CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment-7 says it needs to consult with civil society groups on budget matters for its programs to determine the development needs of the society.
Consulting these groups, DOLE-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga said, would allow people from the grassroots know more about their needs.
“So it is fitting that they be consulted for the budget of the projects that are dedicated to them,” Sarcauga said.
DOLE-7 met with about 33 civil society organizations during the agency’s 2016 budget consultation held late last month.
Consultation
The labor official explained that the Department of Budget and Management requires national government agencies and state-owned corporations to have consultation with the people as part of the budget processing.
“With this all DOLE programs that need budget must be consulted from the CSOs,” he said.
The participation of society groups in the budget consultation would hopefully give “strength” to the department’s budget, he said.
In its national budget circular, the DBM mandates that CSOs and other stakeholders be consulted in the preparation of budget proposals of agencies.
“To provide guidelines on citizen participation as a component of the national government’s budget process particularly in the preparation and submission of agency budget proposals,” the budget agency cited as one of the purposes of citizen consultation.
It said there is a need to institutionalize participatory budgeting in the bureaucracy.
CSOs include non-government organizations, cooperatives, trade unions, professional associations, faith-based organizations, media groups, indigenous people’s movements, foundations, and other citizen groups formed for social and economic development.