Million Hectare of Philippine Rainforest 40 Restored by 2020, by Esther B

TABLE OF CONTENTS Notes from the Editor, 3 by VG Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya, Ph.D. of Leyte Province Profile of Hon. Ramon G. Lacbain II, Vice-Governor of Zambales 5 Profile of Hon. Oscar G. Lambino, Vice Governor of Pangsinan 7 Third Gender Conference: Going Beyond Common Perspectives, by 9 VG Jesus "James" Calisin of Albay APO Screening Committee Chooses Two LVGP Officers for FIJI 11 Workshop, by Annalyn "AJ" J. Flores (E.D.) Executive Summary: 28th National Assembly, by Don Romero 13 House Rules Suspended 15 Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS): Tool for 18 Development Legislation, VG Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya Technology of Participation: An Instrument for Participatory 23 Development and Governance, by Don Romero 14 Years of the Local Government Code of 1992, by Don Romero 30 Executive Summary: 29th National Assembly, by Annalyn "AJ" J. 37 Flores (E.D.) An Urgent Call for a Million Hectare of Philippine Rainforest 40 Restored by 2020, by Esther B. Batangan (HARIBON) Photo Gallery 43

First Item Notes from the Editor

"Weeping may Endure for a Night but Joy comes in the Morning"

“It was a tearful time… a long time… a hard time… a lonely time… a painful time… a revealing time… a recovering time… a reassuring time… a peace time… a rededication time… a friendship time… a love time… a roller coaster time… a renewal time… a glorious time, but a time I will never lose sight of.”

These words taken from an Easter Card aptly describe the feelings I, my family, relatives, friends and my colleagues and staff have experienced when I suffered a life threatening vehicular accident in the evening of December 1, 2005 until the doctors have pronounced that I was out of danger.

At first it was a time of uncertainty that turned into a glorious and victorious time when we offered our first thanksgiving mass on December 15, 2005, for my daughter’s 14th birthday, and for my healing and steady recovery.

A life changing time for a second chance of life made significant with the celebration of my 50th birthday last January 05, 2006. From the fullness of my heart I and my family offered another thanksgiving mass. It is an experience of a lifetime I will never truly lose sight of because as David has declared in Psalm 30: 1-12:

“I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment, in his favour is life; weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. I cried unto thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praises to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to thee forever.”

Yes! I will give thanks to God forever for my second chance of life. From the fullness of my heart my mouth speaks gladly of gratitude to all of you, my colleagues in the League for your untiring support of prayers and mass celebrations, offering of petitions to our Father for my healing and steady recovery. The reason I cannot thank you enough because my feelings of gratefulness can never be fathomed by words alone. I know you share with me and my family our deep abyss of joy. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.

In perspective, our nation in the past seven months has been troubled, an experience similar to the time I earlier described – an interesting time – as Confucius have said thousands of years ago. All these will come to pass. We are a resilient nation; our people have proven themselves time and again to be strong. We, individual members of the League, must ensure that whatever might result out of these current political, economic and social problems our respective constituents will gain much better quality of life. Whether or not our country would shift to a federal-parliamentary form of government what is imperative is that it has resulted into a much better delivery of social and support services to where it would matter most – poverty reduction.

In this 3rd issue of Agenda, we will launch a new feature to our publication dubbed, “House Rules Suspended: Thoughts and Insights of the Provincial Presiding Officers”. We will make this as one of our regular features in our publication to get your personal and individual thoughts and insights on the current and controversial political, economic and social issues that affect our country in the future issues of Agenda. At this early, may I invite and encourage you, esteemed officers and members of the League, to continue sending your contributions for our publication as we strive to make this publication a forum to seed and nurture ideas that would help consolidate our League and its individual members as we continue to strive for cooperation and partnerships consonant to the common endeavour in attaining a sustainable socio-economic growth and socio-cultural development in our respective provinces.

I hope you would enjoy reading this 3rd issue of our publication as you have enjoyed the first two issues because we have enjoyed preparing them for your learning and reading pleasure.

MA. MIMIETTA S. BAGULAYA, Ph. D. Vice Governor, Leyte Province

Profile Hon. Ramon G. Lacbain II, Vice Governor of Zambales

Politics has its finest impression on the young. It is because ideals, though not confined exclusively to youth, stem out from the well of virtues that the young keeps in himself in setting out for the best in his life. Such ideals are what Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain had in mind.

He started as a public servant at the age of 16 after graduating from high school when he was elected Kabataang Barangay Chairman in Barangay Wawandue, Subic that made him a member of the Barangay Council representing the youth sector.

He served as a barangay council member for five years while at the same time pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Accounting at the Columbian College, Olongapo City.

Because of his outstanding leadership and the many projects he has implemented for the youth for the past five years as KB Chairman, he was later elected as Kabataang Barangay provincial federation president of the Province of Zambales. This gave him the opportunity to sit as member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales at the age of 21 representing the youth sector.

During the first national and local elections of 1988, after the people power revolt, he was elected as regular member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales at the age of 23. Up to this time, he still holds the record of being the youngest elected member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales.

From being elected number 3 among all Sangguniang Panlalawigan members in 1988, he was re-elected no. 2 in 1992 and re-elected no. 1 in 1995 local elections. He served as provincial legislator for 13 straight years.

He failed in his first bid to the vice governorship in 1998 but thi s gave him the opportunity to work in the Rural Bank of Sambali which later became Area Development Bank as its Microfinance Director. After one year and a half, he was invited by former Secretary Edgardo Angara to be the Official Spokesman of the Department of Agriculture that he served well for one year and a half. When Sec. Angara was appointed Executive Secretary he was also transferred to Malacañang to handle media relations of the Executive Secretary.

Vice Governor Lacbain is not only a well experienced public servant because he has also handled various positions in private companies and to name a few – management trainee of McDonald’s Philippines, marketing manager of Sam’s Pizza, personal Manager of White Rock Resort Hotel, Savings and Checking Acco unt Bookkeeper of Banco Filipino Olongapo Branch, Instructor of Mondrian Aura College and Virgen delos Remedios College, Radion Broadcaster of DWGO, DZRH and now General Manager of Radyo Natin Zambales – SBMA Family Network.

Going back to his public service record, as a result of the impeachment of former President Erap Estrada, he went back to Zambales and run again for Vice Governor and this time he got an overwhelming mandate from the people of Zambales when he won in 10 out of 13 towns of Zambales and got a lead of 36,000 votes over his second rival.

As a result of his many programs for agriculture, fisheries and livelihood that benefited many indigent families, he was re-elected during the 2004 elections. In his desire to push for development programs in Zambales as against infrastructure projects of the past and current administrations of the provincial government, he declared his independence from the current administration.

Profile Hon. Oscar B. Lambino, Vice Governor of Pangasinan

There is nothing like dream to create the future. Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow.

Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), Les Miserables, 1862

Twenty years ago, no one would have imagined Oscar Lambino draw himself to the madding crowd. He was busy tending the family business. He led an uncharacteristically typical enterprise as manager of Fil-Invest Credit Corporation and Assistant Vice President of Jardine Manila Finance, with the care and full support of his lovely wife, Celia and his two children, Lee Anne and Paolo.

But people have an inalienable right to invent themselves, and more. Precarious events in the mid-80s beckoned his entry to his most cherished enterprise to date: serving 2 million Pangasinenses in 44 towns and 4 cities. Twenty years before, he responded to the call to rebuild the country after it was freed from the chains of a dark regime as Officer-in-charge of Malasiqui town in Central Pangasinan. As winds

of change gradually swept the nation, Oscar slowly transformed his corner of the world into one of the staunch and durable local governments in the province. For three successive terms, his laurels were the undiminished vote on his honesty, competence and performance as Malasiqui’s local chief executive until 1998. He has earned the respect, as well, of his peers for his able stewardship of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League from 1995 to 1998.

Born December 3, 1950, Oca, as his friends call him, discovered public service as his most challenging mission and felt its overwhelming demand from thereon. His heart filled with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it, he seized the opportunity to serve a larger family outside his own. In 1998, he handily won as Vice Governor of Pangasinan where he ran and won unopposed anew in 2001. In 2004, he clinched a lead of close to half a million votes up his sleeves against his equally formidable and well-entrenched opponents.

Oca completed his degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1971. He is widely 7

acknowledged in the province as an advocate of development. His feats in local governance earned for him recognition as Most Outstanding Mayor from various groups, including the Department of the Interior and Local Governments, the Pangasinan press, and various socio-civic organizations. Since 1998, he led an assembly which has been persistently concerned with crafting sound policies and programs in ways that enable the province achieve its development goals.

Aside from presiding over the 15-member Sangguniang Panlalawigan, he is also at the helm of the Pangasinan Anti-Drug Abuse Council since 1998 and oversees the implementation of the province’s blueprint for drug prevention which includes the construction of a rehabilitation center that will serve the requirements of drug dependents in the region. As executive director, he has steered and implemented core programs on law enforcement-judiciary-prosecution-probation-community linkages, intervention, education and information. His dream of a drug-free Pangasinan mirrors that of his soul - take a peek and you can see the inner workings, the nuts and bolts. He knows that the key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and even small steps and little victories along his path will take on greater meaning.

Oca believes each of us has a personal calling that is as unique as a fingerprint - and the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service and hard work under the watchful gaze and grace of Almighty God.

Third Gender Going Beyond Common Perspectives

Conference: by VG Jesus "James" Calisin

Third Gender Conference: Going Beyond

Common Perspectives

When the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay amended its Rules to pave the way for the creation of the Gender and Development Committee, placing into action the Philippine Plan for Gender – Responsive Development (PPGD) 1995 – 2025, the government’s “perspective framework for pursuing gender equality”, it was not merely paying lip-service to the goal of gender equality as provided in the Constitution and laws. It was a clear manifestation of intent and determination to take the lead to promote gender – responsive development at the local level.

As the elected Chairperson of the newly created committee, I clarified some points before the committee could go full-swing into its advocacy of gender-equality.

I understand that the meaning of sustainable development is “the expansion of choices and opportunities for all people in the locality, so they could attain a better quality of life”, this is the reason why I questioned the trend in Gender and Development orientations in its seemingly undue stress of “underscoring oppression of women by men, that the blame of the effects skewed development rests squarely on man’s propensity to abuse and oppress women”. These are the points which to my thinking, fomented a misguided sense of liberation where men and women are made to compete, instead of being made complements of each other, in order for both to be strengthened and better able to tackle the real problems of underdevelopment, which are the inequitable distribution of wealth and the misappropriation of our country’s resources.

When I presented my perspective to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay, it was adopted as the official stand of the provincial government of Albay in tackling issues on gender and development.

If we are to be true to the definition of sustainable human development which is the expansion of choices and opportunities for all people in the locality, as things stood, the definition was, again, being limitedly applied. For while there are several fora available to articulate the concerns of women, children, the youth, the elderly,

the professionals, businessmen, religious and a number of others, there was no forum available for the so- called gays and lesbians – or as I prefers to call them, the “third gender”.

Thus, the Third Gender Conference and GAD Olympics was born. A first in the history of Albay, the c oncept is a multi-LGU effort – from the Provincial Government of Albay, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay – Committee on Gender and Development, and the various LGUs of the province, led by their Vice Mayors and the respective heads of the city and municipal committees on Gender and Development, and the Women and Children.

To showcase the advocacy of gays and lesbians, the Third Gender Conference has the following objectives:

• To provide a forum by which the skills, talents, resources, interests and advocacy of gays and lesbians can be recognized; • To transform these skills, talents, resources, interests and advocacy into a productive force to enable gays and lesbians to become positive contributors for the growth and development of the province of Albay; • To bring the generally untapped contributions of this force into the mainstream of society so they can participate and have access to the development process.

While the project is controversial, the fact remains that participation in the development process should not be exclusive, rather it must include those who are marginalized by their stature in life, their faith, and even in their sexual preference.

The theme, Third Gender: Albay’s Partner in Development , says it all.

APO Screening Chooses Two LVGP Officers for FIJI Workshop Committee by Annalyn "AJ" J. Flores

Among numerous candidates; APO SCREENING COMMITTEE chooses TWO

LVGP Officers for FIJI WORKSHOP

The best minds are to be found in the “chairs” of the provincial council. Or so it seemed, when the prestigious Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and the Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji (TPAF) held a workshop on Green Productivity Approaches to Sustainable Development at Raffles Gateway Hotel, Nadi, Fiji Islands on April 11-15, 2005 and chose two of LVGP national leaders as representatives of the country.

The workshop aimed towards introducing the concept of sustainable development and eco circulation at the national level. The project further aimed to deliberate on the means and approaches for integrating the various production processes into the whole eco–circulation loop among the growing economies in Asia.

The invitations channeled through the Development Academy of the Philippines where distributed to various Local Government Units and National Leagues to encourage Local Government Officials to vie for slots to represent the country in the prestigious seminar. From among the various

aspirants, two nominees tied up in the qualifications and Vice Governors Julius Caesar F. Herrera and Bridget where chosen by the screening board to represent the Chiongbian-Huang with other participants of the country with full convention expense gratis. The two local workshop officials who passed the difficult screening where officers of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines, National President ATTY. JULIUS CAESAR F. HERRERA, Vice Governor of Bohol and National Auditor, HON. BRIDGET CHIONGBIAN–HUANG, Vice Governor of Sarangani, respectively.

Important issues where discussed during the workshop featuring the concept of sustainable development in Fiji introduced by Ms. Premila Kuma; Green Productivity and Eco Circulation by Mr. Agustine Koh, Current Issues and Concept of Bio Mass Utilization and Eco Circulation in Japan by Mr. Yoshiyuki Shinogi. Country paper presentations in Biomass utilization and group discussions where also undertaken to facilitate a wide spectrum of discussion among the participants. At the end of the program, country representatives were required to submit a country paper detailing a study on how green productivity concept can be incorporated in their practices and environmental management.

Other country representatives who were selected were Bangladesh Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, Mr. AJM Salahuddin Ahmed; Cambodia’s Chief of International Cooperative and Disputed Legislative Office, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Danh Serey; China’s Senior Engineer, Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mr. Chen, Liang-tung, Indonesia’s Mr. Frederick Tony Tanduk, Director of Down Stream Chemical Industry, Ministry of Industry; Iran’s Mr. Ziaeddin Almassi, Senior Expert in Spatial Planning, Sustainable Development and Environment Bureau; Mr. Mong-Joo Kwon, Researcher, Korean National Cleaner Production Center; Mr. Somsanouk Phommakhoth, Head of Division, Science Technology and Environment Ageny, Lao PDR; Malaysia’s Mr. Anuar Bin Yahya, Director, Division of Quality and Productivity, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Mrs. Siilegmaa Chanrav, Manager, Destination Mongolia; Nepal Economist Mr. Durgesh Kumar Shrestha and Pakistan APO Alternate Director Mr. Zafra Iqbal.

28th National Assembly (Dumaguete City, Oriental Executive Summary: Negros June 9 -11, 2005 By Don Romero

“Convergence for Unity and Stability” was the theme of the 28th National Assembly of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines held at the South Seas Resort Hotel, Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros on June 9 – 11, 2005.

It was, by far, the most attended assembly since August 2004 when the League elected their new set of officers for 2004 – 2007. Converging and showing the country their unified support to the tourism program of the provincial government of Oriental Negros and the city government of Dumaguete City, members of the League nationwide attended the national assembly in full force. Wood etching of the Visayan The League decided to hold this national assembly at the time when a story came out in the Spotted Deer that can be found national dailies that the people in Dumaguete City were appalled by the exclusion of in the province of Oriental Dumaguete City in the WOW! Philippines Program of the Department of Tourism. Negros and the focus of conservation efforts in the After the roll call, Oriental Negros province as this gentle Governor George T. Arnaiz mammal is considered an welcomed the participants to his endangered animal. beautiful province of Oriental Negros. He expressed his gratitude to the League’s continuing effort to improve and for its active participation in the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), which distinguished itself as one very important League among all the Leagues in the entire country.

He encouraged the vice governors to continue working harmoniously with their respective governors. Using the assembly’s theme of convergence for unity and stability as the springboard for his massage, encouraging the vice governors to Governor George T. Arnaiz of Oriental Negros welcomes the continue to make a difference especially at this time of economic officers and members of the League of Vice Governors of the crisis. Stressing that political unity is essential to political stability Philippines. In the photo (from L-R): Oriental Negros VG and host, and economic development. Petit Baldado (partially hidden), DBM ASec. Eduardo Opida, Biliran VG Charlie Chan and Pangasinan VG Oscar Lambino. Atty. Eduardo B. Optida, DBM Assistant Secretary, discussed and explained recent DBM Issuances Affecting Vice Governors and Sangguniang Panlalawigans. Focusing his discussion on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to Local Government Units and Land Adjustment as a Component of the Internal Revenue Allot ment (IRA), ASec. Opida discussed recent DBM issuances on these matters. 13

Ms. Ester B. Batangan of Haribon Foundation with Dr. Alcala, shared with the Vice Governors the Haribon’s Reforestation Program/Implementation of Mining to the Environment. They shared that the country is losing its old growth forest at a very alarming rate because of illegal logging operations and mine exploration. Current reforestation program of the government, she further said, was not effectively addressing the current situation because of government’s promotion of using foreign fast growing trees which have been found to have made the soil acidic. They are now advocating for an alternative way of reforestation which is called as rainforestation, the system of planting native tree s to reforest. While fast growing trees can address our domestic lumber requirements we should also do rainforestation to regrow old forest growth.

Civil Service Commission Issuances and Promulgations Involving LGU’s and Sangguniang Panlalawigans was discussed by Asst. Comm. Nelson L. Acebedo. He shared the ethical standards of government employees and public officials. He also discussed the process of appointments of employees.

Atty. Benitez of DILG, represented his boss Atty. Moreno to discuss DILG recent legal opinions and rulings affecting LGU’s and Sangguniang Panlalawigan. He started by saying that DILG has general supervision over Local Government Units (LGU’s) but it is not synonymous to the power of control. His discussion focused on the LGU’s power to regulate and tax certain activities within their jurisdictions.

The National President of the Liga ng mga Barangay graced the occasion to propose to the Vice Governors areas of cooperation between the two Leagues as barangay captains also exercise certain legislative powers.

As part of its customs, the Vice Governors were treated to a Fellowhip Dinner by the Governor of Oriental Negros, Hon. George T. Arnaiz at the residence of Honorable Mariant Villegas, Board Member of the province.

House Rules SUSPENDED!

This is our new feature that highlights the opinions of Vice Governors accross the country. As moved, House Rules is suspended....

Thoughts and Insights on the Proposed Shift to Federal and Parliamentary Form of Government and on the Political Crisis besetting the country.

There is hope for the country and our people in spite of the tumultuous political situation we are in. Be that as it may, let us join hands in building up our country and improving the lives of our constituents. Let us set aside our personal agenda and put an end to all the country- bashing that is currently going on. Let us not allow other forces to destroy our country. Let us cultivate positive values among ourselves, our children and our people. By doing so, these heroic acts will pave the way to progress and better life to our constituents.

HON. ANTHONY JESUS S. ALARCON Vice Governor Province of Rizal ------

It’s better if all government officials, most especially my colleagues in the LVGP, focus on actively implementing programs and projects that will help solve the problem of poverty in our respective communities. Let’s not bother ourselves with all the political conflicts that have been going on day by day at the national level of our government. Afterall, the programs and projects of local officials like us have more impact on the lives of every family.

My colleagues in the LVGP are well aware of my conflict with our governor and the members of the provincial board in Zambales for more than a year now because of our differences in principles and program of government. But I would rather concentrate on my own programs and projects for the poor people of Zambales. Anyway, I can still implement them with the full support of the private sector and some of our senators. In the end it will be the people who will decide our political fate and not our fellow politicians.

HON. RAMON G. LACBAIN, II Vice Governor Province of Zambales 15

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with the whole country on her back is threading the political high-wire. Should she fall to the ravine, the whole country goes with her. It is now high time that Filipinos should defuse all differences and do one’s role in saving the country from the quagmire of perdition.

HON. ANTONIO H. ESCUDERO, JR., MNSA Vice Governor Province of Sorsogon ------

Our country needs ChaCha; a Character Change! It should be first and foremost in the minds of all Filipinos especially those who occupy positions in the government. If only we conscientiously adhere to God’s commandments coupled with hard work, discipline, dedication to duty and perseverance to progress as a nation, this country would become the envy of the world in an instant.

HON. FRANCISCO T. PAYLAGA Vice Governor Province of Misamis Occidental

------

I personally believe that the country’s woes will be resolved if the Local Government Units will be strengthened. LGU’s should be empowered through continued training and should be given ample space to exercise their mandates and responsibilities efficiently especially in the delivery of basic services.

HON. ANNABELLE C. TANGSON Vice Governor Province of Aurora 16

The problems faced by our country are man made. Man made problems require man made solutions. We can instil among ourselves the need for national discipline. The centuries old tyranny and domination from the Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and Martial Law, Philippine style, have made Filipinos conscious of their rights. It should be a serious focus on obligations and responsibilities as well as continuing obedience to democratic processes and adherence to meaningful reforms. And while constitutional reforms via amendments or revisions to the 1987 Constitution are not the be-all, end-all, cure-all panacea to the problems we face, it would be recommendable at this stage of our national life to revisit to our 1935 and 1973 Constitutions and consider whether a shift to a parliamentary-federal system and economic constitutional provisions would be appropriate and necessary.

ATTY. RONQUILLO C. TOLENTINO Vice Governor Province of Aklan ------

Community Based TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATION Monitoring System (CBMS) VG MA. MIMIETTA S. BAGULAYA

On January 11 – 14, 2005 at the Jasmine Beach Resort, Marabut, Samar, seventeen municipalities, two provinces, Non-Government Organizations and National Government Agencies converged and agreed to implement Community–Based Monitoring System (CBMS) in Eastern Visayas using 3 Core Local Poverty Indicators (CLPIs).

Dr. Celia Reyes and her team, Kenneth Ilarde and Joel Bancolita of the CBMS National Network, were the resource persons of the “Implementation of the Community – Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Orientation and Trainers Training Workshop” . To serve as the region’s poverty reduction cadres, the participants formed the CBMS Network – Eastern Visayas. They will monitor poverty information and serve as local experts who will aid their respective Local Government Units (LGUs) in crafting poverty reduction programs that effectively target the poor.

The workshop brought together eighty (80) Local Government Unit (LGU) personnel including Municipal Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya as one of the presentors during the CBMS national conference held at La Salle in Manila. Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOO) and NGO staff from Tabontabon, Sta. Fe, Tolosa, Pastrana, Jaro and Capoocan in Leyte; Basey, Marabut and Pinabacdao in Samar; Balangiga, Can-avid, Jipapad, Maslog, San Julian, San Policarpo and Sulat in Eastern Samar; and Cabucgayan in Biliran together with Social Action Directors, Parish Priests and representatives from the academe, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Basic Sectors and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the National Statistics Coordinating Board (NSCB) regional offices, all part of the CBMS Network – Eastern Visayas.

The activity was a follow up of the Consultation on Core Local Poverty Indicators Monitoring System held last December 14 – 15, 2004, sponsored by the Institute for Democratic Participation in Governance (IDPG), 18

Philippine Misereor Partnership – Eastern Visayas (PMP-EV) Cluster and the NAPC Office of the Vice Chair for the Basic Sectors in coordination with the Regional Offices of DSWD, DILG and NSCB, and the Office of the Vice-Governor of Leyte. The consultation resulted in the formation of the CBMS Network – Eastern Visayas Working Group composed by Leyte Vice-Governor Mimiette Bagulaya, Cabucgayan Vice Mayor and PMP-EV Cluster Chair Claire Napoles, IDPG Chair and EVSU Professor Castor Gamalo, DILG’s Blanca Cercado, NSCB Regional Director Eva Paran, DSWD ARD Letty Corillo, RDC Co-Chair Pauline Nayra, Regional KApit bisig LAban sa kaHIrapan (KALAHI) Covergence Group (RKCG) Vice Chair Dr. Johnny de la Cruz and NAPC Vice Chair for the Basic Sectors Oca Francisco.

Currently, the municipalities have conducted their respective training for enumerators, begun full implementation and have finished gathering the CBMS data survey. An estimated 850 enumerators have been mobilized to gather household level information from an estimated 80,431 households in the 510 barangays in the 17 municipalities.

On April 27-28, 2005 the 2-day training dubbed as “CBMS Training Program for Encoding Accomplished Household Profile Questionnaire and Digitizing Maps for Eastern Visayas” was held. The hands-on training familiarized the encoders with the Census and Survey Processing (CSPro) System and the CBMS Indicator Simulator and Natural Resource Data Base (CBMS-NRDB) software.

The training on “CBMS Data Processing and Database Building” was held last July 26-27, 2005. The encoders’ hands-on training familiarized them not only with data processing and database building but also on correcting errors made in the course of encoding and map digitizing. Simulations on CBMS Indicators used in data processing and building the database were also conducted.

It was expected that before the year ends, the results of the survey have been validated and the CBMS-Natural Resource Data Base (CBMS-NRDB) should have been updated to reflect the outcome of the data validation process. Data validation is the mechanism to ensure that local leaders and the rest of the community are informed of the results of the CBMS survey, that the findings of the survey are accurate and discussions on the possible reasons for the said findings could be facilitated, and that the identified major problems of the community and possible interventions needed to resolve these problems are identified. At the same time, the data generated from the survey would be ready and utilized in the formulation of local poverty reduction action plans and budgets submitted to concerned LGUs and National Government Agencies.

In the Province of Leyte, of the 41 municipalities, 6 municipalities are involved in implementing CBMS. These six municipalities, Capoocan, Jaro, Pastrana, Sta. Fe, Tabontabon and Tolosa have been chosen because of the existing partnerships they have established with the Institute for Democratic Participation in Governance 19

(IDPG), where for the last six years I’ve served in various capacities as Board Chair, Board Secretary and Executive Director aside from being one of its incorporators.

Development Legislation

Development Legislation is improving the quality of local policies towards development which is essentially participatory and responsive.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has the primary responsibility to oversee that the programs, projects and activities that are being implemented are participatory and responsive. To be relevant the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has to perform its mandate of democratizing the popular will through participative needs and interest identification, in disaggregating and/or aggregating and articulating such needs and interests into the mainstream of public decision making processes.

Collectively and individually, the Sanggunian Members, in order for them to be truly responsive, should ideally possess the ability to represent a wide variety of conflicting and extremely diverse interests of the constituents from the districts they represent.

How can we prioritize these interests?

One of the preconditions to development legislation, among others, is a management information system wherein the necessary data on the profile of the province and its barangays, municipalities and cities are readily available. Such database coupled with an adequate consultation mechanism to facilitate the full exercise of the right of the people to influence the development policies that eventually affect their lives and destinies could create the right atmosphere towards development legislation with CBMS providing the database for the management information system. A pool of competent staff or committee equipped with experiences and adequate knowledge on the art of local legislation with emphasis on the identification, articulation, disaggregation and/or aggregation of people’s needs and aspirations into effective public policies with least costs and losses is also needed. Critical in these endeavour are the policy makers – the Legislators, who are not only skilled parliamentarians but who are also sensitive to the problems and issues raised by their constituents and their legislative implications. A Sanggunian composed of responsive and accountable legislators.

The 13+1 core set of indicators used in the CBMS Survey results could be used in setting priorities from among a wide variety of conflicting and extremely diverse interests taking into account the legislative implications that a greater majority of the people will benefit from a policy reform passed through legislation. With the e nd 20

view that such legislative action will translate into improved quality of life for our constituents, the corresponding result would be poverty reduction.

BASIC NEEDS CORE INDICATORS GENERAL WELFARE Sec. 16 LGC of 1991 A. Health 1. Proportion of households with child - Preservation and enrichment of culture; deaths 2. Maternal mortality rate - Promotion of health and safety; B. Nutrition 3. Malnutrition prevalence -Enahancement of the right of the people to a balanced ecology, C. Shelter 4. Proportion of households living in -Encouragment of, and support to the development makeshift housing of appropriate and self- reliant and technological 5. Proportion of households who are capabilities; squatters D. Water & 6. Proportion of households with no - Improvement of pulic morals; Sanitation access to safe water supply - Enhancement of economic prospertiy and social 7. Proportion of households with no justice; access to sanitary toilet facilities - Promotion of full employment among the residents; E. Basic 8. Proportion of children 6-11 years - Maintenance of peace and order, and Education old not in elementary school 9. Proportion of children 12-15 years - Preservation of the comfort and old not in secondary school convenience of the inhabitants F. Income 10. Poverty Incidence 11. Subsistence incedence 12. Proportion of households who experience food shortage G. Employment 13. Unemployment rate 14. Proportion of persons who were victims of crime

Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 has expanded the notion of general welfare, to mean:

• Preservation and enrichment of culture; • Promotion of health and safety; • Enhancement of the right of the people to a balanced ecology; • Encouragement of, and support to, the development of appropriate and self-reliant and technological capabilities; • Improvement of public morals; • Enhancement of economic prosperity and social justice; • Promotion of full employment among the residents; • Maintenance of peace and order; and • Preservation of the comfort and convenience of the inhabitants

As can be observed the CBMS core set of indicators informs us legislators how we are addressing the general welfare of our constituents. Ordinances and other legislative actions can be informed by the results of the CBMS survey.

Ways Forward

Possibilities for development legislation are endless with CBMS data base installed and used as basis for legislative action. The CBMS data base can also serve as a tracking system and feedback mechanism to evaluate the impact and implications of local development legislation in a particular municipality or barangay on how it has affected our constituents.

In Leyte, we will use the results of the CBMS survey in the 6 municipalities as a benchmark to gauge the impact and implications of legislations passed, legislative interventions and provincial implementation of its programs, projects and activities. We will scale up the provincial implementation of CBMS in the next year.

AN INSTRUMENT FOR PARTICIPATORY Technology of DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE Participation: BY DON ROMERO

Based on the workshop-presentation of Prof. Wilhelma Cabo from the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines in Diliman

Prof. Wilhelma Cabo started her discussion on Technology of Participation (ToP): Tool for Participatory Development and Governance by laying out the learning objectives to the participants.

The Particpatory Continuum Mode of Participation Involvement of Local People Co-option - Token representatives are chosen, but have no real power or input Compliance - Tasks are assigned with incentives; - Outside decice the agenda and direct process Consultation - Local opinions are asked; - Outsiders analyze and decide on a course of action. Cooperation - Local people work together with outsiders to determine priorities - Responsibility remains with outsiders for directing the process Co-learning - Local people and outsiders share their knowledge to create a new understanding and work together to form action plans with outsider facilitation Collective action - Local people set their own agenda and mobilize to carry it out, in the absence of outside initiators/facilitatiors

By the end of the session, the participants will

- have a broad knowledge and understanding of participation in local governance; - be familiar with various approaches and techniques to participatory governance and collaborative policymaking; - appreciate the perspectives of different stake holders and actors in a participatory process; - be able to reflect an participatory techniques that are appropriate in a participatory process;

She then asked the participants in groups of five to visualize and draw a picture of their idea of participation, share their picture with the whole group and determine where their idea of participation would fall on the participatory continuum.

After the participants have determined their idea of participation in the participatory continuum, Prof. Cabo proceeded to discuss the different participatory approaches in policy-making.

Why Participation?

Prof. Cabo explained that participation is intrinsic to the core meaning of democracy.

It is essential to good governance because it improves information flow, accountability and due process. It gives a voice to those most directly affected by public policies and programs where citizens have adequate and equal opportunity to express their preferences, place questions on the agenda, and articulate their reasons for preferences and decisions thereby giving way to effective participation that produce decisions that are more legitimate because people have been involved in making them. Therefore, it creates social capital – trust and confidence that develops when government and civil society work together for the common good of the community.

The Participatory Process: Actors and Consultation

This part of the input was done through a role playing and reflection method where the participants were asked to identify and write down on two separate metacards: 1.) a public issue or concern in their specific province that impacts on the wider community and 2.) different actors and stakeholders who are and/or must be involved in the issues.

“.... Building effective participatory mechanisms at the local level provides strategic opportunities to enhance democracy.” 24

The participants were asked to break up into groups of eight members to launch a consultation/dialogue process on the identified public issue and concern. The purpose of the dialogue is to draw out the views of the participants on the issue at hand. The dialogue also aims to identify consensus–based solutions to address the issues. Each member of the group assumed the role of a particular actor or stakeholder in the list. It would be best if the participants play in their minds how they will respectively essay their roles in the dialogue without telling their group mates.

A member of the group who played the role of the vice governor presided over the consultation process. As the person who initiated the consultation, the vice governor was expected to manage the whole event from start to finish.

Each group were given twenty (20) minutes to present the role play in the plenary.

The reflection centered on the following points:

- What lessons and principles can be drawn from the role playing exercise? - How will you relate these lessons to your work as vice-governor?

As policy makers and head of the provincial sanggunian, what decisions or actions will you resolve in relation to the lessons in participatory process?

What is Collaborative Civic Engagement?

Collaborative civic engagement refers to policies and methods for creating opportunities for citizens to get directly involved in local policymaking and implementation that such policies and methods encourage the articulation and representation of a wide range of interests in the community, the recognition and incorporation of different perspectives and positions therefore resulting to a collective decision-making that are often more legitimate and widely accepted than decisions made by elected officials acting independently.

Building effective participatory mechanisms at the local level provides strategic opportunities to enhance democracy. These enabling environment encourage strong citizen engagement and meaningful participation, the foundation on which vibrant and concrete local democratic governance is built.

Information gathering and sharing as a participatory approach involve research and analysis, or sharing of information with citizens, civic groups, NGOs, POs, etc. to inform and educate.

Sample surveys (opinion polls) of community views on a set of issues; preferences polling, which is similar to survey, looks into the intensity of preferences; innovative public meetings/hearings and community forums; 25

participative research is a collective research into an issue facing the community that involve identification of problem, determination of causes and possible solutions by a group of officials, citizens or civic groups, are the tools used in information gathering and sharing.

Consultations feature structures and events that systematically ask for opinions and advice of constituencies on issues that affect them.

Structures and events used are:

Issue specific ad hoc committees and issues forums wherein ad hoc dialogues on specific problems with key participants are consulted on policy options on a one time or series of forums with the same or different set of participants

Program for citizen monitoring through direct consultations of individuals on efficacy of a policy or program and recommendations to improve them

Participatory appraisals and beneficiary assessments allow target beneficiaries to be involved in the development and implementation of programs that are aimed at them

Public hearings are traditional forms where affected people are selected or openly invited for citizens to question public officials or give testimony

Community visioning processes involves collaborative approaches for strategic planning for the community and the policies, programs and resources required to achieve the goals through development of a vision statement to set goals, priorities and steps to achieve the vision

Task forces are broad representative panels composed of community groups, leaders and citizens that “brainstorm” to develop policy measures to specific community issues and concerns

Community budgeting involves consultations related to relationship trust and confidence between the local officials and citizens as well as priorities that budget allocations reflect and helps the community understand the possibilities and constraints of local governance and competing values to be effectively balanced

Standing citizen advisory councils are composed of representative panels of citizens with specialized knowledge or interest in an issue to provide advice and recommendations to local government units. This council is more permanent than ad hoc bodies and can be designed to be fairly dynamic and fluid as individual participation changes but over time acquires collective memory, expertise and awareness of an issue.

Decision-making forums are round table discussions and resolutions of issues and concerns of a specific policy that would affect the welfare of the constituents of a particular local government unit. The authority over the final resolution of an issue lies on the participants themselves and cannot be overturned by elected officials on higher levels of authority.

Critical factors for this type of participatory approach are:

- who are participating and the legitimacy of their involvement in decision-making - how decisions are made – either through consensus or majority decision - how issues can be resolved when consensus is unattainable

Decision-making forums may come in the form of:

Citizen juries where deliberations on a specific public problem or issue are done by a select group of broadly represented citizens for a specific period of time (4 – 5 days). The group would receive information or evidence about the issue, query experts and witnesses and discuss among themselves possible policy options. After investigation and decision-making, the group now prepares their report that outlines the decision, describes areas of consensus and disagreements and provides overall findings of the jury

Problem solving workshops involve participants engaged in a creative and consensus-oriented search for solutions of a problem.

These are a series of activities that

- Set the environment for open dialogue to define problem, identify set of solutions, identify potential constraint or obstacles to resolution of a problem; - Come up with a summary report of consensus-based findings and recommendations; - Use the summary report as basis for further discussions until all parties agree or all irresolvable difference are identified;

Produce a final summary document at the end of the workshop that embodies the collective decision of the participants on how a community problem can be best resolved.

Public dispute resolutions are methods for preventing, managing, and settling disputes through negotiations, mediation and arbitration. It involves facilitation, problem-solving, task forces, community mediation services and conciliation commissions.

Grievance handling systems are efforts to design a municipality-wide system of dispute management, 27

including procedures such as ombudspersons, report hotlines, whistle-blower programs, mediation centers, counselling services, integrated system of reporting, monitoring, managing and settling community disputes or issues elevated by citizens on policies or activities of a local authority.

Community mediation and arbitration centers are alternatives to traditional forms that involves adversarial interaction in courts of law as an initiative options, local authorities and civic groups channel community disputes into facilitated negotiation, mediation or arbitration where mutually beneficial solutions for all parties concerned are reached. The local example is the katarungang pambarangay or the barangay justice system.

Conciliation commissions offer a sustained venue and mechanism for ongoing dialogue between very diverse identity groups within the community to directly address their differences. The character of the commission is:

Balanced composition Participation of the community It has ties to the community

Crisis–related response committee for violence prevention and mitigation is a method, which include peace committee or commission to ameliorate or prevent escalation of political violence or disputes.

Role of Public Authorities

Prof. Cabo expressed that local officials play various roles at different stages or even simultaneously in participatory process.

They are

- Advocates who define a problem or promote a solution - Convenors who decides on the structure, participants, nature of participation, agenda, outcomes, and implementation. They have the legitimacy and capacity to gather parties concerned - Mediator, the third-party facilitator in bringing together disputing parties to come to an agreement to solve a problem - Catalyst who initiate and launch the participatory process - Funder, the provider of financial resources to a participatory process without being directly involved in the process. NGOs and other civic groups plan and implement the process. - Technical assistance provider, a source of technical information and assistance e.g. legislation on zoning and tax measure - Capability–builder who helps build capacities of other groups to participate in the process through training, 28

education, financial support or advice; and - Partner – partnership with civil society organizations to launch and manage a participatory process, division of labor, pooling of resources, mutual support and shared obligations

As social mediators local officials build coalitions, listen carefully to different viewpoints, are open to persuasion, and are able to forge a consensus and decide when complete consensus is impossible or undesirable.

Participatory Approaches in Policy Making Approach Strengths Weaknesses Information gathering and - Deals with problems of lack of - Information can underscore the sharing knowledge or appreciation for other irreconcilable nature of some view points of view; points; - Generate valuable information to - Promises made by politicians through decision-makers before taking actions information sharing may not be delivered Consultation - All points of view can be heard; - Can be long and drawn out resulting to more talk shops-no results being reached; - Alienated or marginalized groups - Show that some perspective are have oppurtunity to give inputs into irreconcilable the process Decision making - Sense of ownership of decision; - Long and difficult process to reach an agreement and consensus; - Useful when tough decisions have to - Powerful interests can “hijack” a be made each participants is bound to decision in their favor it, for good and bad Public dispute Resolution - Help prevent, manage and resolve - May not be able to stand up to inter-group and other intense pressure of conflicts violent conflicts and help improve among groups in urban settings; legitimacy of efforts to improve local public safety when - Bound to fail when will for process is composed with the right kind of absent people, with public support, strategically located in the community

Cover Story : 14 YEARS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE BY DON ROMERO

“It is a landmark legislation. It is considered the most radical and far-reaching policy that addressed the decades-old problem of a highly centralized politico-administrative system.” - Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. and Donna O. Moscare. Federalism: The Culmination of Decentralization and Devolution in the Philippines

“The most comprehensive piece of legislation which served as the Bible or Koran of local government administration. The Code has provided the constitutional framework for local authorities to be the genuine cornerstones of a democratic and just society.” - Gaudioso C. Sosmeña, Jr., Ten Years of the 1991 Local Government Code

“It provides the framework and the environment under which local governments can develop to become effective managers of their resources in the service of their communities.” - Barangay Administration Training and Management (BATMan) Consortium, Brief Orientation on Local Governance

“It was by far one of the most revolutionary pieces of legislation that radically transformed the very nature of Philippine politico-administrative system at the national and local levels. Indeed, the Local Government Code of 1991, also known as the Local Autonomy Act, set-off the process of reinventing and redefining the discourse of local governance in the Philippines.” - Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. Pursuing Our Collective Struggle for Local Autonomy: Amending the Local Government Code of 1991

These are some of the things people from the academe and civil society, and the author himself say about the Code, or of R. A. 7160 or the Local Autonomy Act and commonly known as the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991.

Authored by Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and signed into law on October 10, 1991 by President Corazon C. Aquino, it gave the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays powers to set their respective development directions and taxing powers. Within the framework provided by the Local Government Code, local communities, community–based organizations, non-governmental organizations and peoples’ organizations

can now play their significant role in local governance.

In a discussion paper entitled Federalism: The Culmination of Decentralization and Devolution in the Philippines written by Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. and Donna O. Moscare, the authors enumerated the following major features of the Local Government Code of 1991:

- It devolves to local government units the responsibility for the delivery of various aspec ts of basic and social services that earlier were the responsibility of the national government and other services as well such as investment support. - It devolves to local governments the responsibility for the enforcement of certain regulatory powers, such as the reclassification of agricultural lands; enforcement of environmental laws; inspection of food products and quarantine; enforcement of the national building code; operation of tricycles; processing and approval of subdivision plans; and establishment of cockpits and holding of cockfights. - The Code also provides the legal and institutional infrastructure for expanded participation of civil society in local governance. More specifically, it allocates to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and peoples’ organizations (POs) specific seats in Local Special Bodies (LSBs). These special bodies include the local development council, the local health board, and the local school board. Because of their ability to organize and mobilize the people, one door wide open for NGO and PO participation in governance is in the area of promoting local accountability and answerability, specifically through the recall and people’s initiative provisions. - The Code increases the financial resources available to local government units by: (1) broadening their taxing powers; (2) providing them with a specific share from the national wealth exploited in their area, e.g. mining, fishery and forestry charges; and (3) increasing their share from the national taxes, i.e., internal revenue allotments (IRA), from a previously low of 11% to as much as 40%. The Code also increases the elbow room of local governments to generate revenue from local fees and charges. - Finally, the Code lays the foundation for the development and evolution of more entrepreneurial – oriented local governments. For instance, it provides the foundations for local governments to enter into build–operate–transfer (BOT) arrangements with the private sector, float bonds, obtain loans from local private institutions, etc., all within the context of encouraging them to be “more business – like” and competitive in their operations in contradistinction to “traditional” government norms and operations.

These major features of the Code have strengthened our nation and helped us overcome major critical political and economic crisis that have occurred and are still occurring at the center of every political administration since its passage into law. This is because, through the encouragement of participative governance enshrined in the Code, our local governments were strengthened by the emergence of new, innovative, creative and bold local leaders at the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels. These leaders

are not only limited to elected public officials but empowered leaders of community–based organizations, non-government organizations and peoples’ organizations that were tapped by the local governments as partners in local governance and development.

Though we at the local level can feel the shocks of political upheavals at the national level, hope still spring eternal that our local government units are the green patches of hope of our nation as evidenced by the awards and recognitions of good and best practices in various fields of endeavors given to several local government units by different organizations. The Galing Pook of the Asian Institute of Management and the Local Governance Academy (LGA), the HIMAS awards of the Department of Health (DOH) and the German Foundation for Technical Cooperation and Development, the KAME awards of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the various awards of the Department of Interior and Local Government – the Clean and Green award and the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awards, which is considered by many local government as the “Olympics of Local Government Excellence”. GOLD – Governance and Local Democracy – Project, in its various Rapid Field Appraisals (RFAs) was able to identify simple and innovative good practices of good local governance by local governments because of their creativity, imagination and innovation in converging with the other sectors in their respective communities to deliver basic and support services to the people. These are the reasons why it can be said that devolution is working and local autonomy has unleashed good local leaders and managers among the recent crop of local elected public officials within the 14 years of the Local Government Code implementation.

Almost all local governments face the same problems and challenges because of lack of funds, capabilities and continued impediments brought about by both or either of the institutions and/or processes to handle the major changes and/or demands of a decentralized set-up. These could by the reasons why a majority of our local governments and their respective communities are not still enjoying or have not yet fully enjoyed the fruits of devolution and decentralization.

The present formula is defeating the purpose and objectives of self-reliance and local autonomy. The simplistic formula using population, land area and the equity principle is not really developing self-reliant local governments. To correct and remedy the problem, a five-point IRA formula is recommended. The following factors or variables should be adopted: Principle of financial disability; Actual service requirement; Population; 32

La nd area; Equity principle.

One of the main objectives of local autonomy is to decrease reliance of local governments upon national government allotment. Majority of our local governments are Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) dependent either because of lack of internally generated revenues or jointly generated resources with other institutions, organizations, other LGUs and other private institutions. Compounded by the fact that basic and support services has been devolved without national government devolving the accompanying fund, the financial difficulty coupled with the contention of national government agencies that the IRA belongs to the national government and is only being shared and allotted to LGUs out of the kindness of their hearts. This contention has been found to be without merit because on July 19, 2000, the Supreme Court ruled thus:

“A basic feature of local fiscal autonomy is the automatic release of the shares of LGUs in the national internal revenue. This is mandated by no less than the Constitution. The Local Government Code specifies further that the release shall be made directly to the LGU concerned within five (5) days every quarter of the year and shall not be subject to any lien or holdback that may be imposed by the national government for whatever purpose… Such withholding clearly contravenes the Constitution and the law… Any retention is prohibited.”

The share of the LGUs in the national taxes belongs to the local governments. The national government’s job is simply to administer these resources. The fact that the IRA is not enough for the local government to deliver basic and support services it becomes more onerous for the LGU to raise funds when a portion of the IRA is retained by the national government.

In a paper entitled, “Ten Years of the 1991 Local Government Code”, presented at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Strategic Studies, Guadioso C. Sosmeña, Jr. wrote, “If the national government will withhold the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for local governments, about 85% of them will collapse and close down. This is because local governments have a very high IRA dependency.”

“The present formula is not helping local governments become financially independent under a decentralized environment. The present formula in the long run is nurturing non-performing local governments, with a sad state of local revenue administration.” he continued.

He further says that “the present formula is defeating the purpose and objectives of self-reliance and local autonomy. The simplistic formula using population, land area and the equity principle is not really developing self-reliant local governments. To correct and remedy the problem, a five-point IRA formula is recommended. The following factors or variables should be adopted: Principle of financial disability; Actual service requirement; Population; Land area; Equity principle.

“The combination of these five factors will rationalize the use of the IRA in promoting self-reliant local 33

governments.” he says.

The three year term of office of local officials is seen as a hindrance to the institutionalization of the Local Government Code and to building the capabilities of local officials. This is because local elected officials do not have enough time to plan and execute many of their programs within a short time frame of three years. It is a common experience that when a new set of elected officials assumes office after the three-year term, new programs evolve and continuity is lost. Thus, there is a need to amend the constitutional provision on the tenure of local government officials and campaign for a longer term of five years.

This is precisely why local governments were not able to really transform obsolete structures and organizations to meet the requirements of solving modern day problems. Efficiency and effectiveness can be achieved when local governments adapt private sectors strategies, techniques and technology, systems of management and information technology, where appropriate.

Sosmeña has also identified areas wherein there is a need to improve the over-all capacities at all levels of local governments to govern, i.e. at the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels. He says that local governments should improve their: Livability which refers to quality of life and how they are sustaining the physical environment; Bankability which referr to how sound their revenues are and the extent to which they are mobilizing their resources; Governance – referring to achieving responsive and quick participative decision making concerning local affairs; Competitiveness which refers to how a province or city competes in the promotion of investment and the generation of employment in the domestic and global arena.

This is because local governments have ceased to be that local; interactions and relations have become supranational. The over-all environment requires a complete reorientation to modernization and international understanding.

On October 10, 2006, the Code is going to be on its 15th year of implementation but ever since its first five years, Congress has failed to comply with its mandate to review the Code as provided in Section 521 of the Local Government Code.

National government failed to appoint a Commission of Inquiry that should have evaluated how effectively the Local Government Code was implemented. Thus, until now there is no official report on how effectively it is being implemented.

These failures of the national government and Congress to do their respective tasks has exasperated and frustrated efforts by local governments because local development and investment plans do not get the necessary funding that it desperately need for the reason that it is not within the priority programs identified by the national government. As there is no national integrated program to implement effectively the Local 34

Government Code, foreign assistance programs in support of decentralization were not optimized, and the prevailing dualism and dissonance in policy continues.

Today, we look forward to the celebration of the 15th year of the Local Government Code, it is imperative that we look back at our collective experiences with decentralization and local autonomy. Share lessons learned, issues and concerns as building blocks on which decentralization and local autonomy can be broadened and strengthened. Building on the gains of innovative local good governance at all levels to be able to replicate and adapt good and best practices that were able to respond to the needs of the poor for delivery of basic and support services, environmental and ecological management, local generation and utilization of resources, infrastructure, agricultural and human development.

These are the challenges that confront our local leaders across communities, local government units and regions with our present decentralization within a highly centralized governmental framework.

The prospects of broadening and strengthening decentralization and local autonomy is bright as evidenced by models of good and best practices in local governance because decentralization has shown us that unique situations exist in different local governments that only they know how to manage. It has shown us that it has changed the profile of local leadership drawing more leaders from a wider range of society. It has increased media vigilance and accountability because of more active citizen participation in local governance. It has encouraged more reliance on political machinery rather than outright warlordism which has changed the political climate at the local level through the use of legitimate channels to gain power.

Our experience with decentralization and local autonomy has taught us the following lessons and insights:

Decentralization taught us that: Responsibilities decentralized to local government units should be coupled with the devolution of funds needed to carry them out; Without clear division of powers between the national government and the local governments policy dualism and dissonance will continue to confuse the exercise of local autonomy; There is a need to transfer greater responsibility from the national government to the local government units to address their respective unique situations that only they know how to manage; mechanism should be institutionalized and operationalized to improve intergovernmental and non-governmental relations and cooperation to provide the regional policy solutions and coordinated actions to address regional issues and development concerns; National, regional, provincial, city and municipal development will have no impact if not informed by a participatory barangay development and investment plans thereby providing coherent planning, direction and action towards improving delivery of basic and support services for poverty reduction, finally contributing to national economic growth, political stability and the attainment of development goals; and the point of reference should be at the basic political unit

which is the barangay rather than at the national level because it is at the barangay level where real lives are really affected by the responsiveness or irresponsiveness of government programs, projects and activities being implemented. People in the communities are the ones who know what their real needs are and the problems besetting them.

The League of Vice Governors of the Philippines plays a crucial role in this quest of bringing about these changes that could broaden and strengthen decentralization and local autonomy.

References:

Abueva, Jose V. et al, 2002. Towards a Federal Republic of the Philippines with a Parliamentary Government: A Reader, Kalayaan College, Marikina City

Sen. Pimentel, Aquilino Q. “Pursuing Our Collective Struggle for Local Autonomy: Amending the Local Government Code of 1991”

Newsbreak July 18, 2005 www.inq7.net

Executive Summary : 29TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION November 17-20, 2005 BY ANNALYN "AJ" J. FLORES (E.D.)

San Fernando City, La Union – The League of Vice Governors of the Philippines held its 29th National Assembly last November 17-20, 2005 in the progressive province of La Union hosted by the active Vice President for Luzon, Vice Governor Aureo Q. Nisce.

The father of the province Governor Victor F. Ortega hosted a welcome San Fernando Mayor Honorable Mary dinner for the Vice Governors at the sprawling Provincial Capitol Building that Jane C. Ortega welcomes the Vice offered a picturesque view of the La Union waterfront. Governor Ortega Governors during the visit to theBotanical during his welcome speech shared the various economic ventures as well as Garden after the assembly. innovations that had been instituted in the province including a world-class hospital and health service. He also solicited the support of the Vice Governors in the ongoing work of the Constitutional Commission in effecting the immediate changes in the country’s constitution. He said that the needed changes will usher to the country a stream of economic and political progress and the support of the Local Government units are paramount in carrying out the desired cha nges. Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega of San Fernando, better half of the Governor also welcomed the guests but reserved her discussion regarding the projects of San Fernando during the visit of the Vice Governors to the Botanical Garden the following day.

The formal assembly started with a short program at 8:30 in the morning of November 18 Friday. The 29th gathering of Vice Chief Executives was focused primarily on the urgent issues of constitutional reforms and planned upheavals in the present political system. Congressman Mauricio G. Domogan, representative of the Lone District of Baguio City and 1st Vice Chairman for Constitutional Reforms presented to the Vice Governors that the constitutional changes to be effected are imperative for the country to get past its political grid lock and maneuver much needed economic progress in the country. He said the too much politics and self-interest is drowning the economy and the only lifesaver that the country can cling to is Vi ce Governor participants listen to the input of a constitutional reform. Meanwhile, Atty. Alberto C. Agra, election lawyer Atty. Alberto C. Agra on consitutional reforms and LGU affairs. expert on various legal fields involving Local Government Unit affairs as well as election and political law and as requested by the League presented a comprehensive study on the pros and cons of constitutional reforms. Through an impartial discussion on the topics the local legislators will be provided with a balanced opinion to wisely support or oppose the need for reforms. Atty. Agra astutely mentioned a popular advice among the Jesuits that it is not wise for a person to make major decisions when he or she is in the middle of a crisis. He commented that while it is necessary to effect changes in the Constitution, it is not an immediate need considering the many pressing social and economic problems of the country that must be addressed. He said that the present political set up already gives a lot of power to local government units, only LGU’s are not able to fully harness the autonomy that is given to them. He however consented that in the end it is still the wisdom of the lawmakers and leaders of the country that will spell out what good will come out of the move for constitutional reforms.

After a comprehensive open forum with the invited guests, the Vice Governors proceeded to visit the ground breaking projects of La Union and San Fernando City namely the Botanical Garden, the Bacsil Ridge Sanitary Landfill, the Housing project and the top-notch self-sustaining hospital facilities of La Union Medical Center. Mayor Mary Jane Ortega explained to the Vice Governors the humble beginnings of the projects and how it later on flourished to become archetypes for other provinces to emulate.

On their second evening the Vice Governors were treated to a Luau dinner courtesy of the host Vice Governor Aureo Q. Nisce as they continue to discuss the issues taken up during Serious but li ght was the general mood during the day as well as ways of replicating the projects of La Union the 29th National Assembly. in their own localities. To cap the 29th National Assembly the Vice Governors visited the neighboring City of Baguio for a guided tour on the country’s premier military school and to observe as well their small and medium scale economic enterprises.

MILLION HECTARE OF PHILIPPINE Au Urgent Call for a RAINFOREST RESTORES BY 2020 BY ESTHER B. BATANGAN, Advocacy OIC, HARIBON Foundation

A total of one hundred twenty-eight (128) participants from all over the country, representing local government units, POs, NGOs, indigenous peoples leaders, academe, government line agencies, private and business sector attended a “National Consultation on Rainforest Restoration” last November 16-18, 2005 at Imperial Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

Participants represented areas identified as priorities for forest restoration. Among those areas represented were: watersheds, protected areas, community-based forest management (CBFM) areas, timber license agreement (TLA) and industrial forestry management agreement (IFMA) areas and geothermal reserves.

During this consultation Haribon was able to gather an initial commitment of more than 300,000 hectares for immediate restoration. The participants representing eight (8) geographic areas developed action plans, among which, policy, research, advocacy, and operational work on forest restoration using indigenous species came out as priority.

This urgent call is based on an assessment that for the last two decades, many investments have already been poured into the Philippine forestry sector specifically on reforestation using exotic species and policy reform through the DENR, the government agency which has mandate over the natural resources of the country. Despite the infusion of investments, key policies on serious forest restoration work for environmental and watershed protection and biodiversity conservation are still wanting. With less than a million hectares of old growth Philippine rainforests remaining, extractive industries such as logging, mining 40

and other land conversion activities remain to be the biggest threats to this endangered ecosystem.

At present, the policy regime of the forestry sector has not put a premium on forest restoration particularly using indigenous species. The existing policy governing forestry in the country is the Forestry Code which is more than 20 years old and highlights utilisation of the forests rather than its conservation. The on-going review and revision of the Omnibus Forestry Code which seeks to amend the Forestry Code has lumped the forest restoration component with silviculture research that conservation groups and researchers find inadequate given the very fast degradation rate of Philippine rainforests.

To address this pressing concern, Haribon, together with academic experts, practitioners and senior researchers from the government recently organised a series of meetings and roundtable discussions and reflected on the urgency of responding to the challenges of forest loss and degradation by identifying courses of action which need to be undertaken immediately. This led to the creation of an informal group called Rain Forest Restoration Initiatives (RFRI).

Realising this policy gap, Haribon in collaboration with the RFRI organised a national consultation on Philippine Rainforest Restoration last November 16-18, 2005. It was during this consultation that the ROAD to 2020 campaign was launched. This campaign aims to create a movement for a concerted action to bring back denuded forests by ensuring that 1 million hectares of forests are undergoing restoration by year 2020.

It will promote the use native species in order to recover and conserve biodiversity, optimise the supply of forest benefits and ecosystem services and enhance options for sustainable livelihood of poor forest- dependent families. This method of using indigenous species is called rainforestation which has been developed by a local institution, the Leyte State University (LSU) with assistance from the GTZ Applied Tropical Ecology Program in Leyte Project.

Initiated in the late 90’s, the main concept of this system is to plant endemic fruit and lumber trees at a high density and a high degree of diversity in order to achieve a three storey plan structure which aims at resembling the natural rainforest, instead of planting traditional alien timber trees. For intercropping purposes the trees are suggested to be cultivated together with conventional agricultural crops as intercrops. The result is a home gardent-type of an agroforestry system. LSU has piloted rainforestation and has achieved success in providing supplemental incomes to participating communities and at the same time, enhanced

biodiversity in the pilot areas.

Because the rainforestation as a strategy to restore the Philippine rainforests is a very new initiative , this urgent call is also addressed to local government units, including the League of Vice Governors, to take on the challenge by invoking the Local Government Code in asserting dev olved functions and responsibilities of forest management as in the case of Nueva Vizcaya.

More particularly, we enjoin the LGU to vigorously promote the use of indigenous species in forest restoration. This call is more than ever urgent and critical because of the proliferation of alien or exotic timber species which are being promoted for reforestation purposes. The use of these species defeats the purpose of reforestation because by planting exotic species, native biodiversity will never come back and Philippine rainforests will never be restored.

Photo Gallery VICE GOVERNORS IN ACTION

Vice Governors all over the country strike a pose with Oriental Negros Governor George T. Arnaiz and Department of Budget Management Assistant Secretary Eduardo B. Opida for posterity during the 28th National Assembly in Dumagute City.

The lady Vice Governors, who were honored in the last Vice Governors and escursionists mesmerize in awe issue of Agenda in line with the celebration of Women’s inside the makeshift bat cave at the the A.Y. Reyes Month, headed the awarding of certificates. Assistant Zoological and Botanical Garden in Silliman University. Secretary Eduardo B. Opida of the DBM receives his The botanical garden serves as sanctuary to many plaque of appreciation from Vice Governor Bagulaya. threatened and endangered species including these giant plant-eating bats locally known as “kabog.”

For the boys. The Fellowship dinner during the 28th And for the ladies too. Lady LVGP Officers pose for the National Assembly proved to be a time for the fellows. camera with Fellowship Night Host Oriental Negros Board Member Mariant Villegas.

A mountain of raw sugar at the Universal Robina Sugar Vice Governors strike a pose with conservationists Processing Plant in Oriental Negros dwarfs the Vice studying dolphins and whales in the Tañon Strait in Governors and excursionists during the tour after the Manjuyod, Oriental Negros, hometown of 28th National 28th National Assembly. Assembly host Vice Governor Petit Baldado.

Governor George T. Arnaiz of Oriental Negros in Sizzling seafood delights were the ma in treat during the dynamic exchange with Vice Governor Arana Panaligan Fellowhisp dinner hosted by Oriental Negros Board of Oriental Mindoro and Vice Governor Ramon G. Member Mariant Villegas and Governor Arnaiz. Lacbain,II of Zambales.

Sweet Trip. Participants of the 28th National Assemble Photo op. Vice Governors pose with San Fernando tours the Sugar Processing Facility of Universal Robina Mayor Ortega for posterity during the visit at the botanical in Oriental Negros. garden.

All smiles for the camera. Vice Governos pose hoping Vice Governors steal a pose after the grueling lectures probably that this one will appear in the Agenda. during the 29th National Assembly in San Fernando Pampangga

Vice Governors in their hawaiian outfit during the fellowship night.