Urban Partnerships Program Philippines
The CIDA-funded Urban Partnership Program Philippines (2006-09) is focused on the theme of making decentralization work, based on the country’s decentralization of powers to local authorities and empowerment of communities in local decision-making, as set forth in the 1991 Local Government Code. Geographically, the program focuses on cities and their urban regions across the Western Visayas (Region VI), a priority area for CIDA under its Country Development Framework.
Funding Agency
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian Partnership Branch. UPP Philippines is a component of the CUI’s International Urban Partnership Program (I-UPP).
Timeframe
2006-2009
Geographic Focus
The geographic focus is the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. The program is based in the city of Iloilo.
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Project Partners
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 Core Local Government Unit (LGU) Partners: The main partner in the program is the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC), which is composed of the members of the former Metropolitan Iloilo Development Center (MIDC), along with the Province of Guimaras and Municipality of Sta. Barbara. The program will also work with stakeholder groups such as the academe, business sector, NGOs and communities who are collaborating and working with our core partners.
Secondary Partners: Selected key cities/capital towns and their community partners in Western Visayas (including the Municipality of Malay , CUI’s long-time LGU partner).
Regional and National Level: Department of Interior and Local Government (primarily through its Region VI office and its Local Government Resource Centre), League of Cities of the Philippines, local universities with regional reach, NGOs and business groups.
International Agencies: The project will collaborate with other initiatives in the Western Visayas, including those funded by donors such as JICA, GTZ, AusAID, UNFPA and UN-HABITAT Philippines, and others.
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Background
In 1991, the nature of the relationships between the national Government and local governments in the Philippines was radically transformed with the enactment of the far-reaching Local Government Code (LGC). The code devolved significant functions, powers, and responsibilities to the thousands of local governments in the country that had long been operating under a highly centralized regime.
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Participatory planning promises a bright future for the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras region.
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Local governments are the bedrock of Philippine democracy, as the level of government closest to the people. Their role as frontline institutions in the Philippines is particularly significant as the country is an archipelago composed of more than 7,000 islands. Local governments play an especially significant role in distant and isolated areas of the country, as they are one of the few links that connect people with the central government.
Decentralization was seen as a major opportunity to hasten democratization and development country-wide. In fact, former President Ramos referred to the five Ds of decentralization as deregulation, devolution, decentralization, democratization, and development. Critical among the fundamental attributes of decentralization is democratization, a recognized need to strengthen governance, including supporting citizen participation in local governance processes and bringing government closer to the people, as well as making institutions more accountable and transparent. Based on experience over the past decade, the following are among the major decentralization issues and concerns that remain to be addressed.
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Among the issues are:
 Lack of financial decentralization. The efforts of local governments have been greatly hampered because necessary financial resources have not accompanied the powers and responsibilities that have been devolved to them. For example, over the past 10 years LGUs in the Philippines have been forced to absorb personnel devolved by the national government without the accompanying financial resources. During the years immediately following the enactment of the 1991 Local Government Code, close to 65,000 personnel were devolved to the local level.
Capacity gaps at the local level. Local governments are facing tremendous capacity gaps that are limiting their ability to uphold powers and responsibilities devolved to them under the LGC. Capacity-building, including skills building and training for local government units and national agencies active at the local level needs to be a national priority if the LGC is to be successful.
Local governments leading revolutionary thinking at the local level. LGUs have become more assertive and effective in articulating their interests over the past 10 years. They have successfully organized themselves into leagues at various levels, under umbrella organizations, such as the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP). The emergence of LGUs as advocates in support of good local governance has been quite remarkable. In part, this trend is attributed to the success of associations such as the ULAP and their efforts to maintain IRAs and support amendments to the LGC.
Inter-local cooperation and collaboration. LGUs in the Philippines have recognized the value of inter-local cooperation and collaboration, as provided for in the LGC. Many recognize that challenges encountered at the local level, including marine resource preservation and management, watershed preservation, flood and pollution control, can be best met if they cooperate/collaborate with neighbouring LGUs.
Government-civil society collaboration. LGUs have begun to increasingly enter into partnerships with civil society and the private sector to address local challenges. Examples of successful partnerships across the Philippines are common, making the country a leading model in government-civil society collaboration. As a result, the Philippines experience in decentralization is redefining governance at the local level in SE Asia.
Recognizing best practices. The field of governance in general, and local governance in particular, is an area that has generated high interest among international development agencies operating in the Philippines. Awards programs have been instrumental in successfully disseminating and encouraging good and best practices at the local level. Since the enactment of the LGC, various awards programs recognizing local initiatives and innovations have been launched.
Urbanization. Urbanization is a critical challenge and opportunity for local governments. Estimates indicate that by 2020 over 50% of the Philippine population will be residing in urban areas. As a result, more and more local governments will have to confront the problems of urbanization, including pollution, traffic congestion, and environment degradation. Action points for supporting LGUs may include: a) sensitizing LGUs to the challenges brought about by rapid urbanization, and b) exposing them to the experiences, successes and failures, of other LGUs as they confronted problems brought about by urbanization.
Engaging in global dialogue. Local governments in the Philippines are becoming increasingly savvy and aware of global dynamics and their role in meeting the challenges of globalization. LGUs are participating in international forums, presenting their initiatives and innovations. They are also adopting technologies to connect themselves with the wider world. Truly, LGUs in the Philippines are thinking globally, acting locally.
Performance management. Performance indicators and benchmarks for good governance are becoming important guides for local governments to monitor their effectiveness. There is significant interest to tie performance to national funding. The DILG, with support from CIDA’s LGSP, has been a leader in local government performance management. In 2005, the DILG launched its Local Government Performance Monitoring System (LGPMS) across the WV, a comprehensive self-evaluating performance management system that guides LGUs to improve across-the-board service delivery.
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Project Description
In the Philippines, CUI proposes to continue its theme of making decentralization work, supporting the country’s effort to decentralize powers to local authorities and empower communities in local decision-making, as set forth in the 1991 Local Government Code. The program will also place emphasis on localizing MDGs within urban governance processes, helping local authorities to realize national and global poverty eradication goals. The UPP Philippines approach, as set forth in the I-UPP program vision, is that the achievement of good urban governance, the creation of sustainable cities, the improvement of the quality of urban life, and the eventual reduction of urban poverty all rest on the degree to which urban stakeholders pursue a collective agenda aimed at investing financial, social and institutional capital towards the improvement of the civic public realm and the development of community assets. The geographic focuses of the program are the cities and their urban regions across the Western Visayas (Region VI), a priority area for CIDA under its Country Development Framework.
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Canada-Philippines Partnership Project for Good Urban Governance
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Community composting in action: the Province of Guimaras has pursued a "clean and green" agenda through improved governance of its solid waste management systems
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The Canada-Philippines Partnership Project for Good Urban Governance was a four-phase, CIDA-funded initiative that supported the Philippines' continued thrust towards decentralization of power to local authorities and empowerment of communities in local decision-making, as set forth in the 1991 Local Government Code. The geographic focus of the project was the Western Visayas Region, one of the priority areas for intervention under CIDA’s Country Development Framework. The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) worked with several local and regional government units in the region, as well as with national level agencies with a local development mandate. The project strengthened the capacity of local authorities to promote sustainable development, good governance and community involvement in decision-making.
Funding Agency
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), through the Agency’s Canadian Partnership Branch. This project was a component of the CUI’s multi-country International Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance (IPPGUG).
Timeframe
1993-2006
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Geographic Focus
The project was implemented in the Western Visayas (Region VI) of the Philippines, which is one of the priority regions for development as identified in the Philippine Development Plan and in CIDA’s Country Development Policy Framework. It is considered one of the lesser-developed regions of the country.
Project Partners
- Metro Iloilo Development Council ( Iloilo City and the municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia and San Miguel)
- Province of Guimaras and its five constituent municipalities
- Aklan Province and the Municipality of Malay
- National government agencies with a local development mandate, including Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Economic Development Agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Tourism
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Background
The tradition of strong central government power and control in the Philippines, which dates back 400 years to the beginning of the Spanish conquest, made an important reversal in 1986 with the advent of the People’s Power Revolution. This revolution brought the country into its current era of democratic development. By 1991, the Local Government Code (LGC) had been passed, which describes a system of sound local governance based on the principles of openness, accountability, efficiency, equity and respect for the rule of law. The Code gave Local Government Units (LGUs) the power and responsibility to undertake basic services previously performed by the central government. This trend toward government decentralization and empowerment of local communities deepened the roots of democracy. But great challenges remain ahead if LGUs are to fully exercise their decentralized powers. Challenges include lack of basic capacity, technical know-how and (financial) resources to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate activities in an effective, autonomous and fully accountable manner.
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Project Description
The project aimed to assist the selected local government institutions in Western Visayas to achieve more efficient and equitable delivery of economic, environmental and social services through the promotion of inter-local governmental cooperation and good urban governance.
The overall objectives of the project were to:
- Demonstrate how sustainable development principles can be integrated into local government policies, plans and programs;
- Innovation of efficient and equitable approaches to mandated decentralization of services to local authorities;
- Promote inclusiveness, civic engagement and equity of access to local government affairs and local governance systems, with a special emphasis on closing gender gaps;
- Develop new avenues for intergovernmental coordination, cooperation and collaboration;
- Raise the capacity of local governments to promote local economic development, thereby creating jobs and alleviating poverty;
- Help to improve the transparency and accountability of local authorities to their citizens;
- Influence change in national level legislative and regulatory frameworks that promote good local governance and decentralization.
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Major initiatives included:
- Metropolitan Iloilo Initiative (MII), which assisted five local governments in this medium-sized urban region to pursue intermunicipal cooperation, regional planning, growth management and improvements to regional service delivery through the establishment of a metropolitan governance body known as the Metro Iloilo Development Council.
- Guimaras Economic Initiative (GEI), which aimed at developing the capacities of the provincial and municipal governments to bring about economic development and poverty reduction, as well as to sustain earlier environmental protection undertakings.
- Malay Local Social Service Delivery Enhancement Initiative (LSSDEI), which assisted this municipality to improve the coordination and sustain the quality of the delivery of social services for the disadvantaged groups through broad-based inter-agency coordination and partnerships.
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Approach
The project consisted of three activity components:
- Participatory strategy development with involvement of civil society and the private sector to assist in the development, coordination and implementation of strategic program plans. This was accomplished through establishing multi-stakeholder project steering committees and implementing demonstration projects.
- Capacity development and strengthening of the management and financial capabilities of local and regional institutions in order for them to effectively plan, implement and evaluate collaborative strategies addressing common urban development issues. This was accomplished through conducting baseline assessments, formulating capacity development plans, facilitating participatory planning processes and strengthening capabilities in the areas of project and financial management.
- Communication and dissemination among local and regional partners and other stakeholders of project processes, lessons learned and best practices resulting from the project.
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Key Results
Metro Iloilo Initiative
- Metropolitan governance has arrived in the Philippines’ fifth largest urban region
- A devolution revolution in the Western Visayas - local leaders have acted on their own initiative, within the national legal framework, and within their own financial means to design a metropolitan arrangement appropriate to local political circumstances and imperatives
- A regional growth management framework with strong civic engagement formulated.
- Reinvestment in community assets is helping the city region to get back on track to improve its public spaces and places, and to improve its community infrastructure
- Leadership developed for regional thinking
- Rural strategies for the city region – rural areas increasingly being included in regional planning
Guimaras Economic Initiative
- Guimaras has been removed from nation’s roster of poorest provinces
- Guimaras community-based tourism is contributing to poverty reduction
- An integrated local economic development agenda exists for Guimaras
- New capacities and institutional arrangements are in place to sustain the pursuit of local poverty reduction targets
Malay Local Social Service Delivery Enhancement Initiative
- Greater efficiency, equity and accessibility in local government service delivery in Malay.
- Improved health service delivery
- A solid waste management system tailored to Boracay Island’s unique small-island circumstances.
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