CANDONI, Negros Occidental — The Candoni Integrated People’s Alliance (CIPA) has formally requested the Sangguniang Bayan of Candoni to endorse Mr. Ardinel L. Candari, the newly elected President of the Candoni Local People’s Council (LPC), as the municipality’s representative to the Provincial Local People’s Council of Negros Occidental.

The request was embodied in Resolution No. 2026-01, approved during CIPA’s 1st Assembly Meeting held on January 4, 2026, at the Function Hall of the Municipal Building in Candoni. The assembly was attended by representatives of accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) across the municipality, along with key officials from the local government and national agencies.

CIPA, a federated body of accredited CSOs in Candoni, successfully convened its assembly and conducted the election of officers in accordance with existing laws and guidelines. Mr. Candari emerged as the elected President of the Candoni Local People’s Council, a mechanism established to ensure meaningful participation of civil society in local governance.

The resolution cites Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which mandates the participation of CSOs in local special bodies. It also references DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2021-054, which institutionalizes the Local People’s Council in every local government unit and provides for the representation of elected LPC officers at the provincial level. Further support is drawn from DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-083, which strengthens the accreditation of CSOs and reinforces the role of the LPC in promoting genuine people’s participation.

According to the resolution, endorsing Mr. Candari to the Provincial Local People’s Council will help ensure that the voices and concerns of Candonians are represented in broader provincial development discussions and policy-making processes.

The assembly was attended by representatives from various CSOs, including HBONI Inc., PEMCIA/GSWISA, PKKK Inc., BEISOFA, TABSI SWISA, CRICA, CAPAN Inc., CIFGA, CALGEM, HMC, and Bugtong Bato, among others. Also present were officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Municipal Planning and Development Office, the CSO Desk, and the Office of the Mayor.