Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.

Kaangayan, Kalambuan, Kalinaw ... sa Mindanaw, sa Pilipinas, sa Kalibutan

Budget Tracking towards Transparent and Accountable Governance (BTTAG) project launched
Posted 31 August 2010

The election of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III under a platform of genuine change brings with it a magnitude of challenges and opportunities for both those in government service and civil society organizations.

Aquino’s election despite his being a reluctant candidate was the fruit of a concerted effort to effect good governance—one that is corruption-free, open, transparent and accountable. The role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in his campaign and eventual election as President was more pronounced during the last elections than previous elections.

With high hopes, CSOs vow to continue engaging the Aquino administration in effecting the dream of transparent and accountable governance, especially since two decades after its enactment in 1991, the Local Government Code has yet to fulfill its promise of building self-reliant communities that contribute to national development—because many local government units lack the needed mechanisms to effect transparency and accountability.

CSOs are stakeholders who play a very big role in ensuring that P-Noy deliver his campaign promise of ensuring change in government and governance, said Director Loreto Bhagwani of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Northern Mindanao during the Budget Tracking towards Transparent and Accountable Governance in Mindanao (BTTAG) Project Orientation and CSO Training Workshop held at the International Center for Peace (IC Peace) in Mindanao of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) recently.

“NGOs [non-government organizations], POs [people’s organizations], etc., together with the corresponding [government] agencies, in the process must work together for a better society that caters to the needs of the community pursuant to Section 16 of the Local Government Code, which is the Delivery of Basic Services,” he said.

Noting the importance of transparency and accountability, The Asia Foundation (TAF), with the support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is implementing this Local Budget Tracking under the Transparent Accountable Governance project, with the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE) and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) as implementing partners.

The BTTAG Project, according to Project Manager Paul Richard A. Paraguya of BMFI, “is not a budget watch. We are not here to watch the local governments. We are here for a journey—to improve transparency and accountability and institute policy advocacy,” Paraguya said.

On September 1, 2010, the BTTAG Project will be formally launched at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City. The launching will be keynoted by no less than the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, who is expected to stress on the importance of “stakeholdership” in effecting transparency and accountability in local government finance to deliver the basic services to its constituents.

“The wish of Secretary Robredo, in line with the vision of the President, is transparency and accountability in governance. But this cannot be done by us (in government) alone. This can be done with the involvement of others in the civil society organizations,” stressed Bhagwani.

The launching will also be attended by Dr. Maria Rendon, acting chief of the Office of Economic Development and Governance, USAID Philippines; Dr. Steven Rood, TAF country representative; Andrea Maria Patricia Mangrobang-Sarenas, chairperson of the MinCODE; and Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez.

During the launching, there will be a commitment-setting among CSO officials and representatives and LGU officials.

A conference with CSO officials and representatives will follow the project launching.

For more information: Please contact Mr. Paul Paraguya (0920-952-5106) or Ms. Eileen C. Ipulan (0918-912-0210).