Citizens group and NUJP train Bohol TNT on LGU monitoring

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The Citizen Action Network for Accountability, in tandem with National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, has equipped the Bohol Transparency Network for Transformation  with training tools for monitoring local government units  on issues of public accountability and transparency.

More than 25 representatives of non-government organizations, individual private citizens and the media underwent the "Monitoring and Reporting Public Transparency and Accountability" training workshop held in this city on June 7.

NUJP national chairperson Weng Paraan was the facilitator and one of the resources persons in the workshop, together with lawyer Rene Paredes, husband of Linda Paredes, one of the Bohol TNT prime movers.

The training workshop was the first of the three-part series in monitoring and reporting public transparency and accountability, said CANA coordinator Rorie Fajardo. "As reflected in the name, this will be the first of three training series for citizen action groups it helps develop and work for better public transparency and accountability," she said.

Bohol TNT, a loose organization of concerned citizens, has formed a core group to map out plans and programs. It is composed of Linda Paredes, Chrisylli Mitzi Ibaya, Vera Gesite, Salvio Makinano, Emmie Roslinda, Myttee Palo, Alvin Alcuzar, Hele Dadula, Joy Timogan and Joema May Mangao, among others.

CANA aimed to build and strengthen local community actions as a means to improve transparency and accountability of LGUS nationwide. It is a collaborative project of the Institute for war and Peace Reporting, Minda News, NUJP and European Union.

It helps develop and maintain action groups in 28 priority areas and conduct workshops on monitoring reporting accountability issues; conduct research and investigative reports, analyses on LGU's incoe, expenditures, procurement, taxes, safety and security; and develop and maintain a website that will serve as databank of research materials on related issues. — (FREEMAN)