Recognizing the contributions of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) has again consulted its partner CSOs for the preparation of the 2015 National Budget of the Department.
Around 15 CSOs coming from different provinces in the region have attended the said consultation and signified their involvement on the budget process through signing the Budget Partnership Agreement with the DSWD. CSOs who have signed the BPA include Happy Homes Development and Training, Inc., PhilKor Disabled Artist Mission, Inc., Devmax.com, Cordillera Knights of the Old Code, Inc., PagkakaisangKababaihan Para saKalayaan (KaisaKa North Luzon), Supa SEA-K Women’s Association, KalipunanngLipingPilipina, Norte Sentro for the Sectors Network and Area Development, Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance, Bucay Movement for Change, Project 101, Inc., Senior Citizen Sector from National Anti-Poverty Commission, Knights of Columbus Apayao, Baguio Seafarers Circle Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Philippine Health Social Sciences Association.
“We recognize the role of our CSO partners not just as our partners in implementing our programs but also in enhancing transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilization of public funds”, DSWD-CAR Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso said. Director Reynoso also added that this is in line with the government’s commitment to the open government partnership where citizen participation through budget process consultation enhances the inclusion of sector-focused needs in the national budget.
Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Administration Francis A. Khayad said that the BPA signing serves as a formal agreement with partner CSOs in the preparation and submission of annual budget proposal for 2015. It aims to complement and reinforce efforts in the monitoring, evaluation, and assessment of the agency’s programs, services, and activities.
During the said consultation, generated inputs of CSOs were categorized for children and youth sector, family and community, women, and person with disability (PWD) and senior citizen sector. For children and youth, the CSOs suggested focusing on education and health issues such as creating peer-based support group and safety nets for out of school youth. Massive information dissemination on DSWD’s programs and services in the communities was also one input from the family and community group. On women sector, they recommended heightening advocacy on gender based laws and policies, research on women’s issues, and trainings on women empowerment, livelihood and gender sensitivity for disaster risk reduction and management. And for PWD and senior citizen, the increase of medical and financial assistance, devices, capability buildings, and livelihood assistance was proposed. These feedbacks will be integrated in the budget proposal of DSWD for 2015.
Aside from the consultation dialogue, CSOs will also participate in the research, monitoring, and evaluation of community-based or grassroots activities as partner of the Department.
For DSWD, engagement or partnership of CSO is based on Bantay, Gabay, Kaagapay and Tulay framework. CSOs who fall under Bantay safe-guard projects and activities geared towards fighting corruption. Gabay is involved in mechanism for extending technical assistance to groups, organizations, local government units and others. While CSOs who are identified as Kaagapay collaborate along anti-poverty projects and activities, and Tulay concentrates on facilitating action, feedback and monitoring of program implementation. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, MAYROSE URBANO-CARIŃO
