KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Provincial Development Council (PDC) of South Cotabato reinforced the province’s commitment to transparent governance, participatory development, and effective project implementation after approving key resolutions during its 2nd Quarter Meeting held recently at Habi Hotel in the City of Koronadal.
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the endorsement of a resolution enjoining the creation, activation, and operationalization of Barangay Evaluation Committees (BECs) and integrating their functions into the monitoring and evaluation activities of the Provincial Project Monitoring Committee (PPMC).
Carlito Uy, Provincial Project Monitoring Committee Chairperson, said the initiative is expected to strengthen grassroots participation in monitoring government-funded projects by empowering barangays to take an active role in evaluating project implementation, ensuring transparency, accountability, and timely delivery of public services.
“By institutionalizing community-based monitoring, the province aims to improve the quality and sustainability of infrastructure and development projects while promoting greater citizen involvement in governance,” Uy explained.
Jeniffer Guadalupe, Project Development Officer IV, emphasized that under the province’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Commitment, project monitoring mechanisms have been systematically strengthened to guarantee strict accountability and high-quality execution of local infrastructure.
“The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office funded a specialized capability training program for identified municipal local governments in South Cotabato under the Regional Institutional Development Support (RIDS) PROGRAM Year 3 Implementation for the Barangay Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (BPMEC),” Guadalupe explained.
Guadalupe specifically emphasized that these eight South Cotabato municipalities are part of the elite 32 LGUs across four provinces selected region-wide under the comprehensive RIDS Program.
Furthermore, she made mention that these specific municipalities will officially serve as the pioneer pilot LGUs of South Cotabato in the localized implementation of the Open Government Partnership, setting the benchmark for transparency, citizen participation, and grassroots monitoring across the province.
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. emphasized that the Council’s resolutions reflect the provincial government’s commitment to inclusive and responsive governance.
“Our development agenda succeeds when every sector of society takes part in it. By strengthening project monitoring at the barangay level and investing in our youth, we are ensuring that government programs become more transparent, responsive, and beneficial to every South Cotabateño. These initiatives will help us build stronger communities and sustain the progress we have achieved together,” Governor Tamayo said.
Chaired by Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., the meeting gathered members of the Provincial Development Council, local government officials, national government agencies, civil society organizations, and sectoral representatives to review the province’s development agenda and chart priorities for the coming years.
The Council likewise discussed the proposed 2027 Annual Investment Program (AIP), which outlines priority programs, projects, and activities aligned with the province’s long-term development goals. The AIP serves as the blueprint for future investments that will support economic growth, infrastructure development, social services, environmental protection, and good governance across South Cotabato.
Another significant agenda was the presentation of the South Cotabato Local Youth Development Plan, which seeks to strengthen youth participation in governance and expand opportunities for leadership, education, employment, and community engagement. The plan reinforces the provincial government’s commitment to empowering young South Cotabateños as active partners in sustainable development.
Various sectoral committees also presented updates on the status of development programs and initiatives under their respective sectors, providing the Council with a comprehensive assessment of the province’s progress and identifying areas requiring further intervention and support.
The Provincial Development Council continues to serve as the province’s highest planning and policy-making body for socio-economic development, ensuring that programs and investments remain responsive to the needs of communities while advancing South Cotabato’s vision of inclusive and sustainable growth.
