Citizen’s active participation in nation building sought

OFFICIALS reiterated the government’s call for the active participation of all sectors of society in ensuring good governance, accountability and transparency programs and policies in bringing inclusive growth and progress to the country and to the people.

In the Cordillera – leg of the “Dagyaw” Open Government and Participatory Governance Regional town hall meeting at the University of Baguio, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Janet Abuel stressed the importance of every Filipino to work together in ensuring good quality of life for everyone and in bringing progress to the country.

“We come from different social, political and ethnic groups. We are of different gender, age groups and religions but we are all Filipinos, Bayan Muna Bago Sarili,” Abuel stressed. “Dagyaw reminds us of our share as citizens in achieving the common vision of good quality of life, to actively work together in nation building, and to exercise our right and role as responsible Filipinos, whether as public servant or private citizen, to come together as one nation and one society.”

Assistant Secretary Roosque Calacat Department of the Interior and Local Government said the presence stakeholders in the town hall meeting is a testament of their openness and willingness to take part in shaping a government that is open, participatory, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of the people.

“Nais naming manawagan sa inyong lahat na sama-sama tayo, gampanan natin ang ating tungkulin sa pagbibigay ng maganda at maayos na buhay sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Let us fill our shortcomings in our institutions and improve our services to the Filipino people. May we all embody the spirit of Dagyaw, the spirit of bayanihan, the spirit of conversation and may this platform inspire us to become partners for change,” Calacat stressed.

Abuel and Calacat, along with Department of Tourism ASEC Roberto Alabado III and Presidential Communications Operations Office ASEC Marie Rafael led other

Cordillera regional executives from DILG, Department of Public Works and Highways, Dept, of Environment and Natural Resources in giving updates on good governance efforts of the national government in the region particularly on environment and disaster mitigation, tourism and the Build Build Build as well as in answering local issues and concerns raised during the forum.

Dagyaw, which is derived from a Hiligaynon term which means “bayanihan”, is an initiative of the Participatory Governance Cluster of the executive department that generally aims to communicate the good governance reform being initiated by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. It is a platform for regional stakeholders to clarify and raise local concern that needs direct interfacing from the national government, and at the same time, to provide citizens’ access to a one – stop – shop for frontline government service and national programs with regional significance.

The Dagyaw Open Government and Participatory Governance Regional Town Hall meeting which engages officials and representatives from various sectors of society, is scheduled in all the 16 regions of the country this 2019 and the Cordillera (Baguio leg) was the 14th stop.

In partnership with the different local government units in the country, the Participatory Governance Cluster will next bring the “Dagyaw” townhall meeting to the city, municipal and even at the barangay levels.