CAMIGUIN DILG, PROVINCIAL GOV’T TO CSOS: APPLY FOR ACCREDITATION

           Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Camiguin, together with the Provincial Government of Camiguin now calls for the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to apply for accreditation as new applications and renewal will only be accepted until August 31 this year.

           With this, to enhance the awareness of CSOs on the importance of civil society participation and increase their capacity to effectively engage in local governance, and at the same time, tackle the requirements for accreditation, a CSO Conference was held on August 7, 2019 at Sanggunian Panlalawigan Session Hall, Mambajao, Camiguin.

      Led by DILG Provincial Director Rhona G. Pedraza-Abadilla, the activity was participated by 22 CSO Representatives in the Province.  The objective of the activity was to enhance the current local development by incorporating the participation of the CSOs in local government structure. 

           PD Abadilla urged the CSOs to take part in the LGUs’ program planning, implementation and monitoring at the local level, citing their significance in local development councils and encouraged the organizations to extensively advocate transparency in governance.

           “Wala’y bili ang mga pagpaningkamot sa mga lideres  sa panggamhanan, kung ang mga tao mismo mag dumili sa pagbuhat sa ilang obligasyon sa pang gobyerno [The efforts of government leaders are worthless if the people themselves refrain from performing their governmental obligations],” she added.

      PD Abadilla also discussed the Critical Importance of Participatory Governance, Codal Avenues for CSO Participation and relevance of Local CSO Network during the activity.

          Moreover, Engr. Leonides Oclarit, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, in his message, emphasized that the activity aims to ensure that every citizen should participate in the decision-making processes because, in one way or another, he or she will be influenced by the policies implemented by the government.

       Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, Hon. Rony N. Sagocsoc also presented and detailed the Guidelines on LGU Accreditation of CSOs and Reconstitution of the Local Special Bodies.

        He encouraged to apply for accreditation at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Office of Camiguin to be eligible for representation in the Local Special Bodies (LSB).

        Once granted accreditation, representatives to the LSB will then be selected from among the organizations with the issuance of executive orders for them to officially function in the LSB such as the Local Development Council, Local Health Board, Local School Board, and Local Peace and Order Council scheduled within the 1^st and 2^nd week of September.