The Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values, Inc. (CRFV) actively participated in two important events that aim to improve local governance and community development in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
CRFV at the 2024 First Semester Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Council Meeting (MSAC)

• CRFV National Director, Nathaniel A. Saquiban, and Deputy National Director, Jesus V. Sison, represented the organization at the MSAC meeting held on April 4, 2024, at Sen. Nene Pimentel Hall, Department of Interior and Local Government – CAR (DILG-CAR), Baguio City.
• The meeting discussed crucial topics like the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Results, the creation of a Cordillera Committee of Good Local Governance under MSAC, the 2023 LGU Capacity Performance Segmentation Results, and upcoming programs for 2024.
• CRFV representatives actively participated in discussions, particularly on the SGLG Results, offering valuable recommendations.

A Step Forward in Good Local Governance: The Cordillera Committee of Good Local Governance

• A key outcome of the MSAC meeting was the establishment of the Cordillera Committee of Good Local Governance.
• This committee, composed of representatives from line agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), aims to provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) with lower SGLG scores.
• CRFV applauds this innovative initiative by DILG-CAR, the lead agency, as it fosters collaboration for improved governance across the region.

Building Livable and Resilient Communities: Baguio City Barangay Development Planning and Barangay Resiliency Planning

• On April 5, 2024, CRFV also participated in the City of Baguio's first Barangay Development Planning and Barangay Resiliency Planning at Orchard Hotel.
• Punong Barangays, Barangay officials, and CSO representatives gathered to discuss the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the City for every barangay.
• This plan will serve as the foundation for developing plans in various areas, such as disaster risk reduction, environmental management, and community development.
• This initiative empowers barangays to enhance their governance, administration, and build a more livable and resilient city.

CRFV's participation in these events demonstrates its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote good governance, community development, and a more resilient Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the leadership of Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, initiated a campaign for the promotion and observance of discipline among the entire citizenry called “Disiplina Muna”. The campaign was first introduced to representatives of various agencies, business sector, non-government, and civil society organizations. The Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV) was invited to attend the meeting on October 24, 2019 at DILG Central Office. One of its officers present in the meeting was able to share some thoughts on how to effectively rally the program given the existing administrative requirements attached to it.
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The meeting was followed by a grand launching conducted at the City Hall of Manila on November 6, 2019 which was attended by several dignitaries, members of Manila City officialdom, and high ranking officials of DILG. Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, being the host, gave his welcome remarks to all guests and visitors succeeded by inspirational messages from “Disiplina Muna” Ambassadors. CRFV was given the privilege to represent the entire body of non-government organizations (NGOs) in the Philippines in such momentous occasion and was given the opportunity to rally all NGOs to support the program.

The grand launching in Manila signaled a wide-scale precedent to all DILG Regional and Field Offices. On July 24, 2020, the DILG Cordillera also hosted a grand launching at Baguio Country Club amidst of the pandemic where CRFV was again invited to speak a campaign message on the value of discipline in behalf of the members of the private sector. The event was attended by representatives of the local and national government agencies.

 The regional grand launching in the Cordillera prompted the city government of Baguio to hold a kick-off program last July 27, 2020. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong was recognized as the “Disiplina Muna Champion” during the program. Others gave their message of support such as DILG Regional Director Marlo L. Iringan and Baguio City Congressman Marquez O. Go. CRFV, in part, gave its commitment to do plans of action in order to enhance discipline among members of the private sector as its contribution to the efforts of the government in instilling discipline as the foundation to nation building. There were eight (8) points that CRFV committed to implement which were greatly appreciated by the DILG City Director.

The Disiplina Muna Campaign is another thrust opened for CRFV to further its cause of restoring values among Filipinos. Being a strong partner of DILG, it has been faithful in fulfilling its pledge of realizing discipline citizenry to this date. Since its participation at the national grand launching in Manila, its officers and members have joined several clean-up drives at major parks and tourist destinations of Baguio. CRFV is also currently involved in making and putting-up signage or visuals communicating the practice of discipline around the City of Baguio to this date. (NAS, CRFV)

Transforming the nation through restoration of Filipino values knows no end or boundaries. In the past years, CRFV has been traditionally implementing its programs and services – face to face, up close and personal. Of course, it was successful and had transformed many lives and influenced changes in many government agencies.

Though digitalization and broadcasting have been introduced more than a decade ago, it was only until we were hit by the COVID pandemic that the Council jumped into the ship. In this case, broadcasting of the weekly Filipino values along with relevant updates and words or encouragement. This avenue became the most powerful and effective channel for CRFV to not stop pushing for national transformation.

This broadcast is brought to us by CRFV in partnership with Cool 97.5, a local Baguio FM radio station who has also strengthened their live streaming capability since the current pandemic. Together, we were able to explore and successfully took advantage of many present trends and technology in terms of mass communications.

The first CRFV live broadcast was conducted on May 25, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, hosted by Mr. Jesus Sison, Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban, and Mr. Nathaniel Saquiban. The segment is entitled “Building the Nation through Values.” Later on, the slot was moved to air from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and guest hosts from the CRFV winning team and Values Restoration Officers were invited to share best practices.  Atty. Joyce B. Balong became part of the hosting team, too. Again, present technology and trends were adapted since some of  them are joining in via cloud.

This platform is one of the Council’s main focus at present because of its potential to reach more people – beyond schedule, beyond location, beyond race, across boundaries. We are continuously striving to know current and relevant events to accurately deliver inspiring messages in this uncertain times. It is a work in progress and we expect to reach out to more people in the days to come. We shall never stop from getting the good news across so expect more innovations in the coming days.

Please tune in to the live broadcast every Monday, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 NN (MNL time). Watch party link is often shared on our official Facebook page or VRO group page. For those who missed the live broadcast, a replay is also uploaded on our You Tube channel. Please subscribe & click the notifiction bell to be updated.

Together, let us banner, “Righteousness exalts a nation; values build her for all generations.” ​(JVS, KMB, CRFV)
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been an active partner-agency of CRFV for 6 years now. It is among the first government agencies who implemented the Values Restoration Program (VRP) nationwide. VRP is a public-private partnership between CRFV and the Civil Service Commission that aims to train and raise Values Restoration Officers (VROs) in every office. At present, there are over 100 VROs nationwide from DENR out of more the than 2,000 appointed VROs from every agency, nationwide.​

Moreover, DENR Central Office, together with CRFV had customized Civil Accountability & Values Enhancement Seminar (CAVES) as an exclusive program for the Department around November of 2015. A series of CAVE Seminars then subsequently took place throughout the years.

The faith and trust between CRFV and DENR wasn’t hindered by the current COVID pandemic gathering restrictions as they had just concluded another CAVE webinar on July 17-20, 2020. In fact, it is the pioneer client of CRFV in terms of conducting events over the cloud. It was attended by 32 participants from the DENR Central Office.

Though it was a new path and direction for CRFV, it is able to deliver the webinar objectives as a traditional seminar can. Based on the pre and post evaluations of the attendees, there is an increased knowledge among the participants related to the topics discussed during the event. Execution and handling of related administrative matters were excellent, clear communication was delivered, topics were comprehensive, relevant, and appropriate. Fortunately, the facilitators are experts and were well-prepared to deliver.

As an overall result, 32 participants from the webinar are enlightened and ready to fulfill their roles as environmentalists. They can and will do more as they anchor everything to the Filipino core values that were discussed. Not only will they technically do their jobs, but they will now do it with passion, understanding their purpose.

This is what is needed from every government employee in the midst of the uncertainties due to our present situation. As the partnership between CRFV and DENR remains to be strong, positive things will add on to the foundations we are building towards healing and recovery from the current pandemic. Remember our banner: We Work as One. We Heal as One. We Build as One. (JVS, CRFV)