The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday, Dec. 9, that it was seeking to improve public participation in government accountability by holding town meetings.

The DILG Davao Region (Region 11) recently held the "Dagyaw Hisgut-Lambo" provincial town meeting in Davao del Sur to "foster multi-sectoral convergence through social accountability."

Organized by the DILG Davao del Sur Provincial Office and the Multi-Stakeholders Advisory Committee (MSAC), the Dagyaw town meeting showcased the flagship programs, projects and innovations of the participating provincial stakeholders.

“Dagyaw is a Hiligaynon term which means togetherness or bayanihan aimed at a more responsive, more transparent and more accountable government that will take deliberate steps to ensure that all voices are heard in governmental affairs,’’ DILG XI Regional Director Alex C. Roldan explained.

Roldan stressed the urgent need for “a more transparent, accountable and responsive government” to build mutual trust between the government and its stakeholders.

“This Dagyaw event recognizes the importance of providing citizens with better access to government programs and services,” he said.

Among the key stakeholders present were Davao del Sur Gov. Yvonne Rona-Cagas; Lone District Representative Cong. John Tracy F. Cagas; DILG Davao del Sur Provincial Director Mika-Chan S. Magtulis; and Department of Budget and Management Specialist Grace Elarcosa.

Magtulis cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s call to "open up the government" and make it "more inclusive" by providing citizens with a seat at the policy table and giving them a legitimate voice and vote in what the government does and plans to do in the years to come.

Governor Cagas, on the other hand, congratulated the DILG and its partner-stakeholders for hosting and organizing the Dagyaw provincial town hall meeting in the province.

“We appreciate your making HISGUT-LAMBO an innovation and centering on providing a platform for conversations that can intensify citizen engagement and participation on the local level,” Cagas said.

Part of the Dagyaw event was the unveiling of the new Provincial Local Governance Resource Center (LGPRC) logo and tagline.

Meanwhile, members of the Expanded Provincial MSAC signed a memorandum of agreement to foster and strengthen collaborations and meaningful engagements and partnerships between the DILG Provincial Office, the Local Government Academy, the provincial government, national government agencies, the academe, business chambers and other non-government organizations.

The conduct of Dagyaw Town Hall Meetings is a commitment of the DILG in the Philippine National Action Plan (NAP) under the open government partnership by virtue of the Participatory Governance Cluster Resolution No. 02, series of 2019.