by Aileen Refuerzo

Non-government and people’s organizations here will soon have the opportunity to participate in annual city budget deliberations when the city council approves a proposed ordinance for said purpose.

The proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Edison Bilog seeks to institutionalize the active participation of bonafide NGOs and POs in crafting the city’s financial plan based on the mechanisms also set in the proposed ordinance.

This he said is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability of the city’s budgetary process.
“The budget (approval) is a long process and the showground where an individual or group of individuals can make use of the power of their citizenship to openly influence the societal, economic, and financial aspect of the community,” Bilog said.

“Given the fact that there are endless allegations of corruption, fraud, and mismanagement of our financial grade, people are now asking about the transparency and accountability of the budgetary process.”
He said NGOs and POs should have a hands-on participation in the budget process to have a remarkable impact in the prioritization of the city ‘s funds.

“All NGOs and POs should fully participate in the city budget deliberations as well as monitor the city budget allocation to ensure that the budget process is responsive to the needs of the majority,” he said.

In the proposed ordinance, Bilog sought to declare it as the policy of the local government of Baguio City “to promote and revere the rights of NGOs and POs to become effective and valuable partners in all aspects of social, political and economic decision-making in order for them to pursue and protect their legitimate interests and aspirations as a group.”

Under the measure, all accredited POs and NGOs may be allowed to take part and play a significant role in the deliberation of the local annual budget as well as the budget monitoring provided that they undergo mandatory accreditation process.

The local government of Baguio shall allow the active participation of accredited POs and NGOs in the annual city budget by inviting their duly authorized representatives as resource persons subject to the limitations provided by law, their respective ordinances, rules and regulations.

The accreditation process will follow the system provided under the Dept. of Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2007-81 dated 17 July 2007 where interested NGOs and Pos can file their applications before the city council.

The measure also provided the qualifications and responsibilities of the accredited NGOs and POs along with the privileges and incentives to wit: Participate, through their duly authorized representatives, in any public meetings, hearings, consultations, conference, dialogues, interviews, debates or deliberations in relation to the city’s annual budget; present alternative and proposed position paper with regards to the sector they represent; access to the copies of ordinance, budget proposals and other pertinent documents filed free of charge; and present written proposals on projects and activities to be considered under the budget. *(PIO Baguio City/AR-PIA CAR)