With the aim of developing communities across the region, the CPU Center for Local Governance and Indigenous People Studies and Knowledge for Development Center together with the De La Salle University – Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance held a Local Knowledge Workshop on Making All Voices Count Project: Universities and Knowledge Partnerships for Open Government at the Educational Media Center on June 7, 2017.
Information sharing – Engr. Dimpna C. Castigador emphasized the importance of sharing information in inclusive growth during the workshop.
For the welcome remarks, Rev. Joniel Howard Gico welcomed participants and recognized the role of advocacy work in ensuring that progress is attained by everyone. On the other hand, Mr. Dominador Co, Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Iloilo showcased Iloilo’s performance on good governance and transparency. “Here in Iloilo City, our city mayor has made transparency and accountability the hallmarks of our administration. Since our first term in 2010, we’ve advocated and practiced participatory governance – bringing local government down to our 180 barangays and responding to our people’s needs and listening to their suggestions, among others. “
Group workshops aim to get ideas and suggestions on improving community participation in CSO projects.
Dr. Francisco Magno, DLSU – JRIG Director, talked about the importance of the project and its impact to growing communities. According to him, inclusive growth and information sharing are crucial in social development.
Mr. Ian Jayson Hecita, DLSU-JRIG emphasizes the importance of patnership of CSOs and academe.
Engr. Cesar Rico Acanto, CLGIPS committee member talked about the workshop objectives of the seminar. “Our objective today is to provide understanding on the roles of universities and knowledge partnerships in fostering open government, social accountability and participatory local governance. Second is to enhance awareness and knowledge of local CSOs and universities about open government and third is to identify how universities can help local CSOs as knowledge partners in fostering development.”
Prof. Renia F. De La Peña , Coordinator of CGLIPS ackonwledges participants of the seminar.
For the seminar proper, Mr. Ian Jayson Hecita, Program Manager of DLSU-JRIG talked about universities as knowledge hubs for open government. Mr. Ildefonso Orquejo Jr., Local Government Officer V of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division – DILG then lectured about citizen participation and open government programs of the DILG under the Duterte administration. He also talked about ADM, SGLG and Masa Masid as government initiatives for community development.
Particpants discuss partnerships of CSOs and the academe.
Participants from both the academic and CSO sector had workshops and group discussions regarding the role of the academe in social involvement and the current situation of community information sharing. The discussions concluded that more partnerships between both sectors have to be developed.
Mr. Francisco Magno, Director of the DLSU-JRIG discusses the impact of the project.
On June 8, 2017, after the seminar, KDC and CLGIPs together with DLSU-JRIG conducted a meeting with CPU Webmaster Mark Clemens J. Ortaliz regarding the development of a transparency and accountability portal that communities can use to get essential information about government and CSO research and projects.