KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The Batch 3 CSO Scholars, Batch Sinag, have successfully completed the five-day South Cotabato CSO Academy: Introduction to Local Governance held recently at Cinco Niñas, City of Koronadal, aimed at strengthening their knowledge and participation in local governance.
The training was conducted under the leadership of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region XII (DILG XII) and the Office of the Provincial Cooperative Development Officer (OPCDO).
According to newly elected Batch Sinag President Christopher M. Peñales, one of the most important lessons they gained was understanding their role in the local governance process.
“Na-learn namin dito is where we place ourselves in the process. Hindi lang faultfinder ang magiging labas namin kasi gano’n ang notion,” Peñales said.
Peñales said that beyond technical evaluation and compliance checks, the provincial government continues to actively embed grassroots perspectives into its public infrastructure and policy frameworks.
By bringing non-government actors directly to project sites and planning tables, local authorities aim to transform community oversight from a mere procedural requirement into a driving force for transparent governance.
“We look forward na mas magkaroon ng meaningful participation talaga ang Civil Society Organizations,” Peñales added.
During the five-day program, the CSO Scholars participated in learning sessions on key areas of local governance, including development planning, budgeting, policymaking, parliamentary procedures, and monitoring and evaluation.
The activity forms part of continuing efforts to strengthen CSO participation and promote more inclusive and participatory governance in South Cotabato.
