KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – To strengthen participatory governance and ensure citizen voices are heard, the Office of the Provincial Cooperatives Development Officer (OPCDO) of South Cotabato, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) South Cotabato and DILG Regional Office XII, conducted the Rollout of the Capacity Development Program for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Local Special Bodies (LSBs) on August 11, 2026 at Sinamay Hall, Habi Hotel, City of Koronadal.
The capacity-building initiative focuses on equipping community leaders with practical skills and competencies in local planning, policy formulation, program implementation, and project monitoring, transforming passive membership into active and influential participation.
In his message of support, Hayd-Ali S. Suwaib, Provincial Director of DILG South Cotabato, emphasized that membership in the Local Special Bodies (LSBs) requires adequate knowledge and awareness of local development planning processes to enable CSO representatives to meaningfully participate and contribute to local governance.
“Kapag pinag-uusapan natin ang pakikilahok ng civil society, hindi sapat na may kinatawan lamang sa mesa, ang tunay na partisipasyon ay naroon kapag ang CSO ay may kaalaman”. Suwaib stated.
During the session, Ana Louwel V. Cabrido, DMO III and SLGP Regional Coordinator of DILG XII, one of the resource speakers, highlighted that membership in Local Special Bodies alone does not guarantee good governance. Meaningful impact depends on active citizen participation and engagement.
“Ang isang Local Special Bodies ay nagiging epektibo hindi lamang dahil ito ay umiiral sa batas, Kundi dahil aktibo at makabuluhan and participasyon ng bawat miyembro nito”. Cabrido highlighted.
For the accredited CSOs of the Province who attended the capacity-building program, the event served as an important step toward strengthening their participation and advancing community development.
Irelle Jane T. Yusay, representative of Mahintana Foundation Inc., shared that the program provided her with a deeper understanding and practical insights to effectively lead and represent her sector.
“As a new employee of the organization, it really empowers me, builds up my knowledge in a way na makakatulong kung paano ako magiging effective community organizer.” Yusay shared.
The day-long capacity building program successfully brought selected CSO representatives in the Local Development Council (LDC), including its sectoral and functional committees, the Local Health Board (LHB), Local School Board (LScB) and the Local Peace and Order Council (LPOC) marking another step forward for participatory governance in the province.
