Over 600 participants from various national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations, and international development partners participated in the 4th session of the Philippine Local Governance Forum with the theme: The wonders of Devolution: 30 years of Strong and Empowered Local Governments held via Zoom Conference and Facebook Live on October 22, 2021.
The session organized by Local Government Academy (LGA) in cooperation with the DILG-NCR and Office of Project Development Services (OPDS), titled Synergy in Local Governance: International Edition, highlighted the projects and contributions of local governments and international partners in addressing the various challenges and opportunities in local governance.
In her message, DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin emphasized the need to deliver a targeted package of capacity development interventions to ensure that basic services will be provided to the people with the additional tax allotment LGUs are set to receive in support of the full devolution of select government services.
She added that strengthened partnerships, engagement, and meaningful dialogue among key stakeholders are key to successfully implementing full devolution at the local level starting in 2022.
Director Rolyn Zambales of OPDS, on the other hand, underscored that NGAs are partnering closely with development partners to support the rapid and continuous development of LGUs and sustain the pursuit of necessary reforms in local governance.
âCollaboration is critical both horizontally and vertically across the region, such as utility services, transportation, public services, and the built environment. This shall pave the way in creating standards â successful reference solutions and reflection of best practice,â Director Zambales said.
Representatives from various organizations shared their insights into the role of international actors in promoting local development. The first speaker, Ms. Ma. Fiorella Fabella, a Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist from the World Bank, discussed the critical and innovative insights on how to manage the countryâs utilities, especially in the water sector.
Additionally, she presented the framework called âutility of the future.â The said framework provides reliable, safe, inclusive, transparent, and responsive water supply and sanitation services through efficient, resilient, and sustainable operations to which our LGUs may integrate into their plans and devolution efforts.
The next speaker, Mr. Edwine Carrie, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines, discussed the UNDPâs interventions and efforts in strengthening local governance capabilities to respond to complex challenges.
Mr. Antonio Balang Jr., representing the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), presented their initiatives and collaborations concerning Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The need for a local resiliency strategy to avoid exceeding the capacity or exhaustion on the part of LGUs was also highlighted in his discussion.
Lastly, Mr. Roger Cabiles Jr. of Action against Hunger shared their successful engagements with LGUs and NGAs towards building the resilience of urban poor communities. They invested in capacitating the LGUs for the sustainability of programs even beyond the project time frame.
DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn Baltazar-Cortez concluded the session by encapsulating the discussion and stressing the importance of the active participation of local stakeholders and the involvement of key development partners to the fulfillment of the promise of full devolution.
The session also served as a platform for direct engagement between the participants and speakers, who had an insightful exchange that focused on clarifying the primary role of local stakeholders in development, and the supporting role of international players in this effort.
Developed over shared aspirations for local governance excellence, the Philippine Local Governance forum is an annual offering of the DILG together with the DILG Bureaus, the LGA, and the DILG Regional Offices through the Local Governance Regional Resource Centers (LGRRCs) to support and guide the LGUs in transitioning into full devolution, making well-informed decisions, and performing their key roles effectively. #