THE City Government of Tagbilaran reaffirmed its commitment to participatory governance during the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Conference held on August 4, 2025 at JJ’s Seafood Village, Tagbilaran City.
The event brought together local government officials, accredited CSO representatives, and development advocates to discuss inclusive policymaking, citizen participation, and updated guidelines on CSO accreditation and engagement.
City Vice Mayor Hon. Adam Relson Jala delivered the welcome remarks, followed by an inspirational message from Mayor Jane Yap, who was represented by City Administrator Alvin Luis Acuzar.
In her message, Mayor Yap thanked the CSOs for their active engagement and emphasized the importance of broad-based governance in Tagbilaran City, which encourages citizen involvement in decision-making. She also led the call for deeper civil society involvement in governance, highlighting the city’s institutional mechanisms that support citizen participation.
“In Tagbilaran City, we govern within a broad democratic framework that offers numerous opportunities for citizen participation. We have a strong track record of fostering engagement with civil society organizations through the Tagbilaran City People’s Council, a dedicated CSO desk, and an ordinance mandating the inclusion of CSOs with voting rights in the Standing Committees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” Mayor Yap stated in her message.
CSO Desk Officer Kim Anub presented the background and schedule of activities, setting the tone for the conference modules that followed.
The first module on the Relevance of Participatory Governance was discussed by City Administrator Acuzar, who underscored the importance of empowering citizens in shaping local policies. This was followed by SP Secretary Lynneth Mae Ibba, who presented Memorandum Circular No. 2025-060 on the updated guidelines on LGU accreditation for CSOs.
In the afternoon session, Ms. Juliet Olalo, City Local Government Operations Officer, discussed the avenues of participation and the selection of representatives to the Local Special Bodies. Ms. Marietta S. Gasatan, President of the Tagbilaran City People’s Council, also shared insights on the role and accomplishments of the People’s Council.
A deeper look into Democratic Governance was provided by Dr. Rosalinda Paredes, Governance and Development Specialist.
The conference concluded with an Open Forum, followed by closing remarks from Hon. Jose Floro Ringca, Chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Peoples Empowerment and CSO Accreditation.
The CSO Conference served as a vital platform to strengthen the city’s participatory mechanisms, ensuring that the voices of Tagbilaran’s civil society remain integral in local governance, in line with the city’s vision of a people-centered, transparent, and accountable government.
