Koronadal City, South Cotabato — South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. has called for intensified efforts to capacitate civil society organizations (CSOs) in the province and emphasized their vital role in promoting participatory governance and inclusive development.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the 2nd Implementation of its CSO Academy Program, Governor Tamayo underscored the importance of empowering CSOs to create a more transparent, accountable, and responsive local government.
“We cannot achieve genuine development in South Cotabato without the meaningful involvement of our people,” Tamayo said. “You [Civil society organizations] are our partners in identifying community needs, shaping policies, and ensuring that public programs are effectively implemented.”
With South Cotabato’s commitment to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Tamayo encouraged other local government units, national agencies, and development partners to collaborate in providing training, resources, and platforms for civil society organisations (CSOs) to be more actively engaged in planning and decision-making processes.
Under his administration, South Cotabato has made strides in promoting participatory governance through the development of the South Cotabato Integrity Circle and the South Cotabato People’s Council.
With the implementation of the 2nd Batch of the CSO Academy program in the province, Governor Tamayo heeds the institutionalizing of the program for the future of CSOs in the Province.
Representatives from various civil society organizations lauded the governor’s call, expressing hope that more inclusive ordinances and platforms will be created for citizen-led initiatives, especially in remote and underserved communities.
Governor Tamayo concluded his remarks with a commitment to further strengthen the ‘Tama at Maayos na Serbisyo” brand of public service by allocating more resources and support for strengthening civil society engagement across all levels of governance in South Cotabato.
