(Mabuhay, ZSP)- Thirty(30) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from the municipalities of Olutanga, Talusan and Mabuhay were trained on Monitoring and Evaluation(M& E) Scheme for Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) projects on September 2-4,2015 at SB Session Hall, Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay. Facilitated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the event was spearheaded by Cluster Head, District One LGOO VI Oliver B. Ombos together with Community Mobilizer (CM) Efren Napigkit who provided lectures on the CSO and BUB Overview and the procedures in doing the M & E of the projects , respectively. 

Likewise attending was Vice Mayor Annam Dammang of Mabuhay who gave the welcome remarks and emphasized that the success of the implementation of the projects lies on the involvement of all the stakeholders including the CSOs. LGOO VI Ombos said that the training greatly helped the CSOs in the technical know -how on monitoring and evaluation considering that there were large volume of projects poured in the LGUs and that not only the implementing partners have enough capacity to monitor the said projects but also other party. He further emphasized that the CSOs role is not a faultfinder but partners for reforms, proponent of change and fiscalizers to stop corruption. “ Pursuant to Article II, sec.23 of the Phil. Constitution, the State shall encourage non-government, community-based or sectoral organization that promote the welfare of the nation and that’s why we are here,” Ombos said. Meanwhile, CM Napigkit presented the Citizens Monitoring and Evaluation Scheme and Tools and arranged the sessions into orientation (day1), field visit (day2) and consolidation (day3). He encouraged the CSOs that in performing voluntarily on their duties, they uphold the trust of the people sa Pagbabantay ng Mamamayan sa Pondo ng Bayan. “ You (CSOs) are the heroes of today’s generation who serve the country in the spiritof volunteerism,” Napigkit said. CSOs per municipalities are expected to provide consolidated feedbacks of the 2013-2015 BUB projects implemented within the municipality using the prescribed forms. Elizabeth Sumalinog, Mabuhay CSO President, said that such training is an answer, an opportunity for the CSOs to be oriented on their roles, and be delineated on their duties and responsibilities. She is hopeful that the output of their endeavor would influence the future local planning and contribute largely in poverty reduction and inclusive growth of the society through recognition of grassroots at the community level.#