KALIBO, Aklan -- The Department of Budget and Management in Western Visayas (DBM) has urged civil society organizations (CSO) in the province of Aklan to be vigilant in its important role in local governance.

Cecille Lacson of the DBM regional office said the CSO is an important partner of the local government in nation building and poverty alleviation program.

Lacson was among the resource persons who attended the first province-wide gathering of CSOs held at the Governor Cabagnot Memorial and Tourism Training Center in Barangay Old Buswang, Kalibo Thursday, July 18. The said event was initiated by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Kalibo with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Aklan Provincial Government, and the Civil Service Commission.

“CSOs are an important partner of the local government especially in bidding, of contracts, thus CSOs should not be intimidated by the chief executive officer. They are also encouraged to file complaints if necessary as it would serve a legal basis for other government agencies to investigate allegation of anomalies,” Lacson said.

Ramel Buncalan, president of the PCCI-Kalibo said that he has initiated to organize the gathering for the CSO’s to be informed of their duties and responsibilities as partner in local governance.

“We are thankful to more than 170 CSOs all over the province of Aklan who participated in the said conference,” he added.