ASSISTANT Secretary Epimaco Densing III of the Department of Interior and Local Government urged the thousands of councilors to create legislations that will allow the people to air complaints on legislations crafted by local governments.
Densing was among the guests in the session of the Philippine Councilors League Convention (PCL) on Monday, September 18.
"It is now time for the people to complain and I now encourage even without the memorandum circular. I am now asking our LGUs to pass an ordinance creating a consultative and participatory mechanism for the people in local governance daily on your own," he said.
Densing said that the participatory governance means public participation in deciding crucial legislations such as budget of a municipality or city.
"During the time of the budget hearing, we encourage you not to put up a very small sign ‘budget hearing.’ We encourage you to put a bigger notice to the public for them to sit down and look at how you do budgeting system. Give the people opportunity to look at the budget, give them opportunity to question the budget. Give them opportunity to question you why that amount is given," he said.
Densing also bared in October that they are set to award more than 600 local government units (LGUs) for the Seal of Good Local Governance, which is higher compared to the 306 LGUs they've awarded in 2016.
He said that increased number of awardees is an indicator that change has come to LGUs.
Apart from Densing, other invited guests Monday were Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino, who was set to spearhead a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with PCL related to drugs monitoring, Bureau of Customs Commissioner General Isidro Lapeña and lawyer Francis Tolentino, Presidential Political Adviser.
Tolentino was the keynote speaker who represented President Rodrigo Rodrigo Duterte.