Philippine Institute for Development Studies Surian sa mga Pag-aaral Pangkaunlaran ng Pilipinas Bottom-Up Budgeting Process Assessment: Zamboanga del Norte Danileen Kristel C. Parel, Reinier T. De Guzman, and Keith C. Detros DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES NO. 2016-24 The PIDS Discussion Paper Series constitutes studies that are preliminary and subject to further revisions. They are be- ing circulated in a limited number of cop- ies only for purposes of soliciting com- ments and suggestions for further refine- ments. The studies under the Series are unedited and unreviewed. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not neces- sarily reflect those of the Institute. Not for quotation without permission from the author(s) and the Institute. June 2016 For comments, suggestions or further inquiries please contact: The Research Information Staff, Philippine Institute for Development Studies 18th Floor, Three Cyberpod Centris - North Tower, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines Telephone Numbers: (63-2) 3721291 and 3721292; E-mail: [email protected] Or visit our website at http://www.pids.gov.ph BOTTOM-UP BUDGETING PROCESS ASSESSMENT: ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE Danileen Kristel C. Parel Reinier T. de Guzman Keith C. Detros Philippine Institute for Development Studies July 2015 Table of Contents ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................. iii INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Scope and Limitation of Study.................................................................................................................................. 5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE ................................................................................................................ 6 Land and People ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 * No data for 3 barangays ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Financial Profile ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Priority Needs and Development Goals ................................................................................................................... 9 Civil Society Organizations ..................................................................................................................................... 11 ASSESSMENT OF THE BOTTOM-UP BUDGETING PROCESS ................................................... 15 2015 BUB Planning Cycle ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Adoption of Enhanced Process and the KC Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (Case of Mutia) ................ 19 Backgrounder ......................................................................................................................................................... 19 KC Social Preparation Process and FY 2016 BUB Planning cycle ............................................................................ 20 CSO Assembly ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 CSO Invitation ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 CSO Attendance .................................................................................................................................................... 23 Selection of CSO representatives in the LPRAT ...................................................................................................... 27 Poverty Situation Analysis and Issue Identification ............................................................................................... 29 Extent of CSO Participation in the Assembly .......................................................................................................... 31 LPRAT Orientation ............................................................................................................................................... 32 LPRAP Workshop ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Composition of the LPRAT and EMDC .................................................................................................................... 32 Invitation and attendance ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Project Identification and Prioritization ................................................................................................................. 35 Quality of Participation .......................................................................................................................................... 39 LPRAP Projects Finalized during LPRAP Workshop ................................................................................................ 41 Finalization of Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan .............................................................................................. 42 Quality of Projects in the LPRAP ............................................................................................................................. 44 Sub-Project Implementation and Monitoring ...................................................................................................... 47 Status of implementation of FY2014 Projects ........................................................................................................ 48 Status of implementation of FY2015 Projects ........................................................................................................ 50 i NGA Feedback and Information Sharing ............................................................................................................... 50 Project Monitoring ................................................................................................................................................. 52 GENERAL ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................................................... 53 Usefulness of the BUB ............................................................................................................................................ 53 Joint Memorandum Circular No. 5 ......................................................................................................................... 54 Facilitation: Community Mobilizers, NAPC Focal Person and BUB Secretariat ...................................................... 57 Political Interference ............................................................................................................................................. 59 Increasing Coverage and Participation ................................................................................................................... 61 Adoption of the Enhanced Process ........................................................................................................................ 63 ii Abstract Bottom up Budgeting is a mechanism implemented to institutionalize and incentivize grassroots participation, as represented by Civil Society Organizations, in the planning and budgeting of their respective cities or municipalities. This paper assess how the various participatory steps were conducted and how the selected sub-projects from the previous budgeting round was being implemented. Specifically, this paper focuses on 3 LGUs from Zamboanga del Norte, with various levels of development and participation in government programs. The assessment was conducted by observing the BUB activities of the study sites, conducting interviews and focus group discussions, and validating findings against secondary data. Findings on the general usefulness of the BUB, its current guidelines, and interaction with corollary government programs were highlighted, along with recommendations. Keywords: Philippines, Zamboanga del Norte, bottom-up budgeting, poverty reduction, local governance, participatory budgeting, civil society organizations, grassroots iii Bottom-up Budgeting Process Assessment: Zamboanga del Norte Danileen Kristel C. Parel, Reinier T. de Guzman, Keith C. Detros Philippine Institute for Development Studies July 2015 Introduction The Aquino administration through the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC) and Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Cluster (GGACC) launched the Bottom up Budgeting (BUB) exercise in 2012. The strategy hopes to empower civil society organizations and citizens’ groups to engage