Tech firm Epson Philippines Corporation provided assistance recently to the 11th Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Philippines National Conference held last February at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City.
CBMS is a tool for local government monitoring and governance. It is used to provide relevant information to policy makers and program implementers to empower communities.
More than 750 participants attended this year?s conference. The list includes local chief executives, local development planners, and officials and representatives of national government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the academe.
The conference tackled the uses of CBMS for grassroots participatory budgeting process (GPBP), disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA), local poverty reduction action planning, local programming and project prioritization, impact?monitoring, and the improvement of local governance.
Another highlight of this year?s session was the discussion of best practices on the implementation of CBMS for fostering transparency and accountability in local governance and sustaining development initiatives.
?For several years now, Epson has supported CBMS in their goal to empower communities,? said Donna Ferro, head of marcom and PR for Epson Philippines. ?It?s another way on how we want to improve the quality of life of Filipinos,? added Ferro.
