Community Consulation on the Draft Open Government Commitments with the Barangay Captains

Last August 3, 2018 the Provincial Government of South Cotabato conducted a Community Consultation on the Draft Open Government Commitments of the Province of South Cotabato with Barangay Captains around the province. The said activity aims to ensure a high level of public participation and influence during the development of SC-OGP Commitments.

Six Open Government Commitments were presented during the consultation, namely, Open Information, Open Mining Information, Open Contracting, Open Monitoring and Evaluation, Open Legislation, and Open Planning and Budgeting. Each of these commitments' relevance, aim, and impact were presented to the Barangay Captians in small groups.

Afterwards, a voting session took place where each person was given three smileys which will be placed on the commitments that they desire. The voting session concluded with Open Information garnering the top place with forty-nine (49) votes/smileys followed by Open Monitoring and Evaluation with forty-three (43) votes/smileys, Open Contracting with forty-two (42) votes/smileys, Open Planning & Budgeting with forty-one (41) votes/smileys, Open Legislation with thirty-two (32) votes/smileys, and lastly Open Mining Information with twenty-two (22) votes/smileys. This public consultation was a big step made to indeed make the government more open and accessible towards its major benefactor, the citizen of the province.