Baguio City —To engage the participation and support of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in the region’s socio- economic development, the Regional Development Council (RDC) CAR conducted its First CSO Consultation at the Hotel Elizabeth, Baguio City on April 7, 2016.
Provided in Section 23 Article II of 1987 Constitution, the state shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation. The RDC affirms the mandate of the law and recognizes the role of CSOs, as partners in achieving regional development and autonomy provided in EO 325 and EO 30, constituting one fourth of the members of the council.
The activity, attended by 92 representatives of different CSOs, was conducted to inform CSOs about the programs of key agencies and the roles of PSRs in the RDC, and to present the process of electing Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) in the RDC.
RDC-CAR Vice-chair and NEDA- CAR Dir. Milagros Rimando lauded the participants for an overwhelming response to the invitation. She added that such response affirmed the need to strengthen the partnership between the government and the private sector.
Rimando also discussed the PSR’s role in the RDC and in the different committees. She said that PSRs are expected to participate in the preparation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of regional development plans and investment programs; review and endorse national plans, programs and project; and propose national government annual budget of agency regional offices and state colleges and universities.
Selected Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) like the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), through their respective Directors or representatives, presented their agency’s programs and projects and various opportunities for the PSRs to participate.
RDC-CAR Secretary and NEDA CAR- ARD Jedidia Aquino presented the PSR selection process in accordance with the guidelines provided by EO 325, EO 30 and the RDC House Rules. She further discussed that Private Sector Organizations (PSOs) have to go through an assessment by the RDC secretariat before the selection of PSR nominees and election.
During the open forum, participants urged for more government agencies’ consultations with CSOs before the scheduled nomination and election. Rimando responded that more consultations will be conducted. Other issues raised during the event were involvement of youth in the consultation, geographical representation in the RDC’s programs and projects, and the promotion of IP Knowledge Systems and Practice (IKSP) and sustainable agriculture in the region.
by: Maridel P. Langbis, SPCAR