Setting the Stage for Constructive Engagement
The opening remarks by Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad, the Philippines’ secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, was an inspiring talk about how the present leadership in the Philippines traces itself back to the people power movement in 1986 led by Corazon Aquino, whose son, Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, is now the president. Sec. Abad spoke of how the death of former president Corazon Aquino relived the EDSA revolution in minds of Filipinos and rekindled hope in the hearts of a people who were growing hopeless and helpless amidst a graft-ridden government.
Secretary Abad emphasized the current administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability and announced a most welcome development for social accountability advocates—the present government’s invitation to the civil society groups to participate in budget preparation and monitor the implementation of government projects.
This is ANSA-EAP's online channel for commentary and reflection on social accountability issues, as well as on interconnected issues of corruption, governance, and citizen participation. All articles in VOICES represent opinions of the individual writers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ANSA-EAP and its partners. ANSA-EAP is also not responsible for the accuracy of information in these articles.
12 July 2011
Checkmyschool.org: Bridging Online and Offline Efforts for Solutions to Real-life Problems
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are potent tools to empower citizens. Checkmyschool.org, a homegrown social accountability mechanism, involves the blended approach of online participation and offline community mobilization to identify and work toward addressing education issues.
Checkmyschool.org (CMS) was envisioned to be more than a web portal; it’s a social accountability monitoring tool—one that counts on the participation of Filipino citizens to address public education issues. To realize this fully, the program counts on community mobilization—which happens offline—as a vital component that runs parallel with the online web portal.
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