DavOr launches UBAS to strengthen governance in barangays

DAVAO ORIENTAL, November 13, 2015 –Tapping the active participation of the religious sector in strengthening the culture of transparency and good governance at the barangay level, the Provincial Government on Monday, November 9, 2015, launched the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan Program (UBAS).

UBAS is a partnership program between the barangays and the church to pool resources and harmonize efforts in the advocacy of good governance, transparency and the pursuitof projects and services for community development.

Among the stakeholders involved in this partnership program include the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Liga ng mga Barangay, and faith-based organizations – regardless of religion and denomination.

UBAS Executive Director Atty. Mariness L. Ledesma said that aside from fostering people’s participation and convergence among stakeholders, the program also aims to make the barangay a center of development.

She emphasized the program’s major areas of engagement that include among others the creation of an environment that encourages people’s participation in the implementation of DILG projects and harnessing community participation in upholding transparency and accountability measures. In addition, it also covers the monitoring ofprojects covered by DILG’s Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB).

Other areas of partnership for the program include peace and order, disaster risk reduction, social protection, employment and livelihood, leadership formation, and grassroots participation process.

DILG Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga said this program is essential in gaining the trust and confidence of the people.

She reminded the barangay officials to nurture the local government as they are ‘an integral component of our nation and are vital to our overall development’. “The local community are the source of our sustenance, our identityand our strength,” she said, noting to further enrich the barangays by deepening its faith and uniting them as a people.

An advocate of convergence, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, during the launching ceremony at the Provincial Capitol, assured the DILG, the Liga ng Barangay, and the religious sector of her full support to this partnership program. She said she is optimistic that it will spur more development in the barangays as it encourages more members of the community to take active part in the local development.

For its part, the church, represented by Rev. Fr. Edito Baño, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mati, also signified the religious sector’s commitment to the program, noting it as an apt venue to render service to the people and the community. He lauded the program as it inspires people’s sense of ownership towards local programs and development.

Also present among the religious sector’s group are Pastor Reuben Colmo of the CSO Lifeskills and Board Member Lito Macatabog representing the Muslim Community. (PIO)