CSOs: Consultation and recommendations

The Philippine Constitution provides for the establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms for genuine people’s participation in local governance.

The IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) of the 1991 Local Government Code mandates LGUS “to promote the establishment/operation of Peoples’ Organizations/Non-Government Organizations/Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Private Sector to make them active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy and to directly involve them in the plans/programs/projects/activities of the LGUs, such as, but not limited to, membership in Local Special Bodies (LSBs) and involvement in the delivery of basic services/facilities.”

Those elected or appointed should echo the concerns/voices of the organizations and sectors they represent.

In practice, however, the elected/appointed sectoral/organization representative hardly consult their groups/sectors.

Hence, when Rikki Samson, chairman of the Cebu City Development Council-Environment Sector Committee (CCDC-ESC) conducted a consultative meeting for 2024 projects last July 12, 2023, more than 60 CSOs/partners actively participated in having their concerns presented to the CCDC, to Cebu City officials, and most especially, for inclusion in the 2024 Cebu City plan/budget.

Some of the 27 agreed-on concerns and recommendations are the following:

1.) To convene the Sustainable Development Council;

2.) To gather/compile/integrate the policies/issues/implementation of environmental special bodies by assigned staff;

3.) To adopt urban gardening, city-wide mandatory composting, the banning of GMO/synthetic fertilizers, and to recommend to the City Council to allocate funds for barangay tree growing program;

4.) To recommend to the City Council for the CCDC-EMC to serve as the coordinating/repository body for all Cebu City environment-related programs, with the city library recommended as a resource center;

5.) To request the City Planning and Development Office, with the participation of other sectors, to review/implement the Local Climate Action Plan (with the inclusion of carbon audit and solar-grid installation of solar grid in government buildings) and study of available/alternative renewable energy resources

6.) To use white paint, starting with city-owned buildings, for eco-and-cost effectiveness;

7.) To request EMC to encourage city government to prepare for El Niño, to draft the IRR for the following approved ordinances --ban on single-use plastics/clean air act/food banks/others, and, to request for the water summit results from the Water Resource Center of the University of San Carlos; and

8.) To recommend to the city government regular City Sewage Management System monitoring.

These were the sector-specific concerns and recommendations:

1.) To request the social development sector and mayor to address the concern of rental subsidy and relocation;

2.) To check the condition of the urban poor affected by the clearing of the three-meter river easement;

3.) To request the city to investigate the drainage and housing problem in Paradise 3, Kinasang-an and to endorse the alleged drainage closure in Kinasang-an to DEPW for appropriate action;

4.) To request the city government to review the honorarium of BEOs and granting of health insurance to garbage collectors;

5.) To continue the Community Mortgage Program, and,

6.) To review the Local Housing Program (?1.2 million) to make it affordable and appealing to the informal settlers.

7.) To recommend for the City to investigate the alleged report of illegal reclamation and cutting of mangroves in Barangay Inayawan;

8.) To request a review of CCLEX agreement especially relating to fisherfolks; and,

9.) To request the social development sector to provide a comprehensive and sustainable program for fisherfolks; and,

10.) For the youth: To request the local school board and SK to include more opportunities for students to practice Environmental Awareness in schools/communities.

Lastly, related to budget: To request for restoration of funds intended for the CSOS and the implementation of the City Ordinance 2% annual budget allocation for site development and purchase of lots and balance housing.

Finally, the participants approved the recommendation to request for an appointment with Mayor Mike Rama at his soonest convenient schedule.