On September 10-11, 2018, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII conducted the 2- Day activity on “Improving Citizen Participation in Local Investment Programming and Local Planning Process” at Hotel De Viajera, Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
Participants were the members of the Provincial/ City Finance Committee (P/CFC) composed of Provincial/ City Treasurers, Budget Officers, and Planning Development Coordinators together with three (3) Civil Society Organization/ Private Organization (CSO/ PO) Representatives of the Provincial/ City Development Councils (P/CDCs) of Provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato as well as Cities of General Santos and Cotabato.
Generally, the activity aims to enhance the capacities of the CSO/PO representatives of the P/CDCs on the detailed process of local investment programming through interfacing with the LFC members of their respective Provinces/ cities.
As such, the relevant topics discussed were the (1) Role of the CSOs in Local Governance viz-a-vis Strengthening of Local Development Councils, (2) Sectoral Local Planning, and the (3) Preparation of Local Development Investment Program (LDIP). South Cotabato Provincial Treasurer, Mr. Alvim Bantol, together with Provincial Budget Officer, Ms. Luz Fontanilla, generously shared their process on preparing their Investment Financing Potential, Provincial Resource Mobilization Program (PRMP), and Financing Plan to provide clearer view on LDIP in LGUs’ actual perspective.
Further, Resource Speakers from National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Commission on Audit (COA) in Region 12 discussed the in-depth inputs on (1) Local Planning in line with the National Priority Direction; (2) Annual Investment Program and Local Budget Cycle; and (3) Common Audit Findings and Observations, respectively.
On behalf of Regional Director Reynaldo M. Bungubung, CESO IV, Assistant Regional Director Lailyn A. Ortiz formally ended the activity through a Closing Message stressing on the crucial role of the citizens as represented by the CSOs/POs in the attainment of participatory, comprehensive, and inclusive local planning and budgeting process.
