Quezon City accredits over 4,000 civil society groups

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has completed the accreditation of over 4,000 civil society organizations, the highest number of recognized CSOs in the history of the city, as part of its efforts to promote participatory governance.

Based on data from the QC Barangay and Community Relations Department (BCRD), the number of accredited CSOs ballooned to 4,055 from 2,232 since 2019.

The accredited CSOs will automatically become members of the People’s Council of Quezon City (PCQC).

“Our recognition of more than 4,000 CSOs in the city was part of efforts to promote a participatory government, which is open to the ideas and suggestions of the citizens, especially in terms of crafting policies that would improve the life of every resident,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said in Filipino.

“With the intensified collaboration between the local government and various sectors from the People’s Council, we can maintain a clean, honest and efficient governance, which we started in 2019,” Belmonte added.

The accredited CSOs include non-government organizations from various sectors including business, professionals, women, homeowner associations, persons with disabilities, urban poor, solo parents, LGBTQIA, cooperatives, charitable or socio-civic, social justice, peace and order, health and sanitation, education, youth, labor, transportation, senior citizens, socio-cultural, environmental, urban protection, solid waste, vendors, religious, Muslim, and urban farming.

“As active partners of the city in governance, they will conduct research and data banking for sectoral concerns that will be used in policy- making and program development. They will also assist the local government in disseminating information about city initiatives,” city hall said.

BCRD head Ricardo Corpuz said the CSOs would play an important role in ensuring that each of the city government’s programs efficiently addresses the needs of the residents.

Last week, the PCQC members convened and elected representatives from each sector that will sit in the city’s local special bodies, task forces and committees.

The local government said the elected representatives would take part in the committee’s deliberations, conceptualization and evaluation of projects.

The PCQC, which serves as the umbrella arm of the CSOs, is being implemented in accordance with Ordinance 1942-2009 or the Participation, Accountability and Transparency Ordinance, which institutionalizes the system of partnership between the local government and its constituents.