June 22, 2011

Dear Sir:

When we establish our home for our family to live in for generations, primary considerations are safety – free from health and physical dangers – peace and possibly a beautiful view. We financially save up for years, forego immediate wants and make do with most things, in order to afford the best possible home we can find. When this prized home is threatened by the summary action of a political figure, we have to take action to protect the future of our children and our children’s children.

Some decades ago, the Cebu Province donated to the then Municipality of Cebu several parcels of land, including a five-hectare property covering a hill in front of and parallel to what are now to residential subdivisions – the Beverly Glen and Beverly Hills Subdivision. The Municipality of Cebu then dedicated this area as part of a park called the “Osmena Shrine” – in honor of the revered Cebuano President Sergio Osmena Sr.

Last year, a grandson of Don Sergio, then Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena, persuaded the Cebu City Council to approve a resolution donating this portion of the Osmena Shrine to a so-called Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu, Inc., for the purpose of turning the shrine into a Multi-Faith Memorial Park. This occurred barely a month before last year’s local and national elections. This coalition has reportedly over 80,000 voting members.

As the Shrine belongs to the City of Cebu, should not the Cebuanos have a role in determining its use? Is it left to the powers-that-be in Cebu Hall? Are the rest of the Osmena clan amenable to the conversion of their illustrious forebear’s Shrine into a cemetery?

Why were the Cebuanos not consulted on this important matter? Were public hearings and legally required procedures followed? How come the DENR already issued a clearance for such a project? Why place the property under Barangay Kalunasan – a BOPK supporter – when in the Declaration of Real Property it is under Lahug – an opposition camp? It there an illegality somewhere?

The hill is densely forested, home to birds, plants and animals. It was reforested by DENR in the 1960s…how come the same DENR now allows this area to be denuded for burial purposes? There are communities surrounding this upland area, dependent for their water needs on the aquifer, which will be endangered of pollution by future burials. Will we sacrifice the living for the sake of the dead? Is this common sense? Is this justifiable at all?

The Osmena Shrine should be converted into a nature park where Cebuanos and tourists alike can enjoy the chirping of endemic birds, the exquisite beauty of plants and flowers, the coolness of forest cover in a vantage point overlooking the city. That must be the original intention of the Osmena clan donation. That should be respected, as we respect the memory of Cebu’s Grand Old Man, by making a shrine in his honor that befits his benevolent and dignified person.

We hope this merits space in your popular publication.

Very truly yours,

(SGD) Sancho Dy
President
Beverly Hills Association, Inc.

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My internship at KAABAG sa Sugbo gave me the picture of what society is like in actuality, showed me how certain groups of people work hard to contribute for the good of that society and, of course, introduced me to several personalities from different walks of life. The truth is some things worth remembering are not actually learned by words but by experience.

In my first week at KAABAG, I was sent to observe bidding conferences. Having the chance to experience being a bidding observer, I was able to see and learn how bidding processes in the government are conducted, which was also fun, in the sense that you get to know persons you never actually expected to get along with. At some point, I had come to realize that there are a lot of problems, from damaged roads, electric lightings, healthcare services to access to free education and so on and so forth, which need substantial amount of money to be thoroughly addressed. For this reason, it is crucial to make sure that government funds are spent in righteous and lawful ways. Reality check, it’s unfortunate that considerable part of the country’s budget goes to the pockets of corrupt officials and employees, rather than to hungry stomachs, underprivileged lives, and homeless peoples.
Doing admin works was also part of our training. It showed me the significance of proper coordination, order, and cleanliness inside the office. Come to think of it, how are we going to work smoothly in a scattered and an uncomfortable place? These are small things in life which actually mean big. And the good thing is, the learning doesn’t stop there. It goes with you wherever you are, in the school, in the home, etc.

Representing KAABAG in different meetings is another learning experience. To sit in with other NGO partners and to contribute in the brainstorming activity, like that in the committee meeting at LAW Inc., for the purpose of organizing trainers’ training and whatsoever is fulfilling, that in the success of such activity, somehow, I had a hand in it.

Aside from budget constraints, one critical point why implementation of laws in the Philippines is not as extensive and effective as that in other countries is the simple fact that most of the people it’s supposed to target do not understand it at all. Thus, for them, these laws are no more than pieces of papers and never a blueprint for reality. Many of our laws, which are supposed to promote, defend, and protect the rights of the people, fail to serve their purpose due to the lack of understanding by the targets themselves. For this reason, lawmakers should not just craft laws, but extend their efforts to make the people, especially the less educated and the usual victims of the law itself, understand what they made were all about.

Through the ‘pulong-pulong’ on corporal punishment at Barangay Lorega, though simple and short it was, I became more aware that a lot of parents are really violators of the rights of their children, due to the wrong mechanisms conducted in the name of discipline. I came to realize that wrong way of correcting a mistake is a serious threat, similarly dangerous to terrorism itself. Now, why did I put it that way? Well, because of the adverse impacts that physical punishment, mental torture, and emotional agony on the children as they grow up, chances are, they would likely turn up to become violent individuals rather than righteous and lawful citizens.

Indeed, it is one thing to talk about the inefficiency and corruption in the barangay, and it’s another to actually see and meet the officials in person, giving the best of their accommodations and attention, in gratitude for extending service to their humble place. While it’s true that there are elected officials handling positions in local government units who lack technical know-how and legal fundamentals pertinent to their functions, roles, jurisdiction, etc., these people are also interested and eager to learn, only hindered by the availability of extensive and thorough trainings and workshops. Because of the training at Alegria, however short it may be, I found out a lot about the harsh realities taking place even in the smallest units of this country and realized so many things. But the bottom line is that we, the Filipino people, have a lot of problems than we could ever imagine. Yes, it’s something to critique and to rally in the streets, to the point of blaming, the Philippine government. However, whether we like it or not, the government can’t solve it all alone, because reality check, it has its own internal dilemma to address, which means that participation of ordinary citizens is vital in the movement to lift up the Filipino nation and to preserve our dignity in the face of the international public. While we dream of making the world a better place, why don’t we look around us and see what we can do to make things a little better. And while we plan to explore the world and earn millions, why don’t we think about how our fellowmen, from the lowest sectors of society, would be able to earn a peso. Indeed, I could say a lot of things, but what I’d really want to express is that this country needs help.

For this reason, NGOs, as one of the forces creating positive changes in the most problematic areas of the country, rightly deserve recognition, respect, and admiration. But most especially, they need assistance from fellow Filipinos and from other people and organizations abroad to sustain their operations, to increase their manpower and to continue their service to the poor.

My practicum experience at KAABAG was truly relevant to my course. Once again, it was a reminder how important it is to take things seriously and to learn everything I can while I am in UP. Just as Foucault always points out, ‘knowledge is power’. This is not to say that I want to be in power after my stay at the academe. The thing is, you can’t help make solutions to the problems, even in the smallest units of this country, if you lack the knowledge to do just that. This country is made up of all possible structures and hierarchy, ranked by power, bank status, and influence; and when you have none of the above, your strongest weapon is knowledge, that is, if you want to make a change.

And of course, I saw the real shape of the theories I learned from the previous classes. Most importantly, I had a better picture of what’s happening in the country and how much our people need help. There’s so many challenges waiting ahead of us, I can see that now. But I have to conquer my own challenges first, which is to equip myself with all necessary knowledge and wisdom I could get, to be more mature in dealing with the realities of life and to come out a better person myself, so that someday I could also lift up at least one person’s life.
In the end, I was glad I chose to have my practicum at KAABAG. Not only for the things I’ve mentioned above, but for the fun I had at the office, with our friendly and accommodating officemates. I’m so thankful because I learned a lot from them, just as I learned many during our field works. The time I spent at KAABAG was all worthwhile. Indeed, the best lesson I learned throughout the duration of my internship is that the real standard of success is not how many millions you’ve earned, but how many lives you’ve changed for good.

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1. An Ocean of Roaring Waves

Our Constitution tells us that in all phases of development, social justice must be a primary concern. And in carrying it out, respect for the rights and the dignity of every human being should be upheld. Although we understand and appreciate the Cebu City Government’s efforts to clear the river of structures occupying danger areas, we also ask it to be faithful to the constitutional mandate of carrying out evictions and demolitions “in accordance with law and in a just and humane manner” (Article 13, Section 10 of the 1987 Constitution). This constitutional provision is further substantiated by Section 28 of RA 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) and DILG Memorandum Circular 2010-134.

More than a struggle for human dignity through decent housing, the case of Mahiga Creek illustrates the underprivileged’s constant combat to survive. Hence, we ask the City Government to deliver social justice to those concerned by providing them options before taking away their shelters and homes.

The National Housing Authority has made it known that the city can still avail of the P78 million from the PAF3 facility. This amount, used efficiently, can go a long way to finally developing existing relocation sites and purchasing new sites for the housing needs of families living on danger zones.

Given this opportunity, we humbly put forth the following: that the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to work in coordination with the City’s Local Housing Board to formulate a relocation plan consistent with the approved Cebu City Shelter Framework. The plan is an essential instrument in providing a sustainable solution to the Mahiga Creek case in particular and to the housing concerns of the City in general. Secondly, as an immediate preventive action, we also urge the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to help equip these communities to better respond to the risks and calamities while awaiting the development of the relocation sites. Thirdly, a long term strategy based on an updated Cebu City Comprehensive Land Use Plan needs to be crafted to enable the City to be responsive to its development issues.

Finally, we observe that the “rule of law”, an essential component of good governance, is invoked in the ongoing demolition of Mahiga Creek dwellers. We need to remind our authorities that the rule of law implies the impartial enforcement of laws. Shanties as well as concrete structures within the three-meter easement of waterways must be demolished without preference.
We recognize the need to reclaim our waterways. But these efforts should be part of an integrated approach at reviving our water systems, clearing the easements and providing for the immediate needs of the affected families living along these.

On our end as network of non-government organizations, Kaabag sa Sugbu is conducting community organizing and capacity building activities such as trainings and seminars geared towards helping these communities live with dignity and increasing their confidence to participate in local governance.

The City Government and non-government organizations owe their existence and reason for being to the people they both serve. The general welfare of the stakeholders should remain as the primary concern in spite of the opposing views of a powerful few.

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1. Kaabag Co-hosts The Metro Cebu Sharing of Best Practices on Housing and Development for the Poor
2. Kaabag sa Sugbo Asserts Relevance in Housing Security and Tenure Issues

Tanang tawo sa kalibutan, adunay mga kasinatian nga nagpabiliin sa ilang mga kalamhan, ug ila kining gidala-dala sa kada adlaw nilang pagpanikaysikay sa ilang kinabuhi. Kitang tanan adunay mga nahiagiang mga kasinatiaan nga kung diin kini nakatabang pag-ayo aron mulambo ang atong pagkatawo.

Sa sulod sa napulog-upat ka adlaw sa akong pagtrabaho sa Kaabag sa Sugbo, isip usa ka intern, dili maihap ang mga pagtulun-an nga akong nakat-unan uban sa mga mayo kaayo nakong mga mentors, labi na gayud kang Miss Marivic ug Miss Cris. Sa pipila nako ka mga adlaw ubos sa ilang pagdumala, nakat-on ako sa pakig-atubang sa mga tawong tawgon tang mas labaw sa uban tungod sa ilang mga ranggo. Nakat-unan ko usab ang mga butang nga wala nako damha nga akong masinatian, sama sa pagtambong ug mga meeting kauban ang mga inilang mga two ug ang pagtambong ug mga bidding sa nagkadaiyang mga lugar. Pero ang pinakaimportante sa tanan, nga akong nasinati, mao ang akong kasinatian isip usa ka admin officer. Para nako mao kadto ang naghatag ug bulak sa akong pagkaintern sa maong kompanya. Ug labaw sa tanan, ang mga tawo mismo nga akong nakauban nga walay pagduha-duha nga ningpaambit sa ilang mga nakat-unan ug ang paghatag nila kanako sa ilang tim-os nga pagsalig isip kabahin sa kompanya nga ilang gitrabahuan.

Sa tanang staff sa Kaabag sa Sugbo, daghang salamat sa inyong paghatag ug panahon sa pag-edukar kanako sa pag-umol kanako sa mga bag-ong butang ug labaw sa tanan sa hamubo nga panahon sa akong pagkaintern inyo kong kitagaan sa inyong matam-isong pagsalig. Unta magpadayon kamo sa paglambo ug matuman ang inyong mga plano para sa katawhan.

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Attended by 78 participants, the Metro Cebu Sharing brought together the local government units (LGUs) of Talisay City, Lapulapu City, Mandaue City, Toledo City and Cebu City, the national housing agencies and the concerned NGOs and POs. Hon. Wendell Avisado, the Deputy Secretary General of HUDCC and Mr. Benedict Balderama of PhilSSA were the activity’s guests of honor. Hon. Avisado in his keynote message stressed that aside from celebrating the anniversary of the UDHA, it is also important to acknowledge the best practices of proactive LGUs that have been instrumental in the implementation of the milestone law. Mr. Balderama on the other hand shared PhilSSA’s urban development framework focusing on the thematic issues, strategies and methodologies of the network.

Ms. Charmae Wissink, consultant for urban and rural livability concerns of Kaabag sa Sugbu discussed the housing situationer to contextualize the discussions on best practices. Talisay City shared that the LGU has already approved its Local Shelter Plan (2006 – 2015), additionally it has passed City Ordinance 2003 – 03, the implementation of the 20% balanced housing. It has also implemented the Maghaway project, a multi-stakeholder housing project. Mandaue City on the other hand, is on the process of activating its local housing board. Additionally, it was able to mobilize its informal settlers during housing-related activities. Lapu-lapu City has the Urban Poor Affairs Office that coordinates all urban poor related projects and activities. In coordination with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), the government has also implemented both housing and livelihood programs in its Sudtunggan Relocation Site. Cebu City’s Local Housing Board implements the UDHA through its Beneficiary Selection Committee, Cebu City Land Valuation for Socialized Housing Committee and the Balanced Housing Monitoring Team. Its housing programs are implemented in partnership with the National Housing Authority and the Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc, an NGO specializing in housing concerns.

Ms. Jacqueline Dela Pena, Network Coordinator of Kaabag sa Sugbu provided a background on the issues and concerns of families living in danger zone areas. Reactions coming from Hon. Alvin Dizon of the Cebu City Council, Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor, National Housing Agency, and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council were also discussed. The sharing of best practices highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in addressing the metropolis’ housing concerns. Housing is a multifaced and complicated issue that needs to be approached from different points and perspectives.

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1. Kaabag sa Sugbo Asserts Relevance in Housing Security and Tenure Issues
2. Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Human Development Committee Takes Its Turn

The first month of 2010 saw the Caucus of Development NGOs (CODE NGO) partnering with Kaabag in carrying out the Coalition for a Citizens’ Constitution (C4CC), a two-year project that aims to build a stronger, larger and younger constituency for constitutional reform. Currently, the project has partner organizations in three legislative districts – Cebu City North and South Districts and the Sixth District of Cebu Province. It is conducting consciousness raising, capacity building, campaign and lobbying activities all towards mainstreaming the constitution and pushing for its reform. It has organized lectures, essay writing and debate competitions to achieve these ends. The University of San Carlos Political Science Department became the official academic partner of C4CC Cebu. Plans for an institutionalized consensus and capacity building strategies were discussed and are being finalized.

As 2010 marked another cycle of national and local elections, C4CC was actively engaged in educating voters by giving voter’s education lectures. Kaabag and C4CC was actively involved in creating the Cebu City People’s Agenda composed of 14 concerns and issues coming from the several sectors of the city. It was presented in a candidates’ forum that gathered candidates vying for various positions in local government. In June 2010, a Post-Election Reflection and Evaluation Workshop were conducted by CODE NGO with Kaabag as the activity’s secretariat. In August 2010, the C4CC National Congress was held assessing the project’s achievements over the period and creating plans for the following year.

Another national network, the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) tapped Kaabag as its regional affiliate for the Bantay Lansangan (BL) project. The monitoring venture scrutinizes the quality of roads and highway projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). As the project concluded its 2^nd phase last April 2010, a total of ten roads across the region were examined by 12 youth volunteers coming from the University of the Philippines-Cebu and Bantay Banay Youth. The partnership between TAN and the network continues the Bantay Lansangan volunteers took part in a training needs analysis in July 2010. The results of the analysis were used to create the design of the Bantay Lansangan Coalition Building Workshop that was conducted last August 2010.d It was participated by the BL volunteers and DWPH representatives from Regions 6, 7 and 8.

Early this year, Kaabag submitted an approved project proposal dubbed as “Harnessing Kaabag’s Capacities Towards the Development and Empowerment of Vulnerable Communities, Environmental Conservation and Participatory Governance” or DEEP Project to Misereor. Input from the project proposal was a result of the coalition’s strategic planning workshop conducted in the first week of January 2010. In pursuit of the project’s objectives, Kaabag sa Sugbo has formulated its version of the Executive and Legislative Agenda (ELA). The ELA is presented to and discussed with the Cebu City Government in order to identify areas of cooperation. Included in the Governance Committee’s ELA are initiatives lobbying to institutionalize the local special bodies at the barangay level, pushing for the creation of Cebu City’s Participation and Transparency Ordinance and the creation of a People’s Council.

Kaabag sa Sugbo is also taking up the procurement advocacy by being part of the Bids and Awards Committee Observers (BACO) with Lihok Pilipina Foundation Incorporated (LPFI), Action for Nurturing Children and Environment Inc. (ANCE), Basic Ecclesial Communities Secretariat (BEC), Cebu Learning Education Advocacy Research Center (CLEAR), Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) and the assistance of Evelio B. Javier Foundation Inc. (EBJFI). BACOs are deployed to observe the Bids and Awards Committees of Cebu City Hall and regional offices of selected line agencies.

The BACO Steering Committee had their Strategic Planning Workshop last April. Monthly meetings are held. In June, BACO organized a Trainers’ Training, increasing the number of trained observers to 72. The BACO Interface Dialogue was conducted in July 2010, bringing together and encouraging members of the private sector, civil society and government to be involved in the procurement advocacy.

As the year draws to a close and as the network affirms its vision and mission through goals identified for each key result area, Kaabag sa Sugbo with its members continue to strengthen and institutionalize its involvement in local governance by engaging with the local office of the Department of Interior and Local Government and by participating in the local special bodies that help chart Cebu City’s development for the years to come.

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1. Kaabag sa Sugbo organizes Pinili-ay sa Sugbo 2010: A Local Candidates’ Forum
2. Kaabag sa Sugbo Asserts Relevance in Housing Security and Tenure Issues
3. Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Human Development Committee Takes Its Turn

The creation of the CCENRO has created an arena to handle environmental programs in a progressive city like Cebu. And the current election has provided Kaabag an associate in rallying towards sustainable environment. Nida Cabrera was elected as Cebu City Councilor and is currently the chairperson for the Cebu City government committee on Parks and Playground, Wildlife, Ecology and Environmental Management. Casiano Catapang from Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW), Kaabag’s partner NGOs has also been at the forefront in espousing environment issues. He currently sits as the chairman of Cebu Development Council (CDC) environment committee.

Kaabag’s priorities for sustainable environment and natural resources have been pushed as part of its executive-legislative agenda for Cebu City. Currently, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and city Councilor Nida Cabrera was able to meet by the Sustainable Environment and Natural Resources Committee of Kaabag to present the following environmental agenda/ priorities. First, is the Institutionalization of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO). Kaabag Sa Sugbo as a network of development NGOs with members having an expertise of addressing environmental concerns could help in the formulation of CCENRO’s implementing rules and regulations in the technical working group.  Second is the formulation of an ordinance making the Geographical Area of Cebu City a Sanctuary of Indigenous fauna & flora by taping Greening Philippines to plant 1 million trees in 3 years as a target for this current administration.

With these agenda being presented to the City government, Kaabag sa Sugbo has come up with concrete areas of cooperation. Currently, Kaabag sa Sugbo is commissioned by the City government environment committee to come up with a guidebook in response to the Environment Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP) for businesses securing business permits in the City of Cebu. The guidebook on ESAP will ensure environmental sustainability and balance between the ecological system and economic development.

It says that two years from the approval of the ordinance, all persons covered, before renewing or securing a business and/or mayor’s permit or license, shall prepare their Environmental Sustainability Statement and Action Plan showing the nature of the business, impact of the business on the environment and the community, compliance with pertinent laws, mitigation of environmental impact, and climate change adaptation strategies. This Plan will be the basis for the CCENRO to monitor and evaluate compliance and commitments with power to recommend the revocation or suspension of the business permit if found deficient and not complied with.

With the completion of the guidebook, Kaabag sa Sugbo would not only leave a footprint of legacy to the city of Cebu but also a continuous endeavor towards sustainable environment.

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1. Kaabag sa Sugbo Asserts Relevance in Housing Security and Tenure Issues
2. Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Human Development Committee Takes Its Turn
3. Kaabag sa Sugbo organizes Pinili-ay sa Sugbo 2010: A Local Candidates’ Forum

The year started with a toast with Cebu City Women and Family Affairs Commission, PLPCD, and PNGOC. Several meetings with its steering committee were conducted and finalized to push for Cebu City Women’s Development Agenda.

Lihok Pilipina in partnership with Kaabag sa Sugbo, and in coordination with CCWFAC, PLCPD and PNGOC has launched Cebu City Women’s Development Agenda Forum early this year. It crafted the women’s development agenda by which 11 sectors were represented which includes the academe, business sectors, NGOs, government agencies, persons with disabilities, girl children, youth, senior citizens, media, etc. At least ten representatives from each sector were presented. The women’s development agenda was presented to the candidates running under BOPK, KUSOG, GO Cebu, etc and to national election candidates—Jay Sonza (independent) and Liza Masa of Gabriela partylist. The candidates were asked to sign the pledge of commitment of support for women’s rights. Monitoring of these commitments was done among successful candidates.

The half of the year highlights another significant limelight of Kaabag sa Sugbo’s legacy towards family/human development. Kaabag sa Sugbo has takes its turns in realizing the commitments of reducing violence among women, children and families. This year, the newly proposed project entitled, “Communities Learning to stop Abuse and Nurture Social Empowerment” or CLEANSE has been approved by the European Commission. It is a two-year project commissioned by the European Union and is partnered by Kaabag sa Sugbo’s NGO members namely, Share a Child Movement (SACMI), Stop Abuse of Minors Association (SAMA, Inc.) and Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc. (CCEF). The project’s objective is to contribute to the reduction of incidence of violence against women and children in Cebu City and Cebu Province and to improve the implementation and monitoring of local and national legal instruments against violence against women and children through citizen’s participation. Beneficiaries of this project are the community members in sitios/village of the coastal, upland and urban barangays in Cebu City and Cebu Province. The project sites will be in eight (8) mountain barangays in Cebu City which includes  Adlaon, Binaliw, Cambinucot, Guba, Lusaran, Pung-ol Sibugay, Malubog and Taptap,  four (4) urban barangays in Cebu City– Lorega, Carreta, Tejero and T. Padilla and eight (8) rural coastal barangays in four (4) municipalities (Alegria, Badian, Barili and Moalboal) in Cebu Province. Partner NGOs are also tapped for their expertise in addressing women and children’s concerns.  Center for Participatory Governance (CPaG) has been tapped for the training and implementation of the governance activities in the proposed action specifically of the training on barangay development plan formulation, Lihok Pilipina Foundation, Inc. is also tapped for the training assistance especially in Gender Sensitivity Training and anti-VAWC and legal literacy on VAWC and Children’s Legal Bureau, Inc. (CLB) for the provision of litigation assistance/ legal services to cases of victims of VAWC monitored and catered by the consortium.

In addition, just early this year, with the approval of the third phase of the Misereor project dubbed as “Harnessing Kaabag’s Capacities Towards the Development and Empowerment of Vulnerable Communities, Environmental Conservation and Participatory Governance” or DEEP Project, Kaabag sa Sugbo has intensified its shove for the development of human rights with its Executive-Legislative Agenda presented to Cebu City Government . One of the priorities or concerns being bannered is to: capacitate community members in the barangay to become active outreach workers in preventing violence against women and children and human trafficking.  Kaabag sa Sugbo will work closely with the Cebu City government in providing trainings and consultations among constituent barangays. Second is to mainstream gender and children’s concerns in Barangay Development Plans and lastly to work closely with Cebu City government and line agencies for the passage of anti-child pornography ordinance or known as the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 and the strict implementation of the ordinance regulating internet café’s to reduce cases of cyber pornography. Monitoring and capacitating of mandated government enforcement agencies are then intensified.

Thus with the year to come, Kaabag sa Sugbo with its vision of “a unified, livable, equitable, and sustainable Cebu” would never been a far-cry with the collective action and commitments of partner and member NGOs in promoting good governance and development of the human beings

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1. Kaabag sa Sugbo PMP-Central Visayas Human Rights Committee Call Attention To Barili Police Office's Mishandling of the Kaoshiung Incident
2. Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Good Governance Initiatives Takes Center Stage in 2010
3. Kaabag sa Sugbo organizes Pinili-ay sa Sugbo 2010: A Local Candidates’ Forum

The aims of the project are concretized through Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Executive and Legislative Agenda for Cebu City, jointly formulated by the four working committees of the network. By October 2010, the committee plans were finalized. Included in the committee plans for the Urban and Rural Livability Committee were the review of related laws on housing and land tenure, the creation of avenues for the discussion of alternative housing schemes and, lobbying for the passage of the Cebu City Comprehensive Shelter Plan and for the implementation of the balanced housing provision the Urban Development and Housing Act.

The network found a stalwart ally in the Cebu City Government with the election of Hon. Alvin Dizon as Cebu City Councilor last May 2010. An ardent advocate for the rights of the urban and rural poor, Hon. Dizon initiated activities aiming to introduce reforms to the housing and settlement practices of the city. In August 2010, he passed a resolution increasing the number of civil society representatives in Cebu City’s Local Housing Board. In response to the new development, Kaabag endorsed two of its members, Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors (FORGE) and Center for Participatory Governance (CPaG) as board members.

Additionally, Hon. Dizon sponsored and passed an ordinance in November 2010 calling for the creation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Cebu City Shelter Framework. The IRRs are to be the result of a participatory decision making process anchored on the needs and concerns of the urban and rural poor. Kaabag sa Sugbo plans to sponsor a workshop on the Cebu City Shelter Framework IRR creation targeted for civil society organizations by mid-January 2011. Together with the office of Hon. Dizon, Kaabag sa Sugbo is helping plan the Inter-City Housing Summit that will be conducted in 2011.

The network has also created a database of international, national and local laws relating to housing and human settlements. It can be accessed at the networks website starting December 2010. Additional, it is on the process of researching performance indicators measuring the performance and effectiveness of the Local Housing Board (LHB) and the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP). It is through these initiatives that Kaabag sa Sugbo asserts its relevance as the struggle for land security and tenure continue to rage.

Related posts:

1. Kaabag sa Sugbo organizes Pinili-ay sa Sugbo 2010: A Local Candidates’ Forum
2. Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Good Governance Initiatives Takes Center Stage in 2010
3. Kaabag sa Sugbo PMP-Central Visayas Human Rights Committee Call Attention To Barili Police Office's Mishandling of the Kaoshiung Incident

To date, it has tapped both community-based and university-based youth organizations and people’s organizations specializing in women, farmer, rural and urban poor concerns. As a way mainstreaming the constitutional reform agenda, C4CC Cebu is conducting the C4CC Lectures, a set of discussions that intend to gather citizens to examine and rethink the country’s existing political and economic structures. It aims to advocate continuous political education by providing a venue that promotes discussion and debate on political, economic, and social issues currently besetting the Philippines. The lectures also intend to create a deeper understanding and appreciation of our existing political, economic, and social institutions so that proposed changes would be contextualized and analyzed, leading to informed decisions. Co-created with the University of San Carlos, the official academic partner of C4CC Cebu, the C4CC Lectures contains discussions on the fundamental principles of the 1987 Constitution, the different forms of government, charter change and its implications.

Since May 2010, the C4CC Lectures has been conducted across university campuses and barangays. Currently, the lectures have reached 600 participants.

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1. Kaabag sa Sugbo’s Good Governance Initiatives Takes Center Stage in 2010