CSOs increase participation in government’s decision-making

HAPPY WEEKEND

Gina Dizon

Civil society organizations definitely have a tremendous significance in making better communities because they are personally and organizationally moved with their noble purposes and mission for the common good even if they are not being paid by government.

With their separate sectoral aims and objectives, CSOs are contributing in shaping government. It is significant to note how the Chamber of Commerce influences business and how it is run in the country like many cooperatives.  

Social activist people’s organizations and non-government organizations such as the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and  Kilusang Magbubukid somehow influenced the creation of   government agencies including the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on the struggle for indigenous people’s rights and the Dept. of Agrarian Reform due to farmers’ struggle for agrarian reform on land distribution.

Strong organized people’s movements have also lobbied for increase of salaries for government workers including the Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT), COURAGE and private workers through their respective unions.  

Though they suffer from labelling and vilification, their efforts were not in vain.

Unsung heroes, most CSOs remain behind the scenes, unrecognized by government and award giving institutions but helping anyway through significant ways and the people know. It cannot be denied that with strong organized people’s movements, their noble aspirations were translated into strong democratic institutions people now enjoy.

For one, former CPA chairman and former Mountain Province board member  Fr Eduardo Solang along with other social activists then rallied and lobbied in the1980s for a regional autonomous government for the Cordillera so the people can freely enjoy  political, economic, and social self-determination.

That, somehow led to the inclusion of the provision on the creation of an autonomous region for the Cordillera in the 1987 Philippine Constitution which is now being pursued by government since 1989 when it was first presented for a plebiscite.   

People with their banded collectivities and noble aspirations have throughout Philippine history, moved significantly with or without the help of government through some laws as the Local Government Code of 1991 provided their participation in decision-making in government.

Now, the government is seriously considering CSO participation in governance with the passing of Memorandum Circular 2019-72 by the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Much as CSO participation was already there in the 1991 local government code and CSO participation not that impressive in the previous 20 years in government’s special bodies,  DILGs MC 2019-72 comes with a better perspective on how CSOs shall participate in government.  

This emanated from the Local Government Code of 1991 providing establishment of people’s organizations, non-government organizations, and the private sector to make them active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy and to directly involve them in the plans, programs, projects, or activities of the local government.

Said MC 2019-72, states, “Good governance is vital in the pursuit of excellence in public administration and development. This Department  (DILG)  recognizes that in forming a sustainable foundation of  good governance , it is not enough to concentrate on developing the internal capacity of local governments  It is equally important to develop  and strengthen partnership  with COS in order to empower citizens  to articulate their  needs as they participate in the decision making process, program planning, implementation and monitoring  at the local label which can increase the responsiveness and  efficiency of local governments in delivering  services.”

CSOs include NGOs, POs, cooperatives, business and professional groups.

Expanded provisions are found in MC2019-72 favorable to CSOs increasing their membership in the special bodies based on existing laws.

Said circular provides inclusion of representatives from non-governmental organizations and shall constitute not less than one fourth (1/4) and increase to one half (1/2) of the membership of the organized local development council.

Membership in the local development council must represent the women sector at least 40% of the fully organized council shall be composed of women as prescribed by RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women. 

Membership of indigenous peoples as per the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act  (IPRA) and farmers as per the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act  (AFMA) also involve the inclusion of said sectoral representatives.

In said circular based on the LGC of 1991, respective CSO representatives shall be members of the local school board, local health board and three CSO representatives in the peace and order council.  

As per schedule based on said circular, CSOs are supposed to apply for accreditation in their respective sangguniang bodies by the third week of August and  have already been accredited by their respective sangguniang local bodies by the last week of August including their selection to special bodies on the first to second  week of September.