Tagbilaran City was prominently showcased during the 2024 Local Governance Summit organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Cities for Enhanced Governance and Engagement (CHANGE) Project.
The event, held on August 22-23, 2024, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, gathered local government officials, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss innovative strategies for enhancing local governance.
Representing Mayor Jane Yap, Vice Mayor Adam Relson Jala highlighted Tagbilaran City’s achievements and its commitment to promoting inclusive governance.
During a session on Transparency, Accountability, and People’s Participation, Vice Mayor Jala delivered a talk titled “Pushing Local Policy on Inclusion: The Case of Tagbilaran City.” He emphasized the city’s efforts to ensure that citizen participation is integral to the local policy-making process.
Tagbilaran City has demonstrated its dedication to fostering engagement and collaboration with civil society organizations through the Tagbilaran City People’s Council and the establishment of a dedicated Civil Society Organization (CSO) desk. The city’s ordinance mandating the inclusion of two CSOs with voting rights in 19 of the Standing Committees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod further highlights this commitment. “This ensures meaningful participation of citizen groups in local governance affairs,” Vice Mayor Jala stated.
The summit was also attended by key representatives from Tagbilaran City, including City Administrator Cathelyn Torremocha, Ms. Marietta Gasatan, President of the Tagbilaran City People’s Council; Dr. Rosalinda Paredes, City Governance Coordinator of the USAID CHANGE Project; Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Ms. Lynneth Mae Ibba, CSO Desk Officer Mr. Alvin Luis Acuzar, among others. These officials not only supported the city’s presentation but also engaged with other summit participants to share Tagbilaran’s best practices.
The 2024 Local Governance Summit provided an excellent platform for Tagbilaran City to showcase its achievements and innovative practices to stakeholders at the national level, solidifying its reputation as a model for inclusive and participatory governance.
The summit, which brought together over 2,500 local government officials, industry leaders, and community stakeholders, also marked the launch of the Philippine Smart LGUs Network. This initiative is part of the summit’s broader goal to enhance local governance through innovative and resilient strategies.
Tagbilaran City’s active participation in this summit underscores its commitment to advancing local governance and strengthening its role as a leader in inclusive governance in the Philippines.