The I-Participate Ordinance of VM Bebot Rodriguez: Legislation Through Citizen Participation

“IT is citizens—ordinary men and women, determined to forge their own future—who throughout history have sparked all the great change and progress.” – Barack Obama

This sentiment rings true in movements such as Hong Kong's Anti-Extradition Bill Protests and Singapore's Consultation on Plastic Bag Charges, which underscore the power of public engagement. These instances, along with others like the climate strikes led by young activists worldwide and the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, demonstrate how active citizen participation and feedback can indeed influence and shape legislation, thereby impacting the future of communities.

Unfortunately, challenges still persist in various parts of the world, where democratic principles and processes are undermined, and people are forced to be silent. In contrast, Cagayan de Oro is making notable strides under the leadership of City Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, who is dedicated to ensuring that every Kagay-anon, whether affiliated with a people’s organization or not, has a voice in shaping the city’s future.

Vice Mayor Bebot is a staunch advocate of inclusive governance as evidenced by her initiatives that foster community engagement. Her office regularly conducts public forums and consultations, ensuring that the legislative processes are transparent, grassroots participatory, and whole-of-community responsive.

In July 2024, she took this commitment a step further by filing the "I-Participate Ordinance of Cagayan de Oro," a landmark piece of legislation designed to strengthen the involvement of Kagay-anons in the city's legislative processes.

This ordinance includes provisions for the online posting of proposed legislative measures, direct citizen participation in committee and public hearings, the publication of approved ordinances and resolutions on the city's website in a searchable Portable Document Format (PDF), and the creation of the I-Participate Council.

Under this proposed ordinance, all measures proposed by members of the city council will be made available online within three days of filing. They will be accessible through the city's official website, social media platforms, and even barangay webpages, allowing the public to review, comment, and provide feedback on the proposals before they are discussed in the committee meetings or public hearings.

The lady vice mayor is confident that such measures will not only strengthen democracy in Cagayan de Oro but also inspire other cities to adopt similar practices.

She believes that by making sure that the voices of every Kagay-anon are heard, we are building a city where everyone feels empowered to participate in contributing to our shared destiny as Kagay-anons – and as one Kagay-an.