The Municipality of Buhi, Camarines Sur, marked a significant milestone last January 21, 2026, with the formal signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Bayanihan Governance Project. This event was held at Magindara Hall, Barangay Sta. Clara, Buhi, Camarines Sur and made possible through the collaboration of the Partnership for Transparency Foundation Asia (PTFA) and LifeBank Foundation together with the Local Government Unit of Buhi, Camarines Sur.
The ceremony was graced by prominent leaders and advocates for good governance including Mr. Roberto Mediana Jr. – Officer-in-Charge of LBF, Mr. Dantye P. Delos Angeles – Managing Director of PTFA, Hon. Rey P. Lacoste – Mayor of Buhi, Camarines Sur, Hon. Christian I. Echipare – Vice Mayor of Buhi, Camarines Sur, Mr. Hector Crisostomo – Program Manager of PTFA and Ms. Gladys Belmin – Assistant Program Manager of PTFA. Their presence underscored a shared commitment to strengthening participatory and community-centered governance in the region.
The signing of the MOA formally signals the expansion of the Bayanihan Governance Project to Buhi, bringing its benefits to three pilot barangays. This initiative seeks to foster inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance by creating platforms that actively engage communities in local planning, implementation, and monitoring.
Through these mechanisms, the project aims to make local governance decisions become more responsive and trusted, ensuring that power and responsibility are truly shared between government and the communities they serve.
The Bayanihan Governance Project was initially piloted in Iriga and is now extending its reach to Buhi, Camarines Sur. The project brings together local government units, civil society organizations, and citizens to promote inclusive, participatory, and community-centered governance, ensuring coordinated efforts toward achieving an empowered community and fostering participatory governance practices.
Additionally, tools such as community dialogues and participatory monitoring were provided in empowering citizens to take an active role in local governance and hold leaders accountable in real time.
This partnership of PTFA, LBF and LGU of Buhi, marks a significant milestone in our shared journey to build empowered, resilient communities. As Buhi joins the Bayanihan Governance initiative, stakeholders look forward to a future where inclusive and participatory governance becomes the norm.
Together, we look forward to a society where decisions are made with transparency, trust, and genuine collaboration between the government and the people it serves.
