DILG warns Cordi councils: No partisan moves or else…

Barangay, SK elections

BAGUIO CITY – The Dept. of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera warned CSO representatives in local special bodies (LSBs) and local people’s councils in the region to refrain from engaging in partisan political activities as the country gears up for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this October.
    “We are reminding our CSOs that engaging or using your respective organizations for any partisan political-related activities is a ground for revocation of your accreditation,” DILG regional director Araceli A. San Jose said.
    Section 4.9.1.4 of DILG memorandum circular 2022-083, which provides guidelines for accreditation of CSOs and selection of representatives to LSBs, prohibits CSOs “from engaging primarily in, or utilizing their organization primarily for, partisan political activities.”

LPCs were also warned of the same as section 6.4 of DILG MC No. 2021-054 which states that the Sanggunian may revoke recognition of the LPC if the Council or its members partake in such partisan political activities.

Activities of these nature are, but not limited to, the explicit promotion of election or defeat of any candidate or political party, soliciting votes for a certain candidate, or mobilizing the organization for the sole purpose of electioneering.

San Jose said pursuant to DILG MC 2022-083, all LGUs, in coordination with respective DILG field offices, may establish their own mechanisms in addressing non-compliance of CSOs to the said provisions.

She urged LGUs to coordinate with their respective CSO desk officers in monitoring activity of their CSO partners.

“We recognize that in our pursuit of participatory good governance, we must ensure that our CSO partners maintain their autonomy and non-partisan nature. Our CSOs must not side with any other entity apart from the people and sector they represent,” San Jose said. -- RJMV/DILG-CAR