La union: The provincial government of La Union has initiated the 'Agkaysa' town hall meetings to foster participatory governance, underscoring the province's dedication to transparency, accountability, and integrity.

According to Philippines News Agency, Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega emphasized the critical role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advancing the province's development. He urged community members to contribute their insights during the discussions. "We want our constituents to remain united and involved in the decision-making process and development of programs for the betterment of our province," Ortega stated.

In the initial meeting, which included members from 70 CSOs across Bacnotan, San Gabriel, San Juan, and San Fernando City, participants identified issues such as limited access to social services, waste management, flooding, traffic, and unscheduled power interruptions. CSO members engaged in open discussions and visioning workshops to tackle these pressing concerns within their communities.

The Agkaysa meetings-named after the Ilocano term for coming together for a common purpose-focused on five development areas: institutional development; infrastructure and land use development; environmental management and disaster risk reduction; economic development; and social development. Ortega highlighted that the insights from these meetings would inform the development of plans, policies, and the province's long-term vision to improve government services.

Participant Aurie Nellie Tumbaga expressed gratitude to the provincial government for facilitating public discussions. "This is a huge help to us because the organizations' voices are heard in establishing the new vision of the province in open governance, and we hope this would truly help the province," she said.

The town hall meetings will continue in the towns of Santol, Tubao, Agoo, and Naguilian in the coming weeks.