To be able to deepen meaningful devolution and empower communities through broader and meaningful citizen participation thru the Barangay Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB), the DILG Zambales conducted the BuB Civil Society Organizations' (CSO) Forum. The thirteen (13) municipalities of Zambales were divided into three (3) clusters.
A total of six hundred thirty four (634) CSOs and 4P's Parent Leaders attended the forum which was carried out on March 16, 2016 at Cabangan Sports Complex; March 21, 2016 at RM TU Gymnasium; and on March 23, 2016 at Castillejos Municipal Rooftop.
DILG Provincial Director Armi Bactad stressed the importance of the activity to facilitate sharing and reflection of CSO partners with regard to BUB and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Also present during the activities are Community Mobilizers Rodelio A. Gaviola and Belen Q. Figueras, CTL Deborah A. Mangayan, PM Cindy C. Cagalitan and DILG field officers.
Positive experiences, various challenges and recommendations were echoed by the attendees in each cluster. Their stories of empowerment shared during the workshop proved that people's participation in local planning until project monitoring is essential for good governance to start at the community level.
For their voices to be heard and to clamor for the two programs to continue the CSOs and 4P's Parent Leaders united in signing a commitment statement that highlights the actions they are willing to undertake.