Dr. Enrie A. Mendoza, Presidential Assistant for Region 1 and Chairperson of the Regional KALAHI Convergence Group (RKCG) explained that the endorsement of the basic sector organizations at the national level would provide them the opportunities to increase the support for their advocacies and ensure continuous focus on their concerns.

“These engagements at the national level will allow the basic sectors to strongly influence the shaping of the social, political and economic agenda, as well as development prospects of the country, particularly in the social development sector” Mendoza said.

Director Bert Villa together with Ms. Mary Ann Alivia of the NAPC gave the details of the guidelines for the basic sector accreditation.  The formation of sectoral councils, nomination process, recall procedures and such other mechanisms to ensure accountability of the sectoral representatives to the NAPC will be governed by the rules and regulations issued by the President pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act 8425.

On the issue on decentralization of the accreditation process raised by the participants, NAPC explained that the various agencies have their respective mandates, which is the basis of their accreditation.  Director Villa added that the accreditation pursuant to AO 187 will provide the basic sectors a more meaningful and effective participation in various areas of governance at the NAPC level.

The participants also went through a workshop to map out their policy agenda for the next three years (2010-2012), which will further be discussed in the next meeting of the RKCG for endorsement to the RDC Proper and to concerned agencies.  These will also be advocated at the national level and other bodies like LGUs and NGOs.

A total of 36 participants from the 11 basic sector groups and 10 from the government agencies attended the meeting last January 12, 2010 at the Justo O. Orros Hall of the NEDA Region I Office.