Groups told: Get accredited with Baguio City gov ‘t

By Jordan G. Habbiling and Jonalyn D. Pagada

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council here urged all civil society organizations (CSOs) including people’s organizations (POs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the city to apply for accreditation with the City Government of Baguio.
    A civil society organization, as defined in MC No. 2019-72 of the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), refers to a non-state and non-profit association that works to “improve society and the human condition.”
    A non-government organization is a non-stock and non-profit organization that works with different sectors and communities to promote their general welfare and development and provide a wide range of services for people’s organizations; while a people’s organization, often formed among the disadvantaged sectors of society, is an association of residents in a barangay established to promote public interest and with an identifiable leadership structure and membership.
    Pursuant to MC No. 2019-72 and other issuances from the DILG, the sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio is tasked to issue a notice of call for accreditation to all CSOs, accept and evaluate all applications, and certify the accreditation of CSOs that met the criteria.
    A CSO’s accreditation with the city government means becoming a member to the City Development Council (CDC) within the third or fourth week of September as provided for under Article 62 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code.
    Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, through Executive Order No. 124, Series of 2019, has created the CDC. Under the EO, the 34 accredited CSOs were appointed as members of the CDC.
    An accredited CSO, being a member of the CDC, may participate in the formulation of long-term, medium-term and annual socio-economic development plans and policies; formulation of medium-term annual public investment programs; evaluation and prioritize socio-economic development programs and projects; formulation of the local investment incentives to promote the inflow and direction of private investment capital; coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation of development programs and projects; and performs such other functions as may be provided by law or any competent authority.
    To date, the city council has already accredited a total of 48 CSOs including the 34 appointed members of the CDC.
Accredited CSOs are also qualified to be members of the City School Board; City Human Rights Action, Justice, and Peace and Order Council; and Local Health Board.

    One of the City School Board’s tasks is to be an advisory committee to the Sangguniang Panlungsod regarding matters on education. Through Executive Order No. 095, Series of 2020, the City School Board has been reconstituted where the City Teacher Organization representative, City Non-academic Personnel Public School representative, and the president of the Federation of Parents Teachers Association are members.

    The City Human Rights Action, Justice, Peace and Order Council is tasked to formulate the City Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan and other other plans concerning peace and order. Through Administrative Order No. 096-2016, the council has been reorganized where the religious sector, senior citizen sector, and business sector are represented.

    The Local Government Code requires the creation and composition of a local health board in every LGU. A representative from the CSOs or the private sector involved in health services in the city sits as a member of the city’s local health board. The board is tasked to recommend policies concerning planning and implementation of local health programs.

    Lastly, all accredited CSOs in the city are invited by the city council in all its public participation activities such as public consultations and hearings to give inputs regarding proposed legislative measures of the council members to aid them in their decision-making process as the local legislative body.