True to its vow to lead with a people-centered form of governance, the Pasig City local government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with civil society organizations (CSOs), educational and other government institutions to establish the Pasig City CSO Academy (PCCA).
The PCCA is the “first CSO initiated leadership institute solely dedicated for civil society leaders, workers, volunteers, and other stakeholders in the country.”
The academy’s “pillars,” including the Advocacies in Praxis for Leadership and Community Development Inc., the Rizal Technological University (RTU), and the Center for the Advancement of Local Governance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Pasig, signed the document at the City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 24.
Among the signatories were Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr; Coach Paul Senogat, the program director of PCCA and executive director of Praxis; Dr. Ma. Eugenia M. Yangco, the university president of RTU; and Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO) Patricia Mendiola as the representative of DILG-Pasig Director Visitacion C. Martinez.
Through the MOA, the various institutions will aid the PCCA in terms of providing and exchanging resources, expertise, and knowledge in order to create and facilitate more responsive and effective training courses for its participants.
The faculty of the RTU’s political science department are also lecturers in the PCCA.
Fellows of the PCCA will be taught lessons on governance and addressing social issues such as malnutrition, solo parent rights and opportunities, family planning, economic development, and even proper pet ownership.
The fellows are tasked to draft their Program Prototype Execution Proposals. They are expected to launch their proposed programs within their chosen communities.
The PCCA said it is looking forward to developing its partnerships as it aims for more “progressive CSO engagement” in government, working towards a “sustainable, political patronage-free and developed society.”
“Isa itong malaking hakbang para mapalakas natin ang partisipasyon ng mga CSOs sa ating pagogobyerno at mapabuti ang kanilang serbisyo sa mga sektor na kanilang nirerepresenta (This is a big step forward to strengthen the participation of CSOs in governance and improve the services they offer to the respective sectors they represent),” said Vice Mayor Jaworski.
‘People-centered’ governance
At the beginning of Sotto’s second mayoral term, he vowed that the local government would implement a more “people-centered” governance, stressing the need to join forces with CSOs in the fulfillment of social welfare and health initiatives.
“Palalakasin natin ang mga mekanismo ng pakikilahok at pagiging inklusibo ng ating gobyerno...Alam natin na pag maging inklusibo ang pamamalakad at pamahalaan, gumaganda rin ang serbisyo. Nagiging mas responsibo sa mga pangangailangan ng tao ang ating gobyerno (We will strengthen the mechanisms of public participation and inclusivity in our government. We know that inclusive governance yields better quality of services. Our government becomes more responsive to the needs of our people),” Sotto said in his State of the City Address (SOCA) during the Pasig City or “Araw ng Pasig” celebration last July 2.
Last Aug. 5, the city held the 2022 Civil Society Organization (CSO) Conference attended by numerous homeowners associations (HOAs), tricycle operators and drivers associations (TODAs), and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
During the conference, the local government formally opened the first ever accreditation process of CSOs in the city.
Through accreditation, CSOs are given more opportunities to expand their reach and influence as they participate in the local political process. They are able to select representatives who will join local special bodies such as city council committees and capacity building activities and groups.
Sotto said the synergy between CSOs and the local government will become one of the city’s best practices.