PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT PILGRIMAGE: I was tasked by Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to facilitate the Governance Tour and Learning Exchange of the Civil Society Representatives (CSRs) of Quezon City in Ciudad nin Naga: An Maogmang Lugar (Naga City, Bicol) from Sept. 9-12, 2014. The people’s participation in the local government of Naga City was institutionalized through the EMPOWERMENT ORDINANCE in 1995. Through the leadership and support of then Mayor Jesse Robredo, the landmark ordinance provided engagement for accredited NGOs and people’s organizations (POs), collectively known as the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), to participate in the affairs of the city government. 13 years later, a Kaya Natin Champion, Former Q.C. councilor and now Rep. Bolet Banal Jr., inspired by his lakbay-aral in Naga back in 2008, introduced an ordinance known as the “Participation, Accountability and Transparency (PAT) Ordinance.” The PAT Ordinance was passed in 2009, establishing the People’s Council of Quezon City (PCQC), paving way for citizens’ groups to have a voice in city government. But 5 years after the enactment of PAT ordinance, its implementation is held up simply by the absence of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) which is yet to be issued. Its indeed a long and arduous struggle. Many are starting to lose hope. In pursuit of finding strength again, 40 CSRs of QC decided to pay homage to the nativity site of peoples participation in local government, synchronous to the kick-off of the weeklong celebration of the Feast of our Lady of Penafrancia, they set their own governance and spiritual pilgrimage, driven to return home renewed, revitalized and energized from the learning exchange, dialogues and encounter with the Naga City Peoples Council and the City Government of Naga. ...refueled to continue dreaming, hoping and working for an empowered citizenry. The experience also taught me a lot... We must build bridges that will enable our constituents to cross a better ground rather than destroy them; It Is better to engage the government by clasping hands with them than to clash with them; We can not demand something which we also can not give; People adopt to existing culture but people creates the culture, changing it requires a tedious process; Partnership building is different from lobbying and advocacy; Unified and coordinated effort is the most efficient way to effect change; And the best persons in the world, the saints, martyrs and heroes, always put the welfare of the majority than their own. Our experience... proves that our PEOPLE are our BEST RESOURCE and our BEST HOPE... driven by CONSTITUENCIES who are WELL-INFORMED, CONSTRUCTIVELY ENGAGED and WILLING to share the burden of community building, despite all our problems, we shall overcome... - Jesse M. Robredo KAYA NATIN!
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 13:47:14 +0000