UBAS - Grassroots Citizen Activism
for Good Governance
On September 12, 2014, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, and Liga ng Barangay (LnB) National President Ed Abesamis signed a Memorandum of Agreement for their respective institutions to work together in a movement called UBAS - Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (Alliance of Barangay and Church).
The MoA re-activates an initiative launched by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo in 2011. It calls on the leaders of the smallest political unit in the country - the barangays - and leaders of all religious groups to work together to encourage active citizenship at the grassroots level. Its main objective is the promotion of the values of good governance throughout the country.
At that time, a number of bishops and LGU leaders eagerly agreed to join the Sec Robredo’s advocacy for UBAS as they share the same vision and goals of integrity, of service, and of good citizenship.
This year, it has been launched in the province of Cebu with Archbishop Palma, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide Jr., and LnB President Ed Abesamis signing the MoA. A majority of the barangay captains were present as were the leaders of the Philippine National Police (PNP). A Technical Working Group is already in place and making plans to prioritize the local issues in Cebu and to work out their strategies to respond to them.
UBAS is also already being undertaken in a number of cities of Metro Manila.
One of the major requests of the DILG Secretary Roxas is that the UBAS groups monitor the implementation of the projects funded under the Grassroots Participatory Process (GPP), formerly called the Bottom-Up Budgeting Program or BUB. This would help ensure that the projects are implemented properly and that the funds are used judiciously. In the future, the UBAS groups can actually participate in the preparation of their barangay's priority projects.
In fact, at the September 12 launch at the Arzobispado, Sec. Roxas turned over seven thick folders containing all the detailed information on all the GPP projects in more than 1,400 municipalities approved for 2014 and 2015. He also handed to Cardinal Tagle a CD which contains all that information. In addition, Undersecretary Austere Panadero presented a power point of the DILG website where the general public can view these projects.
All this for everyone’s total access to information that hopefully leads to greater accountability of the implementing local government units (LGUs). Its success will bolster our dream of a country led by men and women of integrity, competence, dedication and a sense of service to our people.
On September 26, national and local leaders of UBAS met to map out their strategic plans to accelerate the establishment of UBAS communities across the country. The participants clarified their own understanding of the movement and their role in making it succeed. Already, a number of bishops, priests, governors and mayors have expressed their interest in joining the movement and in helping to spread the gospel of active citizenship and good governance.
The Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference on Human Development (BBC), the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) have all agreed to inform their members about UBAS and encourage them to reach out to their respective communities. Other faith-based groups as well as civil society organizations and professional associations are being invited to the cause.
After all, if each barangay had a multisectoral alliance for citizen’s active involvement in the community’s affairs – peace and order, education, health services, environmental issues, anti-trafficking, child abuse, etc – then the whole country will benefit from their generosity in caring for each other.
UBAS will be launched in Cagayan de Oro on Saturday, October 11, with Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and CdO Mayor Oscar Moreno in attendance as well as LGU and barangay officials, Muslim leaders, and leaders of The Church of Latter Day Saints.
Many more areas are eager to launch UBAS
as their contribution to good governance and nation building.
One immediate national event will be the
upcoming Barangay Assemblies on Sunday, October 12. UBAS will be presented at these
assemblies to inform our people about this wonderful initiative of bringing
together all the stakeholders in the barangay to work together for a brighter
future for all.
