ILIGAN CITY, September 21 – As an approach in promoting participatory governance as mandated by the Local Government Code (LGC) of the Philippines, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10, together with the City Government, and the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), successfully conducted the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Assembly and selection of CSO Representatives to the Local Special Bodies (LSBs).

Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Member and Chairperson on the Committee on Laws and People Empowerment LawyerBetsy Zalsos, in her welcome message, highlighted that the accreditation procedures presently exercised by the City Government are just the beginning of realizing the current administration’s plan of institutionalizing the People’s Council through an ordinance to facilitate efficient accreditation and selection process in the years to come.

DILG Iligan OIC Director Maria Maida Daniot reiterated to the accredited CSOs the code mandated composition and functions of each LSBs. In addition, she also emphasized to identify the respective CSO’s services and relate it to the appropriate LSB they will be a member of since It will help them facilitate effective representation in the LSB, which is the main purpose of accreditation and selection.
City Administrator Darwin Manubag, representing City Mayor Frederick Siao, conveyed the mayor’s message recognizing the vital contribution of CSOs in promoting good governance. He added that one of the agendas of the administration is to put premium on the active participation of the CSOs in terms of policy direction, plan formulation, and operationalization of the LGU’s programs and activities.

As such, he assured the CSOs that the executive is sold out in institutionalizing people empowerment and will give recognition and incentives to active CSOs in the future.

The conduct of the CSO Assembly is one among the series of activities pursuant to DILG MC 2022-083, providing guidelines for the accreditation of CSOs and selection of representatives to the Local Special Bodies.

Moreover, it is part of the government’s effort in promoting the establishment and operation of people’s organizations, non-governmental 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 and activities of the local government unit, and involvement in the delivery of public goods and services. (𝘋𝘐𝘓𝘎 𝘐𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺/𝘝. 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘰)