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By Gina
Dizon
Civil
society organizations definitely have a tremendous significance in making
better communities precisely because they are personally and organizationally
moved with their noble purposes and mission for the common good, and
much more as they are not being paid by government.
With
their separate sectoral aims and objectives, CSOs contributed and still
contributing in shaping government as to how it is. It is
significant to note how the chamber of commerce influences business and how it
is run in the country. And so with the many cooperatives spread out
in the country.
And so
with social activist people’s organizations and non-government organizations as
the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and Kilusang Magbubukid
somehow influenced the creation of government agencies
including the national commission on indigenous peoples (NCIP) on the struggle
for indigenous people’s rights and the department of agrarian reform (DAR) due
to farmers’ struggle for agrarian reform on land distribution.
And
too, with strong organized people’s movements for increase of salaries for
government workers including the Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT)
and the confederation for unity recognition and advancement of government employees (COURAGE);
and private workers through their respective unions. Though they
suffer from labelling and vilification, their efforts were not and are not in
vain.
Unsung
heroes as we still note, most CSOs remained to be behind the scenes,
unrecognized by government and award giving institutions but helped anyway
through significant ways the people know. It cannot be denied that
with strong organized people’s movements, their noble aspirations were and are
translated into strong democratic institutions people now enjoy.
For
one, former CPA chairman and former Mountain Province board
member Fr Eduardo Solang along with other social activists then
rallied and lobbied for a Cordillera regional autonomous government for the
Cordillera to freely enjoy its political, economic, and social
self-determination as a people and as a region in the 1980s. That, somehow led
to the inclusion of the provision on the creation of an autonomous region for
the Cordillera in the 1987 Philippine Constitution which is now being pursued
by government since 1989 when it was first presented for a
plebiscite.
People
with their banded collectivities and noble aspirations have throughout Philippine
history, moved significantly with or without the help of government though some
laws as the local government code of 1991 provided for their participation in
decision making in government.
Now,
the government is seriously considering CSO participation in governance with
the passing of Memorandum Circular 2019-72 by the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG).
Much as
CSO participation was already there in the 1991 local government code and CSO
participation not that impressive in the previous 20 years in government’s
special bodies, DILGs MC 2019-72 comes raring with a better
perspective of how CSOs shall participate in government.
This
from the local government code of 1991 providing for the establishment of
people’s organizations, non-government organizations, and the private sector to
make them active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy, and to directly
involve them in the plans, programs, projects, or activities of the local
government.
Said
MC 2019-72, states, ”good governance is vital in the pursuit of excellence in
public administration and development. This
Department (DILG) recognizes that in forming a
sustainable foundation of good governance , it is not enough to
concentrate on developing the internal capacity of local governments It
is equally important to develop and strengthen
partnership with COS in order to empower citizens to
articulate their needs as they participate in the decision making
process, program planning, implementation and monitoring at the
local label which can increase the responsiveness and efficiency of
local governments in delivering services.”
CSOs
include the NGOs, POs, cooperatives, business and professional groups.
Expanded
provisions are found in MC2019-72 favorable to CSOs increasing their membership
in the special bodies based on existing laws. Said circular provides for
representatives of non-governmental organization shall constitute not less than
one fourth (1/4) and increased to one half (1/2) of the
membership of the organized local development council.
Membership
in the local development council must represent the women sector at least 40%
of the fully organized council shall be composed of women as prescribed by RA
9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
Membership
of indigenous peoples as per the Indigenous Peoples Rights
Act (IPRA) and farmers as per the Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Act (AFMA) also involve the inclusion of said sectoral
representatives.
In
said circular based on the local government code of 1991, respective CSO
representatives shall be members of the local school board, local health board
and three CSO representatives in the peace and order
council.
As
per schedule based on said circular, CSOs are supposed to apply for
accreditation in their respective sangguniang bodies by the third
week of August, have already been accredited by their
respective sangguniang local bodies by the last week of August and their
selection to special bodies on the first to second week of
September.
(This article also appeared in the Mountain Province Exponent, August 11, 2019 issue)
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