By Wilson J Hormeguera
Aimed at consolidating and strengthening various initiatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) in engaging the city government towards transparent, participatory and good governance, Xavier University, through its Research and Social Outreach (RSO) cluster, facilitated the formation of the People’s Council of Cagayan de Oro City.
The organization was done through a Multi-Sectoral Workshop on People’s Development Agenda and Creation of the People’s Council held on September 24-26 at Pearlmont Hotel, CDO.
The creation of the People’s Council is one of the major initiatives of the project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), “Providing Social Accountability Interventions to Foster Constructive Engagement of Stakeholders in Local Government Affairs of Cagayan de Oro.”
Dr Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit, XU vice-president for RSO, gave the welcome remarks and recounted how the initiative was conceived from the CSOs involvement during the 2013 electoral fora where the political candidates were made to answer questions based on the people’s agenda.
The workshop had three (3) conferences. The first conference was on the introduction of Local Government Planning and Budgeting Process where Dr Dixon Yasay, XU Governance and Leadership Institute (GLI) director and workshop facilitator, introduced how and when the CSOs can engage, bringing the people’s agenda for city development and poverty reduction. Conference 2 was a visioning workshop for the CDO People’s Council where Engr Ermin Stan B Pimentel, facilitated the participants on collective identification of the People’s Council’s purpose of existence, its desired future and the values shared by the council. Lastly, the third conference centered on the People’s Development Agenda where Engr Gail de la Rita steered the group in the identification of the priority development issues that need to be raised by the People’s Council in the different local special bodies of the city government.
The development issues were derived from XU’s 2013 poll survey and sectoral focused-group discussions with thematic development areas on food security, environment, health, governance, and peace and order.
The People Council’s thrusts
As a result, the workshop has produced the People’s Council’s initial mission which is “to engage Kagay-anons in good governance for city development” while the vision reads: “A collaborative and engaged People’s Council for good governance by 2020.”
The People’s Council has initially identified priority issues on the said five thematic areas which need immediate action by the city government.
On food security, the priorities are on implementation of backyard gardening and community gardens, creation of the Barangay Food Security Council, and the establishment of a multi-sectoral group to act as watchdog on food security in the city council.
On environment, the priorities are the effective implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Solid Waste Management Act, and Barangay Greening Program. The effective management of our watershed and water resources is also included as a priority.
On peace and order, the priorities are the periodic assessments of the prevailing security and safety measures of CDO, the provision of logistical and operational needs of the city police, the capacity-building for moral recovery and change in the attitude paradigm, the functionality of City Peace and Order Council, the implementation of community participation mechanisms, police visibility and law enforcement, barangay census updates, and public education on safety and security.
On health, the priorities are on the improvement and effective management of Justiniano R Borja Hospital and the proper allocation of health budget, the functionality of the city health strategies and the implementation of public health policies.
On good governance, the priorities identified are the proper management of public funds, strict enforcement of capability development of barangay public servants, and the functionality of the people’s council especially on ensuring accountability of the city government, the coordination and empowerment of barangay councils, resolution proposals, and policy disclosure and review.
Responding to present challenges
As it evolves, the People’s Council has to consider as challenges the crucial role of the barangays, the capability building of the public workers, the strengthening logistical support to government services, and, as a learning council, evidence-based interventions, mechanisms and policy implementations.
The workshop ended with a finalization of the priority development agenda and an organizational plan as they continue to expand and finalize the council.
Participating CSOs and church-based organization leaders were from the Archdiocesan Commission on Social Apostolate, Archdiocesan Good Governance Apostolate of Cagayan de Oro (AGGAP), Archdiocesan Migrants Ministry, Archdiocesan Prison Ministry , Archdiocesan Women Ministry, Cagayan de Oro Federation of Persons with Disability Associations (CAFEDPA), Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC), CDO Federation of Elders (CAFÉ) Inc, Cagayan de Oro Evangelical Ministers’ Association (COEMA), Christian Reformed Church, Development Options and Social Entrepreneurship Inc, Federation of Motorela Operators and Drivers in Cagayan de Oro (FEMODCO) Inc, Federation of Urban and Rural Poor of CDO (FURPOOR), A Foundation for Growth, Organizational Upliftment of People Inc (GROUP), Evangelicals, Gising Barangay Movement (GBM), German Doctors, House of Hope Foundation, Kagay-an Evangelical Disaster Response Network (KEDRN), Landcare Foundation of the Philippines, Incorporated (LFPI), Love & Care Foundation, Makasaka Mo Inc (MMI), Malamboong Katawhan sa Katilingban sa Misamis Oriental, Oro Youth Development Council, Philippine Island Kids International Foundation Inc, Pinintoan Cultural and Economic Center, Technological Outreach and Community Help (TOUCH) Foundation, World Vision Development Foundation Inc, UP Alumni Association – CDO Inc.
XU, serving as the secretariat of the People’s Council, continues to engage in food security, environment, health, peace and governance as thematic areas under the auspices of its RSO cluster.