Forum on the Philippine Development Plan

Dear friends,

Peace.

We are pleased to invite you to the forum, “Katarungan, Kapayapaan at Katiwasayan, Tungo sa Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay: Justice, Peace and Security as Essential Pillars of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) National Action Plan”.   The forum will be held on Tuesday, ­March 28, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the Microtel UP-Technohub Hotel, Commonwealth, Quezon City.  The Alternative Law Groups, Inc. (ALG) is organizing this forum in cooperation with the PH-OGP Non-government Secretariat.

With the recent approval of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, there is a need to disseminate information about its contents and to stimulate discussions for its implementation and the fulfillment of the goals of “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay”.  The approval of the PDP came at a very appropriate time as the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Steering Committee will soon start the process for finalizing the next PH-OGP National Action Plan (NAP) 2017-2019.

In line with Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.) and the OGP Grand Challenges of Improving Public Services and Creating Safer Communities, we deem it best to initially focus our attention on three interrelated chapters of the PDP: Chapter 6 (Pursuing Swift and Fair Administration of Justice), Chapter 17 (Attaining Just and Lasting Peace), and Chapter 18 (Ensuring Security, Public Order, and Safety).

Attached, for your reference, is the draft program for the forum.  We have requested officers of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to present the over-all framework and the three chapters of the PDP.  For each chapter, there will be a panel of reactors representing both government and CSOs.  The forum will be an opportunity to discuss potential OGP commitments related to justice, peace and security.

We are conducting this forum as part of the project, “Empowered Civil Society Participation in Monitoring Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies Towards Enhanced Integrity of the Justice System,” or “HUSTISYA NATIN”.  Supported by the European Union, the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs), especially regional/local groups, to help monitor the performance of judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, and effectively participate in judicial reform.

If you have questions or concerns, you may contact us at 426 85 69 (look for Lito, Rene or Patricia).

Thank you very much.

Very truly yours,

Atty. MARLON J. MANUEL
National Coordinator
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)

FORUM PROGRAM