Summary
The Canada-Philippines Partnership Project for Good Urban Governance is a four-phase, CIDA-funded initiative that supports 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 is the Western Visayas Region, one of the priority areas for intervention under CIDA’s Country Development Framework. The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) works with several local and regional government units in the region, as well as with national level agencies with a local development mandate. The project is strengthening the capacity of local authorities to promote sustainable development, good governance and community involvement in decision-making.
Funding Agency:
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian Partnership Branch, a component of the CUI’s International Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance (IPPGUG). IPPGUG builds on the achievements of CUI’s three earlier CIDA-sponsored programs: the International Assistance Program on Strategic Urban Management (IAPSUM – 1995-1998), the International Partnership Program on Strategic Urban Management (IPPSUM – 1998-2001) and the Canada-Philippines Cooperative Project, Pilot Phase (1994-1995).
Timeframe:
1994-2006
Geographic Focus:
The project is being 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.
International Partnership Program
for Good Urban Governance 2001-2006. Annual Progress Report
- April 03–March 04
For more information, contact the CUI's International
Programs Office at cui@canurb.com
Community composting in action: the Province of Guimaras has pursued a "clean and green" agenda through improved governance of its solid waste management systems (Guimaras, Philippines, 1999)
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
In pursuit of good urban governance: CUI is supporting improved metropolitan governance and planning among five local governments in the Iloilo urban region (Iloilo City, Philippines, 2001)
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.
Project Description The project aims 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 are 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
Trouble in paradise: CUI support to the municipality of Malay and Boracay island stakeholders has focused on sustainable development of the island’s fragile ecosystem and improvements to basic health services (Boracay, Philippines, 1997)
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.
Major initiatives currently underway include:
Metropolitan Iloilo Initiative (MII), which is assisting 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 is 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.
Canada-Philippines exchange: municipal officials from the island of Guimaras, Iloilo urban region and municipality of Malay visit local governments in British Columbia (Victoria, BC 1999)
Malay Local Social Service Delivery Enhancement Initiative (LSSDEI), which is assisting 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.
Approach The project consists 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 is 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 is 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.
