CSOs expected to present PNoy with ‘battleplans’ for change

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 22, 2011—Different civil society organizations (CSOs) in Northern Mindanao are expected to present today (Wednesday, March 23) to President Simeon Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III a “battleplan” that they believed will carry forward his campaign promises of “change” for the betterment of the ordinary Filipino.
                A leader of a non-government organization (NGO) in Cagayan de Oro City said that during today’s Regional Consultation Forum with Civil Society Organizations in Region 10, different CSOs will give the President “a piece of their collective mind as well as their disappointment with some of his administration’s policies and programs.”
                Some of this so-called “piece of their collective mind” that the CSOs will present to Aquino are about transparency, honesty, consultative and participative government, equal and strict implementation of anti-corruption 
laws in all levels of government, social auditing, implementation of covenants signed with various groups during the campaign period, equitable distribution of goods and services, federalism, creation of an accountability commission, and 
regular publication of government programs and performance output of all government agencies.
                During today’s consultation at the Pilgrim Christian College Gymnasium, the CSOs will present at least eight (8) issues of consensus by the CSO coalition.
                In return, the CSOs want the President to commit to at least three (3) of these issues.
                The NGO leader toldthis reporteron condition of anonymity that some of these recommendations have already been put forward during last May’s consultation with CSOs in the city conducted by the People Power Volunteer 
Center (PPVC) at the Xavier University Center for Industrial Technology (XU-CIT).
                During that consultation, PPVC volunteer Geo Ann Hernandez explained that the consultation to get the suggestions, comments and issues the people want Aquino to implement during his first 100 days in Malacañang.
                “Hindi sa kanyang pagkahalal nagtatapos ang laban kundi dito pa lang nagsisimula (The battle did not end with his election; it has only started),” Hernandez said last May.
                She said that the result of all the People’s Consultation will be integrated into all the programs that are specifically designed to achieve the people’s aspirations and dreams for change.
                “Sa konsultasyong ito malalaman kung ano ang dapat itugon ng administrasyon sa ating mga problema (From this consultation we will know what the administration should do in answer to our problems). These will be used as 
inputs into the possible programs na maaring makatulong sa pinapangarap nating pagbabago,” she said.
                But according to the NGO leader, who is also affiliated with the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (ACDO), that most of the recommendations forwarded by the CSOs during the consultations “were ignored and were not even given an honorable mention in his programs and policies.”
                “It is very disappointing that CSOs all over the country helped catapult Noynoy to the presidency only to be left behind in crafting the programs and policies of his administration because most of the programs and recommendations we crafted during the different consultations were not integrated into the Aquino government policies, contrary to what was promised us,” he said.
                The NGO leader, however, said that despite the disappointment, CSOs still believe and trust the President and that he has the capacity to really implement “change” in the country.
                “He only has to show leadership. He really needs to show he is the leader. But this does not mean that he will not listen to the people’s voices, our voices. As what he stressed during his inaugural speech, the Filipinos are his bosses,” he said.
                He said that the Aquino administration is in a very critical juncture in Philippine history and the President needs all the support he can get from the people who voted for him.
                “The battle is not yet over and we will be with him every step of the way towards the change we want this new government to pursue,” he said.
                He also said that today’s consultation only shows that the Aquino administration is putting a premium on the people’s inputs because the President really like to fulfill his social contract with the Filipinos. 
                “This also shows that Aquino is grounded, meaning that he knows his success or failure as President all depends on the active participation of the people or the lack of it,” he added. (Bong D. Fabe)

Maranao CSO leader says AFP corruption emanates from Malacanang; IFI throws support behind Mendoza, Rabusa

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 11, 2011—The Iglesia Filipia Independiente (IFI) or Philippine Independent Church (PIC) yesterday threw its support to former state auditor Heidi Mendoza and retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa for courageously exposing the massive corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
                This, as a prominent Maranao leader of a Marawi City-based Civil Society Organization (CSO) said that Mendoza’s and Rabusa’s exposes are just the tip of the iceberg that may have originated in Malacanang during the previous Arroyo administration.
                “We applaud Ms. Heidi Mendoza and retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa for demonstrating a courageous spirit in exposing to the world the massive corruption within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).  Their expose accentuates public criticism about the use of military aid, expensive military modernization programs, and well-oiled counterinsurgency campaigns principally as milking cows for AFP senior officials, at the expense of rank-and-file soldiers, the sons and daughters of the Filipino peasants and workers,” said IFI supreme bishop Most Reverend Godofredo J. David, D.D. in a statement entitled “Let us Courageously Stand for the Good of the Nation.”
                David said that the exposes “highlights the systemic corruption not only within the military but also the civilian bureaucracy in the government.”
                The expose exploded during a Senate hearing investigating the case of former AFP comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia. It so stirred the corridors of power that one of those implicated in the corruption, former AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes committed suicide Tuesday.
                Reyes’s death, David said, “should not interrupt the ongoing investigations and make those who are responsible answer for their crimes.”
                “The unfortunate death of General Angelo Reyes amidst the ongoing investigation should compel President Benigno Aquino III to order the authorities to step up the investigation. His death, however regretful, 
demonstrates that Mendoza and Rabusa tipped upon a Pandora’s Box, one which the AFP does not want to be opened and more so for the people to know,” he said.
                David also urged the President to give Mendoza and Rabusa all the protection and support they needed so they can continue to testify without fear for their lives.
                “He [President Aquino] must seriously pursue the investigations and ensure that those accountable for corruption in the AFP are placed behind bars,” he said, adding that “our children are worthy of a country where justice, peace and abundance are not merely part of political orations, rather, a social reality that serve as strong pillars of a sovereign nation.”
                “The investigations in the Houses of Congress and Senate must be pursued in the interest of truth and justice,” he added.
                Hadji Abdullah “Lax” Dalidig, chairman of the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Government (IMERGG), also challenged Aquino to pursue the “AFP corruption” investigations to its just conclusion.
                Dalidig said the AFP corruption exposes are just the tip of the iceberg in a whole corruption scheme that emanated from the halls of Malacanang.
                “Si[former President and now Pampanga district representative] Gloria [Macapagal-Arroyo]mismo ang nakinabang sa lahat ng corruption at the expense of the Mindanaoans who are suffering from the decades-old conflict,” he said.
                Dalidig also urged Aquino to pursue the “AFP corruption” investigation to its just conclusion for the sake of Mindanawons, who are continually suffering because of the decades-old conflict between the AFP and 
the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
                He reminded Aquino that the face of the AFP corruption is the conflict in Mindanao, hinting at the Oplan Greenbase, which the previous Arroyo administration had dismissed as fake.
                Oplan Greenbase, first exposed by former renegade soldier-turned-Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, is allegedly Arroyo’s secret order to the military to attack the Buliok Complex, the headquarters of the MILF, 
situated at the sprawling Liguasan Marsh in the provinces of Maguindanao and Cotabato, so it can be opened for commercial development purposes, specifically the planting of palm trees for the extraction of palm oil. (Bong D. Fabe)

‘Garcia case’ auditor urges CSOs to monitor gov’t finances

RESPONSIBLE. Former state auditor Heidi Mendoza, one of the key witness to the Garcia case, talks before representatives of various civil-society organizations (CSOs) all over Mindanao on the importance of monitoring the budget process of local government units (LGUs). (Photos by BONG D. FABE)

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 25, 2011—“Huwag ho nating hayaan na maghari ang kasamaan! (Let us not allow evil to reign!)”

With this message, former state auditor Heidi Mendoza who testified against ex-military comptroller Carlos Garcia urged citizenry to be vigilant in monitoring the government's budget process.

Mendoza, who talked with representatives of various civil-society organizations (CSOs) during the “Learning Session on Budget Process, Policy Advocacy and Budget Execution and Accountability” of the Budget Tracking for Transparent Accountable Governance (BTTAG) Project at the International Center of Peace (IC Peace) In Mindanao here said that each and every citizen has a responsibility to his/her fellow, especially in arresting corruption in government.

This responsibility, she stressed, extends outside the home and not just for government or former government officials or employees.

“I believed that the biggest responsibility is our responsibility towards our fellowmen,” she said.

“We are all called to serve our country, one way or another. And this is not just for people in government,” she added.

This is the reason why after resigning from the Commission on Audit (COA) in 2006 and testifying before the Sandiganbayan from 2007 to 2009 in the Garcia case, Mendoza once again came out and divulged what she knew based on evidences she gathered during her investigative work.

Mendoza also worked at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as anti-corruption specialist, but she resigned from her job on January 21.

“We are all here for a mission, for a purpose. We only have one country and so we must do our best to deliver what is expected of us,” she told the representatives of CSOs who are partnering with The Asia Foundation (TAF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) in implementing the BTTAG Project in 3 provinces and 17 municipalities/cities all over Mindanao.

Mendoza said that BTTAG is very important and a very noble project as it equip simple citizens the basic skills and knowledge in planning and most especially monitoring the budget of local government units (LGUs).

But she cautioned CSOs against falling on the trap of looking at just the government spending.

“There are two sides of accountability when we talk of public budget: We must not just look on the expenses but also on the revenue,” she said.

She also said that the citizenry should grab the opportunity afforded to them by the Aquino administration in monitoring government finance.

But more than grabbing the opportunity, the citizenry should also exert its influence on government finance, she added.

“Part of budget monitoring is the citizen exerting the influence,” she said.

She said she is happy that the Aquino administration is treading the road less traveled when it put a CSO desk in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“This administration is very open as there is a CSO desk in the DBM,” she said.

Responding to Mendoza’s urgings, the more than 20 CSO representatives who attended the 3-day “Learning Session” at the IC Peace In Mindanao of the BMFI drew up detailed activities on how to go about journeying with their respective LGUs in tracking, evaluating and monitoring LGU finance. (Bong D. Fabe)

Mindanao CSOs recommend policies for greater transparency in LGU finance

IMPORTANT PARTNER. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, CDO), stresses the importance of CSOs' active participation in governance, especially in the budget process. CSOs, according to Rodriguez, are important partner of local government units. Others in photo are (right to left) Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio Zubiri, BMFI Executive Director/BTTAG Project Officer Paul Richard Paraguya and Ms. Quennie Rojo, a staff of Sen. TG Guingona. (Photo by BONG D. FABE)

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 23, 2011—Representatives of various civil-society organizations all over Mindanao are pushing for the immediate amendment of the Local Government Code of 1991 to allow greater CSO participation to enhance local government budgeting.

During the Budget Tracking for Transparent Accountable Governance (BTTAG) Policy Dialogue Friday, the CSOs presented a policy paper to Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III and DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero.

The policy paper contains seven recommendations the CSOs strongly believed will allow for greater transparency and accountability in local government finance.

Foremost of these recommendations was the immediate amendment of the 1991 LGC by putting provisions such as “allowing accredited civil society organizations, private organizations, and business institutions to fully participate and be part of the budget process of LGUs; and allowing CSOs be part of the Local Finance Committee which is mandated by law to recommend to the LCE the level of the annual expenditures and ceiling of spending economic, social and general services based on the comprehensive development plan.”

“The Local Government Code of 1991 recognizes the accredited CSOs as legitimate members of the local special bodies. One of this is the Local Development Council. CSO representatives can deliberate the plans, budgets, and concerns of the local government. It can participate in prioritizing programs and projects that respond to the needs of the people. However the Code is silent in terms of complete CSO participation in the local budget process,” the CSO representatives stressed in their policy paper.

The local budgeting process has three phases: First, Budget Formulation, which starts with the Budget Call of the Local Chief Executive, authorization, and ends with the Budget Reviewed by the appropriate higher office; Second, Budget Execution, which starts with the Budget Request from the requesting office and ends in the Liquidation of the expense; and Third, Budget Accounting, which covers the regular financial accounting and analysis of all the disbursement and expenditures of the LGU in one fiscal year.

But in actual practice, many LGUs shortcut the process, thus the need for regular local assessment, which some LGUs are incapable of doing due to political patronage, political accommodation and other corrupt practices that have become so ingrained that it developed into the norm rather than the exception.

Municipality of Damulog Mayor Romeo Tiongco, who comes from the ranks of civil society organizations, said he is very frustrated that there is very little CSO participation in his town.

“I am very frustrated for lack of CSO participation in my municipality. Where are the engaged, involved citizenry?” he asked.

Tiongco said that since his assumption as local chief executive of Damulog 4 years ago, he has been looking for CSOs in the local government special bodies but until now, no CSOs have come forward to claim their seat in these special bodies. Tiongco is now on his second term as mayor of Damulog, Bukidnon.

He said the lack of strong CSO participation in LGUs opens the door wide for vested interests to prosper.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District) agreed with Tiongco, saying that CSOs participation in local governance will open wide the door to transparency and good governance.

“Transparency means the protection of the people’s money in LGUs,” he said.

Rodriguez, who is partnering with CSOs and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (ACDO) in his many pet projects, not only for the benefit of his district but for all Kagay-anons, praised the active participation of CSOs in the city.

He cited as example the planned multi-billion bioethanol plant that was successfully defeated because of strong and active participation of the CSOs and ACDO, which rose to the challenge and rallied the Kagay-anons against its establishment because of its wrong location—the bank of the Class-A Cagayan de Oro River.

“This (BTTAG) project should be expanded to other cities and provinces, including the barangays because it is the barangay where the power of government emanates from because every Filipino lives in a barangay,” he stressed.

He said that while there are many LGUs that lack the active participation of CSOs, he hoped that the BTTAG Project will change this.

The Asia Foundation (TAF), United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) are positive that this will really change and revolutionize the local budget process.

BMFI Executive Director Paul Richard Paraguya said it is now high time for more people’s participation in local governance, most especially in the very engine of every LGU—the local budgeting process.

“Citizens have to be part of government because if not the life of government or governance will eventually die,” he said.

Paraguya, who is also BTTAG Project officer, said that CSO participation in the local budgeting process is very much worthwhile.

“This is very worthwhile because this will increase the people’s participation as well as increase the star of the local chief executives because the resources of the people are being used for their benefits,” he said.

“This can only be done if a third party will join the budget process,” he added.

Dr. Steven Rood, country director of TAF, said that this project has put budgeting in the Philippines on the right track.

“There are different levels of partnership of CSOs with LGUs; different levels of openness of LGUs to partnering with CSOs. But TAF is and always will be with you in this endeavor. Let’s all work together in pursuit of a transparent government,” he urged the CSOs.

Sen. Guingona, on the other hand, encouraged CSOs to continue the project.

“Continue this transparency in the budget process project. This is very important. It is very important that people understand and know where their money are going,” he said.

Guingona, who started the ball rolling for a transparent budget process in the national government said: “If there are people who misuse the people’s money, there should be people who should answer to the [public].”

The other policy recommendation presented were: (2) DBM, NEDA, and COA to issue memorandum circular or directives to all their respective field offices to assist private and civil society partners in their task of journeying with the LGUs to enhance transparency and accountability; Include in the seminars the topics Peace and Development to ensure capacity of local officials and CSOs in conflict management; (3) Amend the LGC and change the formula of the Internal Revenue Allocation from 45 percent for LGUs to 60 percent to LGUs. Consequently change the process of remittance. Retain 60 percent of funds by LGUs and only the 40 percent be remitted to the National Treasury; (4) Inclusion of the accountability of the CSO/PS to the community. They be made to regularly report to the community their assessment of the LGU financial system and status; (5) DBM, COA, NEDA, DSWD, and other NGAs together with CSOs/PS to establish an effective monitoring and accountability mechanism in the firm implementation of the Joint Memo Circular No. 1 Series of 2007: Harmonization Local Planning, Investment Programming, Revenue Administration, Budgeting and Expenditure Management. Include awards and sanctions; (6) NEDA to enhance the capacity of Local Planning and Development Officers in handling local peace and development planning and budgeting to ensure participation and quality of output; and (7) Change Election Schedules to time the Oath Taking of newly elected officials at the start of the government fiscal year. This will shield voters from unnecessary demand of money during election. This will also give ample time for newly elected officials to assess the situation and effectively work right at the start of his/her term. (Bong D. Fabe)