TAGBILARAN CITY, (PNA) -– Another milestone of public and private alliance is the launching of the first ever Civil Society (CS) week celebration that runs September 23-27 spearheaded by the provincial government led by Gov. Edgar Chatto.
Gov. Chatto always stresses that shared leadership and participatory governance are the bedrocks of his steering the reign of the provincial government.
A number of activities have been lined up for the big event, the first of its kind, based on Provincial Resolution No. 2013-380, “declaring the last week of September of every year as Civil Society Week in the Province of Bohol.”
The Resolution points out, “the Province of Bohol maintains a healthy and significant cooperation, partnership and linkage with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) anchored on the principle of participatory governance and the latter’s indispensable contribution to our province’s local development, especially in helping raise the consciousness of our people to become active and participative partners in local governance.”
The said Resolution signed by Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim states that the promotion of establishment and operation of people’s and non-government organizations, as part of the CSOs is of paramount consideration “to become active partners” in the pursuit of development.
This year’s CSO’s event banners the theme: “Strengthening PGBh-CSO Partnership Towards the BIG LEAP.” BIG LEAP stands for Bohol Inclusive Growth Leads to Equitable and Accelerated Prosperity.”
Ms. Liza M. Quirog, head of the Social Economic Environment Management (SEEM) cluster of the governor’s office leads her staff in coordinating preparations with the CSOs to make the event successful.
The programs and series of activities for the week-long celebration include Day 1, a program with flag ceremony participated in by the national government agencies (NGAs) and officials of the provincial government at Plaza Rizal. Tents for the audience, selling, exhibits and messages of the governor and one from the CSO were delivered. This is followed by renewal of Covenant by signing it with the participating CSOs. Motorcade with streamers of programs of the CSOs to JJs Seafood Vilage restaurant and Forum presentation on the Provincial Development Framework.
Day 2 LGU accreditation discussion in different towns handled by DILGs MLGOOs; Day 3 Project Visits to an NGO Projects in the towns – Process Ecopark, Dauis Jewelry, BCIC, Kalinga Project and Sunshine Homes in Dampas, this city. Day 4 includes project visits to an NGO Projects in the nearby towns of Maribojoc for its Board Walk; in Loon town for Cabilao island Romblon Weavers Network, Cabilao island, Loon, Bohol. And on Day 5 the culmination in Abatan Main Village Center and Election of Committees based on HEAT IT mantra. (HEAT IT stands for health, education, agriculture and tourism and information technology.) Induction of officers-elect of CSOs and distribution of certificates of appreciation will follow.
Aside from the provincial government, expected to pitch in their support and participation include: Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP); Association of Writers and Radio Announcers Foundation, Inc. (AWRAFI); Bohol Alliance of Non Government Organizations (BANGON); Bohol Alliance of Student Councils (BASC); Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Bohol; Bohol Association of Farmers and Fisherfolk; Bohol Association of Women in Government Service (BAWIGS); Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI); Bohol Community Assistance Program/PKKK; Bohol Concerned Citizens Action for Progress (BoCCAP); Bohol Federation of Disabled Persons, Inc.; Bohol Federation of TB Task Force; Bohol Initiators for Sustainable Agriculture and Development (BISAD); Bohol Integrated Development Foundation (BIDEF); Bohol Island Tour Guides Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BITGAP); Bohol Local Development Foundation; Bol-anon United Sectors Working for the Advancement of Community Concern (BUSWACC); Catholic Women’s League (CWL); Community Awareness and Services for Ecological Concern CASEC); and Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC).
Federation of Fish Vendors in Bohol; Federation of Municipal Fishers Association; Feed the Children Philippines, Inc.; First Consolidated Bank Foundation Inc.; Gawad Kalinga; Health and Education Assistance for Loonanons Inc.; Holy Name University (HNU) Center for Local Governance; Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon (Humabol); Integrated Sports Development Organization (ISDO), Inc.; International Care Ministries/International Care Ministry of the Philippines, Inc.; Kabataang Pangarap ni Rizal; Kabatan-Onan Para Sa Kalambuan Sa Nasud (KAPAKANA); Landcare Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.; LIFE Philippines Foundation Bohol, Inc.; Loon Music Society; Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya (Ludabi); Macaas Fishers Association; Padayon Bohol Marine Triangle (BMT) Management Council, Inc.; Participatory, Research, Organization of Communities and Education towards Struggle for Self-Reliance Bohol, Inc. (PROCESS); People’s Fair Trade Assistance Center PFTAC), Inc.; Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP); Philippine Tarsier Foundation; Project Seahorse Foundation (PSF); Social Action Center (SAC); Soil and Water Conservation Foundation (SWCF), Inc.; Taytay Sa Kauswagan, Inc. (TSKI); TB Linc-Visayas; United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)–Bohol; University of Bohol Community Development Foundation ; Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc.; Women’s Development Center; Workers Informal Sector; and World Vision-United Families for Transformational Development, Inc.