Duterte government to push for participatory governance office

EVASCO (Photo by Winley Sanchez Dela Fuente)

Cebuano supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte filled up the Cebu Coliseum as an expression of support to the movement within the Duterte administration to involve the citizenry in policy making.

This developed as the Duterte government prepares to open a new office to “institutionalize” participatory governance in the country.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. yesterday said details on the Office of Participative Governance (OPG) were still being finalized, but this would be the first of its kind in the country.

“Nothing is official yet, but we are working on it,” he said in a press conference at the Kilusang Pagbabago (KP) Cebu office in Cebu City on Saturday.

The KP, a nationwide initiative in response to President Duterte’s call for participatory governance by consolidating all his forces into an organized mass movement, inaugurated its Cebu-Visayas office prior to the press conference.

Evasco said KP will be the Duterte administration’s vehicle to effect real change and ensure that the benefits of government programs trickle down to the grassroots.

The OPG will be created through an executive order by the President and will have the KP as its umbrella organization, he added.

As a partner of the government, the KP will serve as a watchdog against crimes, educator of Duterte’s platform of change and defender of the republic during crisis.

At least 8,000 Duterte supporters from Cebu took oath as KP members at the Cebu Coliseum at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) chairperson Lisa Maza also attended the event.

KP was earlier launched in some areas in Bohol, Negros Island and Siquijor, but Cebu supporters were the first to organize a province-wide movement.

Evasco, in his keynote speech during the ceremony, urged supporters to actively take part in governance.

“Having President Duterte sit as president doesn’t guarantee change in government. It will only change if all of us actively participate in governance,” he said.

Participatory budgeting will be among the thrusts of the KP. The OPG will earmark a fund to be called “Biyaya ng Pagbabago (Blessings of Change),” which KP barangay chapters can directly access without passing through the usual government bureaucratic channels.

“People should be active in charting the lives of those in the barangay,” said Evasco.

In earlier reports, Evasco said that once the OPG is created, he will hold consultations with KP leaders to determine mechanics for the Biyaya ng Pagbabago, including allowable projects that can be funded and safeguards for its implementation.

He said the KP is a reflection of the people’s support for Duterte.