BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Department of the  Interior and Local Government (DILG – CAR) invites Cordilleran to watch and participate in the first episode of the 2023 Dagyaw Open Government Townhall Meeting Friday, June 23.

Set at 9:00 AM and to be aired live via DILG Cordillera and PIA Cordillera  facebook pages, the DAGYAW 2023 Episode 1 will focus on “Mental Health Concerns and Interventions” in the region.

Discussants for the townhall meeting  are  Department of Hhealth Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay, Mary Claire Jimenez of the Department of Education, Rizza Alma Evasco of the Philippine Mental Health Association, Ricky Ducas Jr. of the Anxiety and Depression Support Group – Baguio, Ylona Veronica Bayod of the  Baguio – Benguet Psychological Services and Consultancy Center, and Lance Angelo Layugan of the Pansigedan Advocacy Cooperative.

DILG – CAR Assistant Regional Director Ruperto Maribbay Jr., in a Kapihan media forum here, outlined that Dagyaw, from the Hiligaynon word for “Bayanihan”,   aims to present the current Administration’s priority thrusts. Likewise, to  improve public awareness on the programs, projects and activities(PPAs)  of various government agencies.

It is  anchored on the Philippine Development Plan 2023 – 2028, particularly on deepening participatory governance and on the practice of good and improved  bureaucratic efficiency, he added.

In terms of participatory governance, the Dagyaw believes in co- creation and perceives civil society organizations  as co -equal in planning and decision making. Some  CSOs are part of the Regional Technical Working Group for Dagyaw 2023.

As the  Dagyaw is an open government townhall meeting, Maribbay encourages the public to participate  as it  also serves as a feedback mechanism where citizens can directly provide feedback on the government’s PPAs as a catalyst to strengthen local service delivery.

The Dagyaw in now  its  fifth  year  since  it was introduced in  2019.  

The 2023 RTWG include Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc.; Cordillera Network of NGOs and Pos; People’s Organization for Social Transformation; Pansigedan Advocacy Cooperative; Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values; Filipino – Japanese Foundation of North Luzon Inc.;  Doctors for Indigenous Health and Culturally Competent Training, Education, Networking and Governance Inc. and the North Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Development Center.

Meanwhile, Maribbay  shared DILG – CAR’s initiatives in strengthening citizen participation in local governance. He cited that their regional office, through the Support for the Local Governance Program, has initiated various activities to improve the capacities of CSOs to participate in local governance and to provide spaces for genuine and meaningful participation. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)