Bohol members join transparency for transformation national confab

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Bohol Transparency for Transformation (Bohol TNT), a loose organization of non-government organizations, business and media practitioners as friendly watchdog, has actively took part in round-table discussion on government transparency and accountability held at a restaurant in Tomas Morato St., Quezon City last August 23.

The event dubbed "Pera Natin 'To! Supporting Citizen Engagement towards Good Governance" launched last year by the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) was about to end by August 31.

The project has been funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID Economic Development and Governance office chief, Dr. Maria Rendon and Alan Davis, PPTRP director and head of Asia, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, opened the event with their words of welcome and inspiration.

The challenge to the delegates: "Citizen participation is crucial in helping build and secure transparency and accountability: So how do we encourage, enable and sustain it?"

The keynote speakers were Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, COA chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan, COA Commissioner Heide Mendoza, and whistleblower and activist Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, each of whom gave messages on the need for citizens to get involved in good governance.

Mendoza talked on "The Need for the Citizen to Speak and Play a Role" while Rowena Paraan, NUJP secretary-general, served as moderator of the event attended by journalists, columnists, including Jarius Bondoc, and news writers of major national dailies.

Aepril Maita Palo of the Bohol Alliance of NGOs (BANGON) and this reporter, a member of the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) Bohol chapter, represented Bohol TNT to the gathering.

The event also launched the book, "A Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Guide" and "End-of-Project Surveys on Transparency and Accountability in the Philippines" by Red Batario, executive director of the Center for Community Journalism and Development and handbook editor.

PPTRP partners were also instrumental in the formation of citizen's watchdog bodies for local government accountability: WATCH Kidapawan of Cotabato represented by Abner Francisco; MATA-Samar by Emy Bonifacio; Misamis Occidental Public Transparency Collective by Ryan Rosauro; and Bohol TNT by this reporter. Each shared their experiences and gains for the cause of good governance and transparency.