In its continued commitment to reinforcing civil society organization (CSO) engagement in local governance, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 launched the first leg of the PAGBA-ID for CSO Desk Officers: Strengthening Skills for Effective Engagement, June 18-20, 2025, at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City.
The activity aims to enhance the capacity of CSO Desk Officers to strengthen participatory governance by equipping them through a series of orientation and knowledge-sharing sessions to ensure that they are well-capacitated and well-informed about their roles, responsibilities, and latest guidelines and practices.
In his message, DILG 8 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe emphasized the crucial role of the CSO in local governance as a partner of the department in ensuring that members of the organization can actively engage with the local government unit (LGU).
β€œWe do our best as far as ensuring that we have a responsive LGU and that’s how critical the role of our civil society organizations and our CSO Desk Officers is,” RD Agabe said. β€œIt’s not only about engagement but effectively participating in local governance.”
Spearheaded by the Local Government Capability Development Division (LGCDD), the first batch of CSO Desk Officers and DILG Provincial Focal Officers from the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, and Tacloban City attended the first batch of the training. Meanwhile, the second batch of participants coming from the provinces of Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Ormoc City will participate in the activity this June 24-26.
This activity underscores the DILG’s commitment to strengthening civil society organization engagement in local governance by enhancing the capabilities of CSO Desk Officers and Provincial Focal Officers to effectively foster a more progressive and inclusive local government units.