CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines – Samar State University (SSU) in partnership with the Samar Provincial People’s Council (SPPC), Samar Provincial LGU, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Samar, spearheaded a three-day training activity called, “Empowering Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Towards Participatory Governance and Communication,” held from October 29 to 31, 2024 at the SSU Convention Center, Catbalogan City, Samar.
The three-day activity was packed with sessions along basic leadership and participatory governance, including: (1) Roles and Legal Basis of CSOs by SPPC President Mr. Gerardo M. Malinao; (2) Basic Concepts & Leadership Styles, and the Parliamentary Procedure by SICGLG Faculty-Researcher Mr. Alfonso Alex C. Labrague Jr.; (3) Resolution Drafting by SPPC Board Member Mr. Romeo Artita; (4) Program Planning by former Samar Provincial Planning & Development Officer Engr. Nicasio U. Bermejo; (5) Principles of Participatory Governance by SSU Social Science faculty member Ms. Mra. Lyme F. Correche; (6) Community Engagement in Participatory Governance by Mr. Alfonso Alex C. Labrague Jr.; (7) Participatory Communication in Participatory Governance by SSU Languages faculty members Mr. Tranie B. Gatil and Ms. Hanna Joyce B. Macawili; and (8) Accreditation Process of CSOs by DILG Focal Officer Mr. John Clifford B. Rado.
“Yana mayda na namon mas halarum nga pag-intindi han amon responsibilidad kumo CSO nga hi kami an watchdog han gobyerno ngan importante nga kaupod kami han pag-desisyon para ha pag-uswag. Salamat SSU!” a CSO member remarked during the participants’ sharing of takeaways.
(We now have a deeper understanding of our responsibility as a civil society organization that we are the watchdog of the government and our inputs matter in the decision-making process towards progress. Thank you, SSU!)
The extension activity, attended by a total of 43 organizations and 45 CSO representatives, is one of the programs under the Samar Island Center for Good and Local Governance (SICGLG) headed by its center director, Dr. Abigail M. Cabaguing. The program aimed to capacitate CSOs with basic leadership skills and a profound understanding of participatory governance for the empowerment of the citizenry.
The event concluded on a high note with a message of thanks from Dr. Abigail M. Cabaguing, who also extended an invitation to the CSOs for future collaborations, including the establishment of a CSO Academy on Samar Island.