Gov't, NGOs, basic sectors, develop "grassroots budgeting"

CEBU, Philippines - Some 46 representatives of civil society organizations, government, non-government organizations, and basic sectors have formulated a Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP) for 2015 in a two-day workshop dubbed as "grassroots budgeting."

A P46.2 million budget which includes P13.2 million counterpart from the city government is already available.

The activity is a deviation from a tradition wherein top ranking government officials allot a budget for poverty alleviation and formulate the plan themselves and implement it at the grassroots level.

But this time, it is in the other way around, the government appropriates a budget and the beneficiaries, CSOs and other stakeholders formulate the plan and implement it themselves.

Mayor Jonas Cortes and representatives of the participants signed the plan during the culmination program yesterday.

The plan consists of 15 priority projects aimed in addressing the poverty level of various sectors.

"I am happy to be part of this change  and I hope this will be instutionalized," said Emedio Bustillo, representative of CSOs.

"This is the right direction under the Cortes administration," said Anita Ebasitas of the basic sector organization, the "Sulong Mandauehanong Kabus SUMAKA)."

"Participatory democracy is my practice," said Mayor Jonas Cortes during his short message.

The plan consists of 15 projects or initiatives aimed in addressing the needs of the beneficiaries.

Jhoaden Lucero, city director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a member of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team and facilitator of the activity said the city is privileged to have received such funding after winning the "Seal of Good Housekeeping", a search conducted by DILG-national.  (FREEMAN)