DILG, civil society link for full disclosure policy
By Amorganda A. Saluda
CEBU CITY November 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) in the region intensified its link and partnership with the Civil Society Organizations (CSO), national government agencies and stakeholders to adopt and make full disclosure policy implemented in any institution in the country.
This commitment was worked out in a workshop and training dubbed "Building on the Full Disclosure Policy: Developing the Capacity of CSOs to Engage in Local Budgeting and Governance for region VI, VII and VIII" conducted in Cebu City recently.
In his opening remarks DILG-7 regional director Ananias Villacorta said full disclosure policy is a translation of President Aquino's commitment to fight corruption and patronage.
Villacorta added that the implementation of full disclosure policy and the monitoring of it in every government offices and institutions will then become easier and effective with the support of CSOs such as INCITEGOV, PPVR and others.
“Working side by side with CSOs make accomplishment of reforms easier.” Villacorta noted.
There is really a need for CSOs to adopt capacity building program for them to be more effective in their support to the government’s implementation of full disclosure policy, Villacorta said.
The training intends to equip participants with enough knowledge to enable them to understand better the local budgeting basics, related matters to budgeting government’s funds and relating this to the rationale of the Full Disclosure Policy Reports.
The training hoped to enable participants to gain working knowledge on the first phase of the local government budgeting process; sources of financing for the local government budget and the underlying principles.
Villacorta also explained the training provided the participants knowledge and understanding on budget preparation phases, better appreciation of the Special Education Fund and its utilization to support the delivery of basic education services.
Resource persons of the training workshop were experts in the field of budgeting and government fund accountability. Topics included Local Government Watch; The Politics, Governance and Development Outcomes on Constructive Engagement of CSOs with Government; The PFM Cycle and Harmonization of LGU Planning-Linkages.
Other topics discussed were overview of The Local Budgeting Process; Active Citizenship in Local Governance and Democracy; Understanding the Local Government Budget and Budgeting Process; budget preparation, authorization, execution and accountability (mbcn/AYS/PIA-Cebu)