By Ericka N. Blas
The Participatory Governance Cluster (PGC) joined the first day of the Duterte Legacy Summit held last May 30-31, 2022 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. Attended by all cabinet clusters and key stakeholders from various sectors, this two-day event was conducted to highlight the legacy of the Duterte Administration’s policies, programs, and projects accomplished since 2016.
PGC Chair Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año presented the key accomplishments of the Cluster which have contributed in achieving its goal of enhancing citizen participation in governmental processes. He stressed the support and cooperation of various government agencies in giving importance to civic engagement in nation-building citing that it is pivotal to immediately meeting the needs of the Filipinos.
Sec. Año underscored that people’s participation under the Duterte Administration became a fruitful reality because of the various projects and programs implemented by the Cluster members. More Filipinos took part in crafting government policies and decisions as citizen participation is institutionalized in governance and the task of exacting accountability and transparency in government was undertaken to ensure effective and responsive public service. Testament to this are the programs such as Hotline 8888, Dagyaw Town Hall Meetings, Retooled Community Support Program, Freedom of Information Program, and Full Disclosure Policy, among others. The details of the projects and programs of the PGC Roadmap can be viewed in this report.
The program was also attended by Mr. Jun S. Palmares, Barangay Captain from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro who provided a testimony on how the programs of the PGC helped provide developmental projects in his town. In his sharing, Mr. Palmares said that through the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the DILG, 150 street lights were installed along the farm-to-market roads which gave his constituents a sense of security and safety especially during nighttime. He added that the SBDP also helped in building additional three classrooms in Central National High School – Batasan Extension where there were only two classrooms being shared by students.
Sec. Año acknowledged everyone who have helped in strengthening people’s participation in governance and said that he looks forward that the initiatives started by the PGC be sustained in the years to come.
