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Republic of the Philippines, Mindanao and Western Visayas, Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program Phase II (LGSP II): August 1999–November 2006

Purpose

• To assist the Government of the Philippines in realizing its objectives for equitable growth and poverty reduction through more effective local governance with enhanced multi-stakeholder participation in the target regions
• To strengthen the effectiveness of local governance in four key areas: local government leadership and management; service delivery; resource generation and management; and participatory governance

Challenge

Following the fall of the Marcos regime, the Philippines embarked on an ambitious program of poverty reduction, democratization and decentralization. In 1991, the Local Government Code was enacted to devolve powers and functions to provincial, city and municipal governments to increase efficiency, responsiveness and accountability in the provision of basic services.

Since 1991, CIDA has supported Philippine efforts to develop the capacity of Local Government Units and enhance the enabling environment for local government. LGSP II is the second phase of CIDA’s support for local government capacity development. It focuses on supporting provincial, city and municipal governments in seven of the poorest and most conflict-affected regions of the country. The challenge is to shift centralized, authoritarian and clan-based attitudes, systems and practices to ones that are locally responsive, participatory and equitable.

Approach

LGSP II worked with local governments and central government departments to help them identify their own priorities and needs in consultation with their stakeholders. It then collaborated with them to develop capacity, improve performance and ultimately provide better governance services to citizens. The program partnered with many local NGOs, educational institutions, consultants and government agencies as well as Canadian municipal practitioners to deliver technical assistance, training, coaching and on-the-job mentoring to elected officials and public servants throughout the local government system.

Project Description

The original program (1999–2004) focused on developing the capacity of 205 Local Government Units in Mindanao and Western Visayas. This included 174 municipalities, 11 cities, 19 provinces and the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In 2004, the program was extended for an additional two years (to November 2006) to consolidate support for the enabling environment, particularly for the system strengthening and policy reforms initiated by the national Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The program developed government capacity in four main areas:

1. Local government leadership and management
2. Financial management
3. Service delivery
4. Participatory governance

The four cross-cutting themes of gender equality, environmental sustainability, poverty reduction and peace and unity informed the program activities. A participatory analysis and planning process helped local government leaders set an executive and legislative agenda to determine short- and medium-term government and community priorities. The program then supported the local governments in implementing their agendas and improving their functioning and services in partnership with civil society, the private sector, neighbouring municipalities and other levels of government.

To enhance the enabling environment, the program worked with the local government leagues, the Local Government Academy, DILG and other supporting institutions to develop their capability to:

• promote and support local government capacity building
• measure local government performance
• identify, document and replicate leading practices
• participate in policy reform

Results

• 205 participating Local Government Units (LGUs) demonstrated improvement in the four program outcome areas of leadership and management, service delivery, financial management and participatory governance.
• Based on a performance information system with 49 local governance indicators, all 205 LGUs showed a marked level of progress from their baseline assessment.
• 60% of LGUs achieved or exceeded benchmark competencies in leadership and management.
• 48% of LGUs increased public access to mandated basic services such as health, social services, education, environmental management, solid waste management and local economic development.
• 43% of LGUs achieved or exceeded benchmarks for citizen, private sector and civil society organization participation in governance and the delivery of community services.
• The participatory development of Executive and Legislative Agendas, introduced by LGSP II, was adopted nationally by DILG and promoted country-wide and included by the Department of Finance as a criterion for the release of interior revenue allotments to LGUs.
• 20% of LGUs increased their annual revenue through improvements in taxation, fee collections and streamlining of business processes.
• DILG improved its ability to promote and sustain replication through its Governance Facility for Adaptation and Replication of Exemplary Practices Program (GOFAR), based on LGSP II’s replication methodology.
• Based on LGSP II’s performance information system, DILG developed and implemented a national Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) that now includes data from 85% of all LGUs.
• DILG’s organizational development initiatives were enhanced, enabling the department’s transition to a more facilitative and development role in relation to LGUs.
• DILG established a national Local Governance Resource Centre at the Local Government Academy and seven regional LGRCs in DILG Regional Offices.
• The League of Municipalities of the Philippines and the League of Cities of the Philippines are better able to play a key role in policy development regarding issues affecting LGUs.
• 85 supporting institutions have integrated new capacity development concepts and methodologies and cross-cutting themes into their work with LGUs.

Project Director

Alix Yule
ayule@agriteam.ca

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