CSOs and citizens in governance is key to responsive and effective implementation of government programs and projects. 

This was demonstrated by the incredible journey of Dumaguete’s People’s Development Council in achieving local development. As Ms. Nancy Estolloso stated, there is no perfect formula for this engagement. However, what makes them perfect is their attitude and passion, for bringing about the change they desire in the governance in Dumaguete City. 

They have shown that the unity of will among different sectors in the power of working together can transform the society into one in which people can influence and be the voice of change, like their call to no reclamation 

Before I conclude my message today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate everyone who helped in making this e-tour session possible. Thank you to Dumaguete City’s People’s Development Council, PhilDHRRA, LGU of Negros Oriental, CODE NGO Secretariat, and of course to all our partners from the different sectors who are with us today from government and non-government coming from the different parts of the country. 

We hope to continue to inspire each other and by inspiring each other, we share hope, foster friendships, and cooperation among others. Aspirations and lessons learned from this e-tour give us more confidence that we can be more prepared and can do simple yet tactical ways to enjoy and sustain the obvious gains from our engagement. Hindi madali ang ating kinakaharap ngayon but I think we can take one collective step at a time. We need to do something. 

“The road may be rough, the journey may be tough and the experience may be bitter, but they are stepping stones to our future thrones.” Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat