On October 4-6, 2017 in Puerto Princesa City, a number of new potential cadre recruits will undergo the G-Watch's Citizen Action for Accountability Training that the G-Watch Center is currently developing. Part of the training is the pilot run of a budget tracking of the Community Development Fund (CDF) of barangays deemed critical to be engaged by the Community-Based Sustainable Tourism (BSCT) leaders, who are the lead constituencies of G-Watch-Puerto Princesa.
The roundtable discussion is a space for stakeholders and actors of open government in the Philippines to reflect and discuss the impact and lessons of the Philippine experience on key open government reforms in recent years, especially in light of political transition.
A G-Watch Volunteer ("G-Watcher") embodies these core values, beliefs, and principles.
The workshop was part of G-Watch's "Training on G-Watch as a Social Accountability Approach" from April 2-9, 2011. ANSA-EAP was given 2 days for a constructive engagement workshop. The aim of the workshop was to engage participants in the value of social accountability and constructive engagement between government and civil society, and how these are linked to the initiatives of GWatch. It shall have the following specific objectives:
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The G-Watch Center is managed by an Executive Board, which also serves as a collective oversight/ accountability check for the basic organizational and management processes of the G-Watch Center.
The Advisory Board is composed of representatives from key partners, communities and sites of G-Watch. Its main function is to provide inputs and advice on the strategic direction of the Center and the network. Their oversight/ accountability role vis-a-vis the G-Watch Center shall be in terms of checking the strategic/ long-term goals and priorities of the G-Watch Center and core networks/ communities.
Joy Aceron is the Convenor-Director of G-Watch and concurrently a Research Fellow of Accountability Research Center (ARC) based in the School of International Service at American University. A graduate of the University of the Philippines with bachelor’s degree in political science and a master's degree in public policy, Joy has 15 years of experience in citizen monitoring, citizenship education and civil society-government engagement and has published works on civil society participation, political reform and vertically-integrated citizen-led reform campaigns.
Rechie started his engagement with G-Watch as a volunteer monitor for Textbook Count in 2005, when he was still a student leader at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He has since then become an integral part of the growth of G-Watch, primarily handling the capacity-building and citizen monitoring work of the team. Outside G-Watch, he is also engaged with other organizations working on peace and human rights, and youth advocacy.
Marianne is a licensed Social Worker and a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in social work. She has been part of G-Watch since 2010 when it started its localization work. A member of the women's movement as a student, Mars continues to advocate for women empowerment and gender equality as a development worker.
Francis is a researcher at Government Watch (G-Watch), who has written a number of studies on Philippine elections, social movements, human rights and agrarian reform. He is also involved with various NGOs and citizens-led reform campaigns in the Philippines. Francis is currently taking his masters in International Studies in De La Salle University in Manila.
Danny is the National Coordinator of Rural Poor Institute for Land and Human Rights Services or RIGHTS Network (http://www.rightsnetphils.org). He has written various publications while organizing citizen action on agrarian reform and land rights campaigns, making him a pioneer of action research in Philippine civil society.
An LGU official handling gender and civil society engagement programs of San Miguel, Bohol, who led San Miguel, Bohol's advancement in participatory governance and civil society empowerment that won awards on good governance and grants for its social programs
A social development leader in Naga City who has been active in Bicol civil society since the beginnings of Naga City People's Council (NCPC). He is the Executive Director of Jesse M. Robredo Center for Good Governance, while concurrently the Executive-Legislative Liaison Officer of Naga City LGU and Project Development Officer at the City Mayor's Office, leading the multi-sectoral anti-drug campaign of the city government. Renne formerly taught politics at the Ateneo de Naga University and has been a pioneer member of G-Watch Local Core Group of Naga City.
A student leader, who has led the engagement of Samal Island's civil society in social accountability and participatory governance that contributed in introducing transparency in environmental users' fee and health governance in Samal Island
A social entrepreneur and youth leader who has been active in civic and social actions in Southern Leyte, particularly on youth empowerment, social accountability and disaster management, leading the opening up of S. Leyte provincial government's procurement and contract implementation processes
Emma is the Secretary-General of DAMPA (Damayan ng Maralitang Pilipinong Api, or Solidarity of Oppressed Filipino People), a national federation of grassroots organizations. DAMPA aims to contribute viable solutions to basic poverty problems through adequate and affordable housing, provision of basic services, and literacy and livelihood development. Emma is a graduate of Bicol Colleges with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. Her experience in community organizing for DAMPA now spans 13 years.
An environmental activist and community organizer, who has led the mainstreaming of social accountability and citizen monitoring in Puerto Princesa's community-based sustainable tourism and other key social programs
A social development worker and community organizer in Cebu and across Visayas who works for the promotion and protections of children’s rights, elimination of child abuse exploitation and human trafficking, and at the same time advocates for youth empowerment, and participation in politics and government. He is also an advocate for the cultural heritage and arts protection and preservation.
A top-rated online freelancer who specialises in virtual office administration, systems automation, database management, digital marketing and web design. He worked as G-Watch's Programme Officer from 2008-2012 and was part of the team that started its localisation efforts. He is currently working on a project that aims to provide part-time online work opportunities for self-supporting students.
'Buddy' Subla is the President of Integrity Watch for Accountable Governance (IWAG), a citizen monitoring group based in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur. IWAG pioneered water governance monitoring in the country, and through Buddy's leadership, has become a key civil society organization championing accountability in local governance in CARAGA region. Buddy used to be a public school teacher, who decided to embark on CSO good governance work as his way of "giving back to his province and the country.".
A well-known CSO leader in Dumaguete City advocating for reproductive health and women empowerment and a former local government official who championed participatory governance in Negros Region.
G-Watch advances strategic citizen action through participatory learning and the synergy of research and practice. It employs an eco-systemic, integrated and holistic view of accountability, aims to scale accountability through multi-level action and coalition-building and engages the agenda-setting of different policy and development actors.
G-Watch supports citizen monitoring of government performance and resource allocation and utilization, looking at innovative and principled ways to sustain and scale citizen initiatives that work.
G-Watch ensures uptake of research and monitoring findings by publicizing its work and call to action to galvanize public support and by deliberately seeking response and action of government and duty-bearers. It takes advantage of the advent of information communication technology (ICT) to reach out to a broader audience and for more efficient organizing.
G-Watch supports the 'democratization' of knowledge development by amplifying the voice of TPA actors and practitioners in knowledge production and outputs and by raising the voice of the Global South in knowledge agenda-setting on TPA. It also aims to continue conducting research and producing knowledge outputs that are relevant and useful to policy actors.
G-Watch's central administration is guided by principles of efficiency and responsiveness that is founded on trust and solidarity balanced by results-oriented accountability.
What transpired in the country's politics in the last months requires deep reflection and introspection on what have governance reforms achieved and not achieved, its unintended consequences and the possible ill-effects of how it was popularized and practiced under the previous administration.