Training in participatory governance and women’s empowerment in Pili

Empowerment and citizen participation drive local development in the Philippines.

Together with Central Bicol State Agricultural University (CBSUA), we led the Training Day on Participatory Governance and Empowerment of Women in Pili , Philippines.

This initiative, aimed at the cooperatives of the 25 barangays of the project, carried out on November 19, seeks to strengthen the social and economic empowerment and climate resilience of vulnerable women, marking a milestone in their path towards active and decisive participation in the community.

 

Thanks to the crucial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), this collaborative effort brought together 260 women from 10 cooperatives in Pili. Ms. Joyce B. Armea, Local Coordinator of the AECID Project, emphasized the importance of this training for achieving the project’s objectives, while Dr. Allan B. Del Rosario, Campus Coordinator, and Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, President of SUC-CBSUA, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting the beneficiary communities.

During the training, Attorney Hazel O. Deocareza, from DILG-Pili, explained the legal framework for effective citizen participation, emphasizing the crucial role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the planning and monitoring of local programs.

For his part, Mr. Glenn Redecilla, Director of Gender and Development at CBSUA, addressed the legal framework that promotes women’s participation in governance and climate action, leaving an inspiring message: “We are the first generation capable of ending poverty and the last that can prevent the worst impacts of climate change.”

In addition, Ms. Marie Chris G. Valencia presented strategies for sustainable livelihoods, highlighting how participation in cooperative councils strengthens democratic control and access to resources.

Ms. Lorrybel I. Nachor shared the experience of the Naga City People’s Council, highlighting:

• Its history and sectoral composition.
• The ordinances that institutionalized citizen participation.
• The role of CSOs in local governance.

The training has enabled participants to understand the role and legal basis of CSOs in local governance, introducing them to the principles of good governance and motivating them to take an active role in building ethical and ethical communities.

We look to the future with the conviction that these women, now more empowered and trained, will be the architects of sustainable and participatory development in Pili, inspiring their communities to build a fairer and more resilient tomorrow.

#WomenEmpowerment #ParticipatoryGovernance