The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Central Luzon, through the DILG Aurora Provincial Office and its partner Local Resource Institute (LRI), the Wesleyan University of the Philippines – Aurora, spearheaded the CSIS Utilization Conference on Feb. 12, 2024, at the 3rd Floor Multi-Purpose Hall, Municipal Building, Maria Aurora, Aurora.
Said undertaking coincides with implementing the Citizen Satisfaction Index System (CSIS) Program—a performance-based measuring tool of the DILG wherein the Municipality of Maria Aurora is the targeted LGU for 2022 to 2023.
Concerning the recently conducted Focused Group Discussion last Jan. 24, 2024, with the fourteen Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the municipality, the results of the CSIS and the FGD were comprehensively presented to the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Maria Aurora and the Department Heads with the goal that these authorities could commit specific interventions expected to address the gaps suggested by the data results.
It aims to determine the level of appreciation of various stakeholders, the usefulness of the CSIS data, and the promotion of government programs.
DILG Region 3 MED Chief, LGOO VII Lerrie S. Hernandez, EnP, presented the overview of the CSIS, highlighting the program’s core concepts of the program and its implementation in the province.
The core team from the Wesleyan University of the Philippines through Rev. Dr. Hilario C. Gonzales, Jr. CSIS Project Manager, Professor Allan B. Chavez, CSIS, Field Supervisor, and their co-faculty members presented the comprehensive CSIS results.
The CSIS Presentation of Results and Focus Group Discussion served as an avenue to deliver the survey’s results to the CSOs to determine relevant interventions from their organizations and deepen their participation in local governance through the local special bodies, thus promoting participative governance.
Representing DILG R3 Regional Director, Atty. Anthony C. Nuyda, CESO III, PD Ener P. Cambronero, CESE, highlighted the importance of CSIS in participatory governance. “The end goal of DILG is to have LGUs that are genuinely self-reliant – LGUs that are development centered, business-friendly, environmentally protective, safe, peaceful, socially protective as well as transparent, accountable and participative,” he said.
Highlighting the Utilization Conference is the signing of the Pledge of Commitment, signifying the commitment and support of the DILG, Municipality of Maria Aurora, and the CSOs in implementing the Citizen-driven Priority Action Plan (CPAP).
Present in the activity are members of Sangguniang Bayan, Department Heads, academe partners, representatives from locally based NGAs and CSOs, and representatives from DILG Region 3 and DILG Aurora.