Olongapo City Hosts This Year's ESEA Conference
KAS Singapore and LOGODEF in cooperation with the City of Olongapo headed by the Hon. Mayor James Gordon, Jr. held the highly anticipated 16th East and Southeast Asia Network for Better Local Governments (ESEANet) from November 19-21, 2008 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.
Adopting 'Cities in Search of the Ideal Communities', as the theme of the conference, the event seeks to raise public awareness in innovations on local government management by bringing together experts and practitioners on governance in the Asia Pacific to share their notable insights and efforts in building 'ideal communities'. Among them are: Battambang Deputy Governor Suthang Sieng; Professor Eko Budihardjo, Chairman of the Advisory Council on Urban Development in Semarang; CLAIR (The Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) Singapore's Director Yutaka Oinuma; Professor Jamilah Mohamad of the University of Malaya; President of the Kuantan Municipal Council Dato Azizan Bin Ahmad; Professor Grace Jamon, Mayors Ma. Lourdes Fernando of Marikina City and James Gordon, Jr., of Olongapo City; Gumi City's Deputy Mayor Young Jo Choi; Vu Thi Thu Yen, Vice President of the Vietnamese Alliance Mineral Ltd.; and Director of the Thailand Environment Institute, Dr. Paul Chamniern.
With more than 200 participants in attendance, the conference presented a cross-dissection of local governance in today's Asian countries. The following member cities attended the convention: Gumi City, South Korea; Battambang City, Cambodia; Phitsanulok City, Thailand; Ha Long City, Vietnam, Olongapo City, Philippines; Kuantan City, Malaysia and Semarang City, Indonesia. Representatives from both international and local government units and non-government organizations also participated in the prestigious event.
In spite of the varying perspectives that cut across nations as presented by the speakers, the concept of strengthening local governance through innovative approaches in addressing the need for sustainable development had been reiterated throughout the conference.
Working On A Common Agenda For Local Governance Reform
LOGODEF signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Senate Economic and Planning Office (SEPO), the Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) on Wednesday, 05 November 2008. This collaboration is consistent with their shared vision of providing directions for local governance reforms through gathering key stakeholders in a National Conference. This initiative is designed to review decentralization-related issues pursuant to the objectives of (1) adopting a common legislative agenda for reform; (2) establishing support from legislators on specific reform areas and push for the passage of these reform bills in Congress; and (3) institute a means of periodic review of accomplished area for reform.
Prof. Edmund Tayao, LOGODEF's Executive Director, represented the Foundation with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Dr. Gaudioso Sosmeña and BOT Secretary, Dr. Mariano Guillermo. The BOT members, Dr. Milwida Guevara, Dr. Alex Brillantes and Dr. Alvin Ang were also present to witness the signing at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.
SEPO Executive Director Ronald Golding, and CPBD Director General Rodolfo Vicerra also signed the agreement. As proactive organizations of both Houses of Congress, consultations with various stakeholders including periodic monitoring and review of reform initiatives particularly for legislation are expected to be more vigorous. Especially with the continuing support of KAS, this significant initiative should be able to push for needed reforms in local governance.
Path to Sustainable Development
Reinvent state institutions.
That’s what is needed for a state to sustain itself and weather the demands of globalization, LOGODEF Executive Director Edmund Tayao stressed during his presentation for the 2nd United Cities and Local Governments – Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) Congress in Pattaya, Thailand last July.
Fundamental in reinventing institutions is the significant role played by local authorities as frontline agencies of governance. Quoting Amartya Sen’s “development is freedom”, he pushed state institutions to involve people by having them take part in the process of policy formulation and even implementation. “Governance is a process and it requires the participation of everyone as everyone is a stakeholder”, says Prof. Tayao.
The Congress, having a theme, “Sustainable Cities and Local Governments for a Sustainable World”, was attended by experts and practitioners in decentralization, local government and sustainable development from around the world.
With the nature of the state today, it is certain that the congress had been another milestone event to assist local authorities in the quest of building a sustainable world.
For a copy of Prof. Tayao’s presentation, download DECENTRALIZATION, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT: The Systemic Way to Sustainable Development.
MOA to Jump-start Metro Baguio Program
The mayors of what will soon be the metro Baguio are signing a MOA to speed up the formation of the metropolis in Benguet province.
During the 2nd exploratory talk on Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba (BLIST) metropolitan arrangement initiated by LOGODEF on April 23 at Baguio Country Club, LOGODEF Executive Director Edmund Tayao emphasized the need for these LGU’s to organize themselves and formally establish interlocal cooperation.
LOGODEF’s interest in the BLIST initiative started with its activities at Tuba, especially when a seminar on Legislation was conducted in September 2007 with local officials from various Municipalities of Benguet Province. It was in that seminar when a suggestion to institutionalize interlocal cooperation came up. This is so because during the open forum, problems ranging from traffic code to solid waste management between and amongst contiguous BLIST LGUs were identified.
Interlocal cooperation has always been the approach at LOGODEF, particularly in its development undertakings emphasizing the benefits of clustering LGUs especially in addressing local government’s needs. Discussion among BLIST LGUs is now ongoing to finalize the content of the MOA proposed by LOGODEF.
SSC to Launch its 4th Volume of Policy Papers
The Strategic Studies Council, an adjunct component of LOGODEF which functions as think tank under the supervision of the Executive Director will be launching its 4th volume of policy papers on August. The theme is "Local Policymaking Strategies and Constraints".
Upon recommendation of LOGODEF founding Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Gaudioso Sosmeña, Jr. members of the SSC should focus this time on the local dynamics of policy making, concentrating on the cultural dimension of local government's experiences in formulating policies. Note that the objective of the SSC is to identify issues which are the concern of local authorities. In this 4th edition of local government policy papers there are nine papers that are timely and relevant to the current issues affecting local policy making in the country and LOGODEF contracted sector specialists to provide policy options in solving these issues.
The topics and writers for this volume of policy papers are: "The Sociology of Local Policy Making" by Dr. Ledivina Cariño; "Political Leadership and Local Policy Making" by Dr. Clarita Carlos; Dr. Mariano J. Guillermo wrote up "Local Policy Making: The Philippine Experience"; Dr. Florentino Hornedo explored the "Cultural Dimension of Local Policy Making"; the topic "Local Policy Making: Art or Science" was written by Dr. Nestor N. Pilar; Dr. Segundo E. Romero's paper dwells on "Local Policy Making and its Political Dimension; the topic "Local Policy Making and Security Management" was authored by Lt. Gen. Romulo Yap and; "Local Policy Making and Local Governance" by Dr. Gaudioso C. Sosmeña, Jr.
Like the previous volumes of policy papers published by LOGODEF and KAS, this volume is aimed to provide guide materials for potential users like the Local Government Committees in both Houses of Congress, the Leagues, Academe and other institutions interested in the continuing development of local government administration.
DEVELOPMENT BEYOND POLITICAL BOUNDARIES
Expansion Activities of the Interlocal Cooperation Project in Misamis Oriental
The project Development Beyond Political Boundaries is an implementation of a constitutional-legal provision on interlocal cooperation which is provided for in Section 13, Article 10 of the 1987 Constitution and Section 33 of the Local Government Code of RA 7160. LOGODEF's principal project partners are the municipalities of Balingoan, Medina, and Talisayan (BMT) located in the eastern section of Northern Mindanao. The objective is to establish and showcase these three municipalities as pilot areas in interlocal cooperation, thereafter become models for local governments in Northern Mindanao.
Ongoing expansion activities in Misamis Oriental include the implementation of the Interlocal Cooperation project in the Manticao, Lugait and Naawan municipalities, also known as the ManLuNa cluster. Mobilization activities for the orientation on the implementation of GIS-Based Real Property Tax Administration for ManLuNa has started October of 2006. On January 2007, ManLuNa entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with LOGODEF and KAS for the implementation of Interlocal Cooperation project for their cluster. Last April 2008, the ManLuNa cluster has just completed its third on-the-job training for the GIS component of the Interlocal Cooperation project.
In the long-term, the interlocal cooperation strategy being implemented initially for BMT and ManLuNa through the GIS-Based Real Property Tax Administration is intended to fully complement provincial-wide implementation. Last April 2008, the Binuangan, Kinoguitan and Sugbongcogon municipalities, also known as the BinKiSu cluster in Misamis Oriental has forged a Memorandum of Agreement with LOGODEF and KAS for the implementation of the same project in their cluster.
Next activities in line for the three (3) clusters will include the completion of the GIS-based Real Property Tax Administration for the BMT and ManLuNa clusters as well as orientation activities on GIS for the BinKiSu clusters. Action planning activities will also be conducted to identify specific activities that will be undertaken by the BinKiSu cluster.
It is hoped that eventually, the Province, at its level can provide a model of how interlocal cooperation strategy can be utilized not only in terms of real property tax collection but with other developmental concerns in local governance.
Specifically through the GIS technology, the long-term implementation of the interlocal cooperation is expected to assist the Province in aid of development planning. Socio-economic, demographic and resources profile will be developed and enhanced through the benefits of GIS technology. Such system will allow for the identification of succinct policies, strategies as well as priority programs and projects that best exemplify the advantage of inter-local cooperation as a strategy for local governance.
A New Age of LOGODEF Leadership towards Meaningful Autonomy and Decentralization
The year 2008 marks the beginning of another milestone for the Local Government Development Foundation. As the year 2008 commenced, LOGODEF has undergone a change in leadership following the retirement of its Founding Executive Director, Dr. Gaudioso C. Sosmeña. The new leadership with Prof. Edmund S. Tayao at the helm, comes with renewed vigor and vitality on the advocacy for local governance reforms toward meaningful autonomy and decentralization. Likewise, the thrust of building capable local governments is anchored on the principle that good governance is local governance.
LOGODEF has been at the forefront of local governance, continuously providing technical assistance and services to Local Government Units (LGUs) for almost 17 years now at about the same period when the Local Government Code of 1991 was passed. During this long period of time, the environment of local governments has completely changed and is increasingly getting more complex and challenging.
Given the realities of Philippine local governance and to maintain the Foundation's relevance amidst its competitive environment, the LOGODEF Board of Trustees has also been reorganized last 29 April 2008 to provide succinct policy directions and identify optimal schemes to capably implement strategic activities that will utilize and complement existing efforts of related organizations towards the same objectives. The new Board is chaired by its Founding Executive Director, Dr. Gaudioso C. Sosmeña. Prof. Edmund S. Tayao is duly appointed as the Vice-Chairman, in his capacity as the Foundation Executive Director. Dr. Mariano J. Guillermo has been elected as the Board Secretary while Mr. Klaus Preschle, the Country Representative to the Philippines of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), is automatically a member of the Board. The KAS has been LOGODEF's major partner for the last 17 years in its advocacy for local governance reforms. To further enrich the policy-making capacities of the Board, Dr. Milwida Guevara, Dr. Alvin P. Ang and Dr. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. has been duly appointed as new members of the LOGODEF BOT.
LOGODEF-ASPAP Partnership
The Local Government Development Foundation entered into a Memorandum of Agreement last April 2008 wi th the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines (ASPAP). Pursuant to a common vision of providing local governments/communities all the capacity building support/assistance they need in critical public administration and/or governance concerns, the agreement has, for its primary objective, strengthened collaboration in various areas of local governance taking into account existing and available networks of technical expertise and resources.
ASPAP is a non-stock, non-partisan, not-for-profit and SEC-registered national organization of schools and institutes of public administration with presence in all regions in the Philippines. It aims to encourage cooperation and coordination among institutions through mutually beneficial programs, projects and activities. Through the years, it has evolved into a developmental organization involved in direct advocacy work and in the implementation of programs/projects and activities targeted to promote/enhance good governance at all levels of the government's politico-administrative structure.
Particularly through its regional chapters, ASPAP has already established collaborative linkages and/or partnerships with local government units and/or local governance institutions in the research, advocacy and implementation of programs, projects and other activities aimed at capacitating local government units and/or communities on critical public administration and governance concerns in areas such as local development planning and the mainstreaming of the rights-based approach to development.
For its kick-off activity, LOGODEF and ASPAP will be conducting the second of the Sosmeña Lecture Series in September 2008 in Iloilo City at the University of the Philippines-Visayas.
LOGODEF Launching of the First of the Sosmeña Lecture
LOGODEF launched its first of a series of lecture-discussions last March 10, 2008 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila. Dubbed as The Sosmeña Lecture Series, it is envisioned to be a concrete mechanism for the Local Government Development Foundation (LOGODEF) to advocate reforms in local governance.
The theme of the launching event on "Philippine Local Governance in Perspective: Emerging Challenges and Options for Strategic Policy Directions" was intended to launch a series of lecture-discussions as a venue to identify issues and areas of concern affecting local governance in so far as local government autonomy is concerned. It is also envisioned to provide a venue to explore possible policy options to address these challenges and sustain the gains already achieved towards meaningful decentralization in the context of Philippine realities.
The keynote topic for the event was delivered by DILG Undersecretary Austere A. Panadero on "Strategies to Further Decentralziation in the Philippines". Other lectures presented include "Fiscal Management Autonomy" and the IRA by Dr. Milwida Guevara; "Local Governance and Social Sector Reform" by Dr. Mariano J. Guillermo; "Issues in Local Development Planning" by Dr. Benjamin Carino; and "Role of the Leagues in Local Governance" by Ms. Lilian De Leon.
The event was attended by participants from various sectors covering partner LGUs and selected local government units, the Senate and House of Representatives, the DILG and other national oversight and line agencies, various local government leagues, the academe, relevant NGOs, and funding/donor institutions.
The Sosmena Lecture Series is also a follow-up to the 2006 International Conference on Revisiting Decentralization in the Philippines hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation last 2006.
SES Consultant on Organizational Transition
In review of LOGODEF programs and direction as an organization working for the attainment of good local governance, the Foundation sought the assistance of a German Senior Expert Service, Dr. Gunter Dill. His main task is to develop a working plan for LOGODEF that shall ensure its excellent position as a think-tank, an advocate for decentralization and a supporter of local governments under a new leadership.
Dr. Dill was given a hearty welcome in Manila on February 21, 2008. To fulfill this task of developing of a working plan, LOGODEF with KAS assistance set meetings with the partners of the foundation especially the Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities, the members of LOGODEF Board of Trustees and Strategic Studies Council, the provinces, cities and municipalities LOGODEF is offering its capability building programs, the academe as well as the various sponsors of the foundation especially the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in the Philippines.
In totality, the meetings resulted to improved foundation's advocacy work. This is so because collaboration with other institutions in the implementation of the foundation's projects expanded. ULAP Executive Director Atty. Monina Camacho, to illustrate, pledged to help LOGODEF in gathering necessary data for its proposed database and LDI project. ASPAP-NCR Chapter President Eli Ricote, on the other hand, thought it wise to team up with LOGODEF in providing local governments/communities all the capability building support/assistance they need. In addition to that, new approaches in addressing local government needs have been introduced. LCP OIC Executive Director Elisea Gozun, for example, stressed the need to distribute IRA in favor of the LGU's with greater responsibilities.
The Senior Expert left LOGODEF with renewed vigor on March 16, 2008. He has been a real hard worker and dedicated in fulfilling his task. He was very systematic and thorough during his meetings with the foundation's partner organizations. LOGODEF is expecting him back on November, this time to speak for the 16th International Conference of the East and Southeast Asia Network for Better Local Governments.
The Bulacan Interlocal Cooperation Experience
Strengthening local political institutions in the Philippines through interlocal cooperation has been the advocacy of LOGODEF. It has, through the years, evolved into a developmental organization involved in helping local governments help themselves in the promotion of local autonomy and self reliance towards the attainment of effective decentralization.
The increasing responsibilities of local governments under the Local Government Code of 1991 heightened the need for upgrading their competencies for effective administration of their functions. In response to call for institutionalization of Local Government Capability Building (LGCB) Project based on the premise of local governments helping themselves, LOGODEF has made the organization of a pool of inter-municipal experts. Thus, a twelve (12) year (1994-2006) experience in interlocal cooperation involving several municipalities was initiated in the province of Bulacan.
On July 29, 1992 six municipalities namely: Calumpit, Hagonoy, Bustos, Marilao, Meycauayan and Sta. Maria, all in the province of Bulacan entered into a Memorandum of Agreement through their respective Municipal Mayors to sustain the LGCB Project. They were compelled to pool their resources and efforts in the initiation of mutually beneficial development undertakings. LOGODEF in cooperation with the provincial government agreed on the following objectives of Interlocal Cooperation project:
1. Organize the Committee of Mayors (COM) which shall be composed of mayors of municipalities involved in interlocal cooperation project. The COM is primarily responsible in providing the strategic direction of IMT activities;
2. Organize the Inter-Municipal Team (IMT) which shall be composed of technical staff of the municipalities concern;
3. Develop necessary knowledge and skills among IMT members;
4. Identify areas of cooperation among member municipalities; and
5. Initiate inter-municipal wide projects and activities.
LOGODEF, during this twelve year period provided the IMT members with capability building interventions at both the institutional and individual levels to upgrade their skills. The assistance of various consultants was also provided. The members worked as a team, visited their respective municipalities and provided consultancy services. The municipalities involved in this interlocal arrangement provided annual budgets for the operation of the IMT, which includes their honoraria as they move from one municipality to another.
Bulacan experience in this regard paved the way for greater cooperation among municipalities of the province under the leadership of the provincial governor. Capability building interventions for IMT members allowed them to appreciate more inter-municipal cooperation as an effective strategy in development beyond political boundaries. In 2005, the Bulacan interlocal cooperation project was exported to the three municipalities of Balingoan, Medina and Talisayan (BMT) in the province of Misamis Oriental to serve as a model for northern Mindanao. The same concept was introduced in the Province of Benguet, in the Cordillera highlands, which was also selected as a pilot province on interlocal cooperation in 2006.
