LGSP focuses its program initiatives on strengthening the effectiveness of local governance in four key outcome areas: local government management, service delivery, resource generation and management and participatory governance. In the last fiscal year, program activities addressed the key areas of local government management and participatory governance.
Local Government Management
For the period of April 1 to September 2001, majority of the LGSP investment and results in its regions were directed toward the achievement of more efficient and effective local government leadership and management. The LDMP (Local chief executive Development Management Program), implemented in each of the LGSP regions, comprised the flagship initiative for this period. This comprehensive program included a coaching arrangement for the mayors and their Executive Agenda teams, a broad local consultation process, an educational program for the mayors and governors on good governance and accountability, capacity development activities for a key group of Local Government Unit (LGU) planners, the development and adoption of a three-year Executive Agenda and the development of an LGU Capacity Development Plan.
The LDMP contributed to a number of important results that establish the foundation and direction for development within the participating LGUs for the next three years. The governors and mayors who participated in LDMP designed a needs-based and “do-able” Executive Agenda and Capacity Development Plans that identifies and addresses priority concerns of and set out realistic and achievable project plans and targets for their LGUs.
In crafting the Executive Agenda and the Capacity Development Plans, LGSP gathered and utilized reliable benchmark information on the participating LGUs. The baseline data was used to analyze LGU performance gaps, identify capacity development needs and prioritize interventions. More generally, the LGUs and LGSP will continue to use the data in identifying, designing, planning and monitoring capacity-building projects. The process of data collection was participatory. LGSP assembled the information about the LGUs using select indicators from the DILG Local Productivity and Performance Measurement System (LPPMS).
The participatory process of creating the Executive Agenda entailed broad consultation with various sectors, created a renewed enthusiasm for development and consequently, encouraged local chief executives to be more accountable to their constituencies as they involve them in the implementation of their development agenda. These development plans also help provide a framework within which LGSP can assist and support the LGU.
Participatory Governance
LGSP recognizes that civil society plays an important role in transparency and in holding government accountable and aims to enhance multi-stakeholder participation as an important aspect of participatory governance.
In line with the target output to increase the number of LGUs with mechanisms for active participation of civil society organizations (CSO) in local governance, the program focused its efforts on enhancing the processes of reactivation and reconstitution of the six Local Special Bodies (LSBs) mandated by the 1991 Local Government Code. The issuance of DILG’s Memorandum Circular (MC) 89-2001 in July 2001 further helped in creating favorable conditions for a more inclusive and participatory processes of CSO representation in these bodies.
Purposive efforts were extended across the regions to support LGUs as well as civil society organizations in faithfully complying with the policy and guidelines as mentioned in the MC. Depending on the extent of available resources, some regions provided substantive inputs through workshops and training devoted toward enhancing capacities of members and CSO representatives in the various LSBs. As a result of these initiatives and proactive networking with DILG and concerned CSOs, more LGSP-assisted LGUs have reactivated/reconstituted LSBs for active participation of civil society in governance following a more inclusive and transparent process.