City People's Council formed in Oro

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/10/10/city-peoples-council-formed-oro-435111
• Saturday, October 10, 2015

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

THE Cagayan de Oro Peoples Council, which was organized to make Kagay-anons lead a transparent and participatory governance in the city, was recognized in a ceremonial signing on Friday.

Facilitated under the Xavier University-Research and Social Outreach (RSO), the council embodies civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-government organizations (NGOs).

The RSO is committed to the church and the people by sharing its resources and expertise particularly in five areas of engagement food security, health, environment, peace, and governance.

"Namugna kini nga council para mutabang to build good governance specifically sa local government," Bishop Jollieh Petallo, the councils chairman, said during Friday's ceremonial signing of an Executive Order recognizing the peoples council.

He said the council aims to engage constructively with the executive and legislative branches to foster good governance and eventually accelerate inclusive development in the city.

He added the multi-sectoral and citizen-led People's Council would sit in the different committees and special bodies of the local government unit.

The representation in these bodies is the entry points for social accountability and transparency, Petallo said,

The council has three People's Agenda, such as crowd-sourcing to disseminate social messages in media platforms, stigma-reduction on HIV-AIDS through providing education in barangays about it, and the passage of an ordinance that regulates selling of liquors to minors.

Petallo said it is backed by the Constitution's Article 13, Section 15 which emphasizes the role of independent organizations to promote and protect public interest, collective interests, and democratic framework.

"We will look into project implementation, certain budgets, we aim transparent governance gyud," Petallo said.

"We represent the voice of the people, kung unsay ilang taho, mao pud among iduso sa administration," Petallo added.

City Mayor Oscar Moreno said the people's participation in governance would be a great contribution to his administration.

"We are very happy na they are given voice through this People's Council, I hope the collaboration and partnership between the city government and the council will really grow," Moreno said.

"At least ang katawhan naa nay tingog, they will now have a voice and shout their grievances, they can now take part in the developments we are always aiming for our city," Moreno added.

Business sectors, civic, professional associations, academic community, and faith-based organizations are among those who support the said program.

The project, dubbed as Providing Social Accountability Intervention to Foster Constructive Engagement of Stakeholders in Local Government Affairs of CDO" is supported by Asian Development Bank and the Partnership for Transparency Fund.