People Power in the Barangay: CDO's Barangay 32

by Alain Roy Miego Romero
Let the ‪#‎liberation from TraPos begin in the grassroots!

It is not easy turning the 'tatsulok'. There will come a point that ignorant people will contest your motion and even arrive at a point where you are disrespected. But regardless of having been interrupted by a relative of an official while I was reading the proposed rules of procedure and order of our barangay assembly, calmness and humility triumphed over me (fact, I am a short-tempered person). Then I thought, "I have the majority as my sword and shield and no matter what the opposing side utter, we have the reciprocity of the majority to back everyone up in the alliance".

Aside from turning the 'tatsulok', we also turned the mindset of the people in the Barangay Assembly. That the assembly was an avenue for gathering information, realizing issues/concerns and doing appropriate actions as per resolution of the assembly. Further, the barangay assembly is the highest deliberative body of a barangay and of course, by common sense, it should be treated as such - making appropriate treatment befitting its role as the highest authority. Reflecting from the experience, it was not a regret to oppose the status quo during barangay assemblies - reporting and asking/answering questions then nothing else follows. I am reminded of a quote, "The absence and silence of good men will pave a way for evil to manifest and triumph".

THE CHALLENGE
When you plan to turn the tide, one should gain the people's hearts but not everyone knows you. It was quite a challenge for our reform team. Not to mention the short span of time to prepare, the challenge of within that span of time you also have to gain the approval of the residents or convince them to attend at least. This was very crucial. In fact, we only based our 'ally count' on trust among the influence of the core group members - we are blind of how many will support our cause.

THE UNCERTAINTY
There, we convened together with our allies (with uncertainty if they are really our allies). All of them found their seats but the core members of the reform team were quite anxious. So they were not settled in their seats. As for me, I was one with them as well. I found myself in the company of balut vendors and pedicab drivers. We were chatting on issues of concern, the imminent demolition of a certain purok in our barangay among other issues raised. I finally settled, standing, when the preliminary ceremony was delivered.

THE MOVE
After the prayer and national anthem, all were settled. Our barangay then calls for the order of the assembly. Then a realization comes to mind. I may not be able to get the support of the people if I were to deliver as an additional agenda the reforms we've got. So as the chance of calling the assembly out of order - and I really burst out to the crowd that the assembly is OUT OF ORDER. "How can you call to order the barangay assembly, the highest deliberative body of the barangay, when there are no rules of procedure and order to begin with". Then the deafening sound of silence filled the air. "Dili unta ni basta-bastahon ang asembleya. Kay walay mahitabo kung puro rata ani sa tradisyon o naandan - report dayon question and answer portion then wala na, walay output", translating what I uttered next. Surprisingly, the barangay council was not ready for this kind of things. I saw their innocence as an ignorance of the capabilities of their constituents. This was my advantage. Imminently, the reform group received the assemblies' support and affirmed by the Barangay Chairman. I recall he said "Oo, dapat ani manjud ang asembleya. Naanad manjud ta sa una. Pero maayo kini."

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS
-Reading of the proposed rules of procedure and order;
-Q&A, amendment - adoption of proposed rules;
-Call to order;
-Barangay Reports
-Q&A - Barangay reports;
-Suspension/recess;
-Drafting of resolutions;

THE FRUITS OF OUR MOVEMENT
The assembly came up with two (2) resolutions, (a) for the adopting of the rules and (b) to address the concerns of the assembly; among them were directing the barangay council to issue a resolution requesting the private owner of the lot give a road-right-of-way for humanitarian purposes and requesting certain families to give alternative routes from accessing the main road and serving as exits for emergencies. The assembly also had to draft these barangay resolutions.

STATUS ON DRAFTS
-Assembly Resolution 1: adopting the assembly rules (ADOPTED/SIGNED);
-Assembly Resolution 2: addressing the concerns of the assembly; alternative route, road-right-of-way request, BDC additional members, RA 10656 implementation, People's Charter, Productive use of the internet for transparency purposes and other items for addressing concerns (FURTHER AMENDING);
-Barangay Resolution on adopting Assembly resolution 1 and 2 and requesting certain families for an alternative route/way (PENDING/FOR SIGNING); and
-Barangay Resolution on requesting road-right-of-way (PENDING/FOR SIGNING)

OUR COMMITMENT
Serve as an unwavering force in the search for truth, promotion of fraternity and upholding the dignity of the most vulnerable.

Photo album: https://www.facebook.com/alainroyromero/media_set…

‪#‎BarangayAssemblyDay

Youth Power in Growing Cities: 1st Year of OYDC

Today marks the first year anniversary of the constitution of the Oro Youth Development Council. It was exactly a year ago when youth leaders from different sectors in Cagayan de Oro City converged in the 1^st Oro Youth Leaders Convergence, articulated their concerns, planned their actions, and elected their core officers.

This social innovation project came at the most appropriate time. The Sangguniang Kabataan was suspended following years of debate about its relevance and viability. This suspension undoubtedly created a void in youth representation in our local governance processes. This came then as an opportunity for a small group of good governance advocates to propose a participatory mechanism where youth organizations from different sectors and fields can come together and directly exchange views and mobilize action on governance matters important to the youth.  

After a series of meetings with local government officers, the OYDC came to be with the election of the core officers and the issuance of Executive Order 72-2014.

This was the official start of an extra-ordinary journey. This leadership journey has led us to meaningful local policy victories, public recognition, and far-reaching partnerships with national agencies, NGOs and even international organizations. This experience, being also political in nature, became a social laboratory – a sort of on-the-job learning experience, which has allowed us to confront people in power and also partner with them in our developmental goals.  

In its 1^st year of existence, these are the major highlights of the Oro Youth Development Council:

Advocacy Forums/ OYDC Youth Speak: Much of the work of the OYDC centers around issue discussion among students and youth leaders. In the past year, we have organized forums which tackled the topics on the Freedom of Information Law, The Bangsamoro Basic Law, The Diversity of Human Rights: the LGBT Perspective, Youth and Leadership, Reproductive Health, Youth Political Education and Solid Waste Management. The OYDC sees that these discussion points are essential in raising the level of awareness among the youth. Actionable information would then lead to social mobilization among the different youth groups. These advocacy forums were made possible by the partnerships with different institutions such as the National Youth Commission, Ayala Foundation, Muslim Youth Council, Xavier University Governance and Leadership Institute, KKP-SIO, The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, the United Nations Development Program, Departmetn of Education, CLENRO, CSWD, City Health, and Office of the City Mayor among others.  

Local Policy Victories:  In this front, the OYDC has tackled 4 major issues.

The first one is the removal of the “physically-fit requirement” clause in the City Scholarship Program. This was removed to erase doubts that persons with disabilities are not eligible for the scholarship program.

Secondly, the OYDC also engaged the City Council in the approval of the Farm-to-Market road subsidy issue, which was marred by political controversy. Moreover, this gave us an opportunity to talk face-to-face with the Councilor tasked for this and both sides were able to layout their cards. The OYDC got media mileage over this engagement, which highlighted its status as a citizen advocacy group. The Farm-to-Market road subsidy was then approved late 2014.

Thirdly, the OYDC also barged into the forefront of the 2015 Budget controversy after the OYDC and PYAP programs were slashed to zero. The youth groups mobilized and protested the cuts early January which has brought resentment from opposing political groups but where joined and praised by community organizations, civil society and much of the organized youth sectors. This youth-led protest literally led the way for a series of protests designed to galvanize the public and pressure the city council to approve the proposed 2015 budget. However, the action in the streets now became a battle in the courts. We have yet to see the resolution of this controversy be it political or legal. In the meantime, OYDC has provided a blog site where the budget is posted and compared. It also published the full budget of the Special Education Fund.

Lastly, the OYDC drafted and championed the adoption of the Barangay Youth Code. This proposed legislation gave legal basis for the different youth barangay federations growing after the suspension of the SK. Major barangays have already adopted the ordinance and others are still in the process. This hopefully would highlight the important role of the youth in not only organizing events but in actual policy-making.

Representation: one of the key features of the OYDC is its participation in the different special bodies of the local government unit. At present, the OYDC is active in the Local School Boar, the Solid Waste Management Council, the Council for the protection of Children, the Search for Child-friendly Barangay, the Search for Best Barangay Lupon, Development and Security Council, the Abot Alam Task Force, Anti-drug Abuse Council, Persons with Disability Council and the Regulatory and Complaints Board.  Through these bodies, the OYDC gets direct access to policy-making and policy-implementation. The individual efforts of different youth organizations get amplified through this body and allows coordinated interventions. The OYDC also represented the youth sector in the United Nations Habitat and Future Cities program and other national conventions. It is also part of the board in the newly constituted People’s Council of Cagayan de Oro.

Services: the OYDC through its community networks also helped in referring out-of-school youth to scholarships and job openings. This is a yearlong activity. The Faith-based sector of the OYDC also integrated its faith formation and life coaching services to the City Scholarship program. During the two summers, the OYDC supervised and managed 125 SPES beneficiaries whose work included a community survey and service. In the community level, OYDC also gives capacity-building trainings as well as basic organizing skills to community-based organizations.

Moving Forward

Seeing the future, the OYDC sees its existence as a transitional body. 

The Local Youth Development and Empowerment Bill is set to replace the SK and once this becomes law, we shall transition to become a youth advocacy NGO. This bill is set to create a Local Youth Development Council which is similar to that of the OYDC. This body is composed of representatives from several youth sectors including the SK.

It removes from the SK the sole power to represent the youth sector in the legislative body. It empowers the body to elect a chairperson among themselves who has a one-year term. This chairperson ipso facto becomes the youth representative in the local legislative council. Therefore, a President of a student government or a leader of the Parish youth can become a local legislator for a year. This is more inclusive and empowering than the SK system we have grown accustomed to.

The OYDC fully supports the passage of this bill. In the meantime, the OYDC in its second year is gearing up to take on legislation lobbying. In the pipelines, the OYDC seeks to propose policies nurtured by the forums it organized during its first year. Among these are the passage of the Students’ Rights and Welfare Ordinance, the Anti-discrimination Ordinance and the Freedom of Information Ordinance.

Synthesis

In its first year, OYDC has somehow laid the impression that the youth, if given the formal opportunity to participate, can concretely contribute to the strengthening of our public institutions. The unfolding story of the OYDC hopes to serve as an alternative model for youth empowerment where existing organized youth groups, which are more cohesive, grounded and neutral, are given the tools to widen their advocacy and given a seat at the table of policy-making. In the long run, we hope that this can spur a culture of engaged citizenship among the young and a sense of communal ownership of the solutions as well as the challenges of the community. This is our attempt to make our public institutions more inclusive by giving a youth leader from a far-flung barangay an equal chance as a student leader from a university to sit at the table of policy-making. This is our attempt to make real the constitutional declaration that the youth is vital in nation-building. Let us all start with our local government unit – the closest to the people.