The participation of CSOs in government processes is a vehicle of empowering citizens by giving them opportunities to articulate their needs and to take part in the decision-making processes of their respective LGUs towards a responsive governance.

 On May 18, 2021, the DILG issued Memorandum Circularr 2021-054: Amendment on the Establishment of Civil Society Organization Desk and Institutionalization of People's Council in the Local Government Units. Since the issuance of said MC, the Regional Office has been receiving a number of queries on the implementation and submission of necess ary documents/reports.

In line with this, DILG Region 3 initiated a Regional Roll-Out on July 2, 2021 via Zoom Cloud Meetings application to address the concerns of Field Officers and LGU functionaries who are directly involved in the establishment of CSO Desk and Institutionalization of People's Council.

Said activity was participated in by DILG Provincial Directors, Cluster Team Leaders, Program Managers, City/Municipal Local Government Operations Officers, Provincial Focal Persons, LGU/PG CSO Desk Officers, and LGU/PG CSO Desk Focal Persons. It served as an avenue for the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) to formally discuss the content of the circular and to address the queries raised.

Undeniably, CSO participation remains important and relevant in the midst of this global pandemic. They have become active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy and as well as in the planning and implementation of programs and projects in the LGUs.