Pursuant to DILG MC No. 2022-083 re: Guidelines on the Accreditation of Civil Society Organizations and Selection of Representatives to the Local Special Bodies, the DILG Camarines Sur Provincial Operations Office of Camarines Sur conducted a one-day Capacity Development Program for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Local Special Bodies (LSBs) on January 19, 2023 via Zoom platform.

PD Julius Rodel L. Cal-Ortiz, CESE welcomed the participants thru an opening message wherein he highlighted people’s participation as one of the three (3) basic pillars of good governance along with pro-activeness, and vigilance. Moreover, he encouraged the CSO representatives to “collaborate, cooperate, and co-create” to significantly effect genuine local development in their respective cities and municipalities.

An overwhelming number of 245 representatives from various CSOs in Local Development Councils (LDCs) and DILG field officers of the 37 cities and municipalities in the province underwent the CapDev Program consisting of four (4) modules, namely: Module I – Development, Module II – Local Development, Module III – Local Development Council Operations, and Module IV – Soft Skills.

During Module I, LGOO V Ervin J. Belano, Local Government Capacity Development Section (LGCDS) Head, imparted knowledge on developmental concepts and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cluster Head-LGOO VII Angela Lourdes V. Astor then proceeded with her presentation on Module II with emphasis to the operational policy context, key features of the Local Government Code of 1991, and the roles of LGUs. She also discussed the fundamentals of local planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; local development planning; and CSO Intervention Plan in Module III. Parallel to understanding relevant concepts on local governance and development, CSO participants were also apprised of various soft skills such as active listening, assertive communication, and negotiation skills in Module IV thru the discussion of Cluster Head-LGOO VII Shielame B. Villa.

Through the activity, CSO participants were able to enhance their awareness and understanding on the importance of their role as representative-organizations to Local Special Bodies and were able to increase their capacity to effectively engage in local governance.

Photo Credits: DILG Field Offices