ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
02 October 2014
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
3 Message from the President 4 National Executive Board
Convergence Framework and 6 Strategic Approach 7 overview
8 ulap’s role 10 local governance approach key accomplishments
13 Good Governance and Reform 15 Health 19 Education 26
Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
25 Migration and Development 28
Other Policy Research and Capacity-Building for LGUs
29 concluding notes
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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Message from the President
T
he Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) is releasing this accomplishment report in this month of the 23rd anniversary of the passage of the 1991 Local Government Code. We highlight and celebrate the wins of how we, the leagues of local government units and officials, have been instrumental in upholding genuine local autonomy and converging the work of local governments with the national government, private sector, and civil society.
In the past few years, ULAP has intensified its work with the national government for governance reform initiatives such as the Open Government Partnership. We partnered with the Department of Education for key programs such as the Abot Alam for the Out of School Youth, and the School-Based Feeding Program. ULAP has also been instrumental in mainstreaming capacity-building programs in the Department of Health. We are also representing the local governments in the Philippine Health Insurance Company, National Economic Development Authority, among other policy platforms in national government agencies. Our partnership with the private sector and civil society is stronger than ever. With ULAP acting as a bridge to local governments and providing technical and advocacy support, corporate foundations and civil society groups are able to partner with local governments with greater ease. ULAP added to its roster of partners a good number of reputable international and national organizations.
Moving forward, our agenda is clear. We will intensify our work for good governance and reform, and assist local governments to have policy environments and program partnerships that will enable them to provide better transparent governance, and more effective service delivery. Together with ULAP’s member leagues, strong network of partners, and capable secretariat team, we are optimistic to achieve greater wins in the next years. We thank you for your trust, and we invite you to partner with us. Let ULAP be of service to you. Maraming salamat at mabuhay!
GOV. ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR. President Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD (Elected 2014)
Chairman
Hon. Arthur D. Defensor, Sr. LPP National Chairman, Governor of Iloilo
1st Vice President
Hon. Francisco M. Domagoso VMLP National President, Vice Mayor of Manila City
President
Hon. Alfonso V. Umali, Jr. LPP National President, Governor of Oriental Mindoro
Vice Chairman
Hon. Leonardo M. Javier, Jr. LMP National President, Mayor of Javier, Leyte
2nd Vice President
Hon. /Atty. Edmund R. Abesamis LnB National President, Board Member of Nueva Ecija
Assistant Treasurer
Hon. Raquel S. Mala単gen Hon. Humerlito A. Dolor Four-L Executive Vice-President, LVGP Chairperson, Councilor of Quezon City Vice Governor of Oriental Mindoro
Assistant Auditor
Hon. Myrna M. Romarate PBMLP National President, Board Member of Surigao del Norte
PRO
Hon. Maybelyn Dela Cruz-Fernandez PCL National President, Councilor of Dagupan City
Hon. Herbert M. Bautista LCP National President, Mayor of Quezon City
Secretary General
Hon. Leonides N. Fausto LVGP National President, Vice Governor of Cagayan Province
Treasurer
Executive Vice President
Auditor
Hon. Abraham T. Burahan LMP Secretary General, Mayor of Hadji Panglima Tahil
Assistant PRO
Hon. John Patrick R. Agustin LnB Executive Vice-President, Board Member of Tarlac
Chairman for Advocacy and Policy
Hon. Marlon Paulo C. Alejandrino NMYL Executive Vice-President, Councilor of Valenzuela City
Chairman for Gender and
Development Hon. Alma M. Moreno-Salic PCL National Chairman, Councilor of Para単aque City
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD (Elected 2011)
National Chairman Governor Luis Chavit C. Singson
Liaison Officer Commissioner Louise Gabriel Q. Del Rosario
Vice Chairman Mayor Enrico R. Echiverri
Legal Counsel Councilor Alan D. Zulueta
National President Governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr.
Chairman, Advocacy & Policy Governor Luis Raymond F. Villafuerte
External Vice President Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez
Chairman Gender & Development Councilor Maria Leobeth B. Deslate-Delicana
1st Vice President Councilor Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri 2nd Vice President Mayor Donato D. Marcos 3rd Vice President Vice Governor Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya Secretary General Councilor Dorothy A. Delarmente Treasurer Vice Governor Leonides N. Fausto Assistant Treasurer Board Member Ramon M. Revilla, III Auditor Councilor Alma M. Moreno-Salic Assistant Auditor Board Member Carlo P. Loreto Public Relations Officer Vice Mayor Francisco M. Domagoso Assistant Public Relations Officer Councilor Leslie G. Yambao
MemberS, National Executive Board NMYL, Liaison for ULAP Vice Governor Humerlito A. Dolor Executive Vice President, LMP Mayor Reynaldo B. Navarro Executive Vice President, VMLP Vice Mayor Ronald Allan M. Nalupta PPSK, Executive Vice President Councilor Robert Dominic M. Echiverri
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
Overview
The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) is the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government units (LGUs) and locally elected government officials, and was formed in 1998, registered in 1999, and further endorsed through Executive Order 351, series of 2004. Prior to its creation, ULAP was called the “League of Leagues”, which played an important convening role for the local governments to lobby and develop the Local Government Code of 1991. ULAP was created to convene and represent its member leagues and local governments to national and sub-national policy and program committees in continuous pursuit of strengthening and capacitating LGUs for local autonomy and good governance. To date, ULAP’s primary member leagues are: • League of Provinces of the Philippines (Provincial Governors) • League of Cities of the Philippines (City Mayors) • League of Municipalities of the Philippines (Municipal Mayors) • Liga ng mga Barangay (Village Chairpersons) • League of Vice Governors of the Philippines • Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines • Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines • Philippine Councilors League • Lady Local Legislators League • National Movement of Young Legislators
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
Under the administration of current ULAP President Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., ULAP’s strategy to achieve the organization’s mission was aligned and made consistent with the vision of President Benigno Aquino III and the national government’s Philippine Development Plan and PPP Strategy. ULAP urges its local government members TO ADOPT a strategic bottom-up approach in governance, for the national government to energize and support the local government sector to accomplish development goals in the local levels. ULAP strongly believes that, to improve the delivery of services and to achieve “inclusive growth”, stronger national and local government coordination must be realized. Furthermore, ULAP envisions itself to be a venue for transformative governance at the local level, serving as catalyst to localize national development and to bridge various stakeholders to gather capacity and various resources. ULAP acts as a convergence agent to national government, LGUs, communities, civic and private organizations for a unified and sustainable change that can be measured both national and local levels, while leveraging on each others resources.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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The Bridging Role of ULAP National Government Agencies
Private & Civil Society Partners
Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
Local Government Units
Advocacy / Communications
Technical Support
Program Financing
ULAP is in the forefront for LGUs in discussing local issues with the national government, and bringing national policies, projects and programs on the ground. ULAP bridges the local government, with the help of all the member leagues, to the national government, private sector and civil society organizations. Over the years, ULAP’s responsibilities are becoming broader, and becoming more significant in local governance issues, problems and solutions. Moreover, ULAP has been the connection of the LGUs to the opportunities being offered by the private sector, NGOs, CSOs and international development sector. Projects and programs of these sectors were brought to the LGUs, strategically looking at their local needs and matching them to the available projects and programs.
ULAP, since 2011, has been banking on its convergence framework in developing policies, projects and programs for the local government units from all the possible partners on international and national environment. As the umbrella organization of all local government leagues, ULAP has been fulfilling its mission to unite all member leagues, enhance their partnership with all stakeholders to attain genuine local autonomy for all LGUs, and ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of basic services to local communities for authentic and humane governance.
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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n carrying out its role as bridge of the LGUs, ULAP has adopted a local governance approach for the various programs and policy advocacies it carries. This local governance approach serves as a guide for analysis and resource-generation of ULAP, to convene alliances and put together more holistic program and policy “packages� for LGUs. ULAP believes that in order for initiatives to be effective, they should be able to cover as many components as possible. The Local Governance Approach has three components: Leadership, Supply, and Demand.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
LEADERSHIP The Leadership component reflects the need for effective and efficient policy environments for local governance, and wellcapacitated local leaders to carry out mandates and innovate on complex development challenges. For this component, ULAP is guided by these broad questions: • What policies in the national and local levels must be in place so that local leaders will be empowered to perform their work more effectively and efficiently? • What capacity-building inputs are needed so that local leaders can be strategic and effective in their work?
SUPPLY
DEMAND Meanwhile, the Demand component reflects the need for community-level support and engagement for sustained and intensive collaborations with the people. For this component, ULAP is guided by these broad questions: • How can initiatives foster demand-driven governance? What modes of direct engagement with local governments can be opened to local groups from various sectors? • How can the involvement of local partners help local governments sustain excellent initiatives? • How can excellent initiatives withstand political transitions and unpredictable resource-generation environments?
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KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
Good Governance and Reform OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REVIEW
DISABILITY INCLUSIVE ELECTIONS PROGRAM In partnership with the AustralianAID and The Asia Foundation (TAF) Fully Abled Nation (FAN) project, ULAP worked with the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) to promote inclusiveness for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process, specifically during the 2013 local elections.
Photo from the Review of the 1991 Local Government Code Facebook Page
ULAP is closely working with the DILG and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) teams for the review of the Local Government Code. The review aims to identify a set of amendments on fiscal arrangements and distribution of responsibilities among the levels of local governments when it comes to service delivery functions. As of writing of this accomplishment report, the Review Team, after a series of dialogues and consultations with LGUs from all over the country, will be presenting its recommendations to the ULAP National Executive Board. The next steps in the policy reform advocacy shall be identified for further action. Earlier this year on March 28, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Galing Pook Foundation, and ULAP co-organized a policy workshop, “A Fresh Look at the Local Government Code�. The workshop aimed to gather inputs from local government officials on priority legislative reform agenda and renewed strategies to push the proposals. The output of the workshop is a policy paper released by Galing Pook, and now used by ULAP and the ADB-DILG Review Team as reference to develop the set of proposed amendments.
ULAP and PAPO helped the FAN alliance pass an en banc resolution with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for PWD voter-friendly polling stations and voting processes, and facilitated the voting of 226 PWDs within Metro Manila. ULAP and PAPO also partnered with Oriental Mindoro, Tagudin Ilocos Sur, Midsayap Cotabato, Gapan Nueva Ecija, and Del Carmen Siargao to develop PWD Registries through advocacy road shows and providing technical support. These initiatives resulted in the development of a handbook for setting up Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in local governments, which was turned over to FAN for further development and eventual publication. This program is further relevant for local governments to meet the indicators for the SGLG, launched in early 2014. The SGLG awards LGUs that prioritize the participation of PWDs in local special bodies for decision-making, planning, and budgeting.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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Health PHILHEALTH BOARD AND HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATION The Coalition envisions itself to be a catalyst of strategic, targeted and innovative publicprivate partnership for local health system development and attainment of desired maternal and child health indicators, with primary focus on areas with poor maternal and child health indices where the poor are highly concentrated. The Coalition is named “162 to 52”, because when it was first convened in 2011, the Philippines’ Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is 162; the Coalition aims to contribute to the efforts to reduce the MMR to 52 to meet the Millennium Development Goal. ULAP is one the lead conveners of this coalition, formally launched in 2012, which provides opportunities for and encourages private and civil society organizations to pro-actively contribute to needed interventions under one framework for actions. The Co-Chairpersons of the Coalition are DOH Sec. Enrique Ona, ULAP President Umali, and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) President Ernesto Garilao. Among the other lead conveners are: Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; League of Provinces of the Philippines; Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan; Philippine Business for Social Progress; Ayala TBI/ACCESS Health Philippines; and SanofiAventis Philippines. Aside from being the lead convener, ULAP also serves as the Coalition Secretariat. From 2012, the Coalition worked together to mainstream the health leadership and governance program led and implemented by the Zuellig Family Foundation in the DOH units. The Coalition also organized joint programs among its members to implement in the 30 priority provinces of the national government. Currently, the joint programs are targeted to also cover the 609 priority municipalities identified by the National AntiPoverty Commission.
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The Coalition has also been instrumental in gathering support for the passage of the Sin Tax Law and the Universal Health Coverage agenda. Other key activities and accomplishments of the Coalition include the following:
Key Activities
Outputs
162 to 52 Health Summit 2012: Accelerating Impact on Maternal and Child Health
Launching of the 162 to 52 Coalition 252 participants from government, public, private and civil society institutions attended 33 provinces have expressed commitment
162 to 52 Workshops 2012-2013
Organization of the Working Groups of the Coalition and convergence gatherings Leadership and Participatory Governance Group – led by Zuellig Family Foundation Supply Group – led by DOH-BLHD Demand Group – led by ULAP and LPP Health Financing Group – led by PhilHealth and Sanofi-Aventis Philippines ICT for MCH – led by ACCESS Health Philippines More than 40 Organizations joined as Coalition members
PWD and Senior Citizen Wellness Campaign (2013)
Converged with the Disability Inclusive Elections Program initiative, this project developed roadshows on PhilHealth Coverage, and senior citizen, informal sector, and PWD health and wellness lectures. This was co-organized with PhilHealth and Sanofi-Aventis Philippines.
Establishing and Building Partnerships (continuous)
Organization of 162 to 52 Coalition (8 Lead Conveners and 40 Co-conveners) Monthly meetings of the Lead conveners Monitor Coalition Core Strategies and initiatives of each lead convener aligned to the Coalition work plan Support the development of 15 PPPs among Coalition members Support the promotion of Coalition to the LGUs
Communicating Health: Policies and Partnerships (2014) See details in “Health Communication Summit”
Organized to provide avenue to communicate health policies and programs to local government units (LGUs). Participants came from at least 4 provinces, 10 cities and 2 government agencies.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT
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ALAGANG KP PARTNERSHIP
ULAP, represented by its President Gov. Umali, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PhilHealth for a partnership to conduct trainings for local governments, to promote primary care week and universal health care and the implementation of the national health insurance program among local governments. The MOU signing coincides with PhilHealth’s 19th anniversary celebration, February 14, 2014, in Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas, and the intensification of the Alagang Kalusugang Pangkalahatan or Alagang KP campaign of the DOH.
MOU witnesses for local governments are Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (National President, League of Cities of the Philippines), and Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez of Palawan (Board Member-at-large for Luzon, League of Provinces of the Philippines). PhilHealth President and CEO Atty. Alexander Padilla led the signatories for the organization. As of writing of this report, ULAP is gathering partners that can provide technical and logistical support in co-developing the Health Financing modules and campaign for the local governments.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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Education AustralianAIDTHE ASIA FOUNDATION “COALITIONS FOR CHANGE” EDUCATION GOVERNANCE As an implementor and member of the Coalitions for Change (CFC) project, ULAP entered into a grant-based engagement with the AustralianAID and The Asia Foundation that focused on reform in local education governance. As of June, 2014, ULAP was able to conduct two phases of the engagement that resulted to the development of several policy papers which ULAP uses as policy input in its partnerships with Department of Education (DepEd), DILG, and other private and civil society groups. The first phase of the project was called, “Developing Local Capacity for Institutionalization of Education Reforms”, which ran from March to October 2013. ULAP was able to accomplish the following:
PROJECT OUTPUT: MAP OF NEEDS AND ISSUES ON LOCAL EDUCATION GOVERNANCE DEVELOPING LOCAL CAPACITY TO INSTITUTIONALIZE EDUCATION REFORMS (PRELIMINARY PHASE) OVERVIEW OF RESULTS OF LGU CONSULTATIONS
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
LOCAL EDUCATION POLICY WORKSHOP The Local Education Policy Workshop, held on October 9-10, 2013, gave the opportunity for discussion of recommendations to address the local education needs and issues that were forwarded by LGUs, and network them with private and civil society partners for programs that may be implemented in localities. Thirty-six (36) local chief executives and two (2) representatives attended the policy workshop. • Outputs of the consultations and policy workshops are being used as evidence and reference for other education engagements (i.e., Special Education Fund Guidelines revisions; DepEd capacity-building; other policy recommendations)
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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DEPED-NYC “ABOT ALAM” PROGRAM FOR OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH
Abot Alam is a two-phased program implemented through a Barangay Targeting System and a Community Reintegration Program in an effort to unite out-of-school youth (OSY) to their communities through programs and services offered by Department of Education (DepEd), National Youth Commission (NYC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and other government agencies. As an advocacy partner and Steering Committee member, ULAP was able to facilitate the pilot implementation of the Abot Alam Program in Nagcarlan, Laguna. Also, the program was brought in the CFC education consultations for preliminary advocacy. ULAP also introduced Abot Alam to the leagues in March 2013 to gather more support and identify local champions. With the help of ULAP, DepEd was able to gather the commitment of the Provincial Government of Bohol for the full scale implementation of the program in the province. The National Launching of Abot Alam Program was held in the Province of Bohol (to whom ULAP bridged DepEd for the CFC program).
Local governments are invited to become “OSY-free” localities through actively supporting and implementing the Abot Alam project. ULAP is willing to provide technical and advocacy assistance in local government-level implementation.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
JOLLIBEE GROUP FOUNDATION “BUSOG LUSOG TALINO” PROGRAM The “Busog Lusog Talino (BLT)” program is a corporate social responsibility initiative of Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) that seeks to eliminate malnutrition to contribute to achieving better school performance among students. ULAP and DILG are advocacy partners for the program mainstreaming and sustainability efforts. As an advocacy partner, ULAP was able to release Joint Memorandum Circular 2013-01 with DILG and DepEd endorsing the BLT program and identifying requirements for sustained implementation in the local sites. There is also continuous inclusion of BLT in the programs promoted by ULAP in its engagement with LGUs. In 2012, ULAP was able to facilitate Jollibee Group Foundation’s partnership with LGUs, increasing their number of partner schools from 700 to about 1100. In 2014, JGF is now one of the partners of DepEd and DSWD in the implementation of the School Based Feeding Program, along with other private and NGO partners.
DSWD-DEPED SCHOOL BASED FEEDING PROGRAM (SBFP)
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AYALA FOUNDATION “TEXT2TEACH”
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
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Migration and Development PINOY WISE Since 2011, ULAP has been one of the conveners for Pinoy Worldwide Initiative on Investments, Savings, and Entrepreneurship (PINOY WISE) in partnership with Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc., OWWA, and Department of Agriculture – AMAS. Lauded as one of the best convergence projects for migration by international agencies such as WorldBank and IFAD, PinoyWISE is a program that aims to strengthen local economic development through savings and investments of Overseas Filipinos into their source provinces. The program provides financial education to Overseas Filipino Workers and their families on both sides of the migration corridor, and links financial education to concrete savings and investment programs of selected cooperatives, microfinance institutions, social enterprises, insurance companies, banks and other agencies in the Philippines. Among the milestones of the program include:
• Consultation
and launching of the project in UAE and Dubai was done in February 25, 2013. Ambassador Grace Princesa, one of the key partners of PinoyWISE, attended the consultations and event. • In May, 2013, ULAP was invited to speak in the World Bank-IFAD Remittance and Development Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. ULAP during its talk, as presented by ULAP Executive Director Czarina Medina-Guce highlighted the role of local governments in migration and development. • A series of meetings was done with DILG to mainstream and replicate the efforts for the development of One-Stop Migration Centers in key provinces. For its lead role in organizing the migration projects with the LGUs, ULAP has become one of the National Committee members of the Joint Migration Development and Initiatives (JMDI) Steering Committee.
UNDP-NEDA JOINT MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (JMDI) SUMMID CALABARZON ULAP is one of the lead project partners of the Strengthening, Upscaling and Mainstreaming International Migration and Development in Calabarzon (SUMMID CALABARZON). The project is an offshoot of the PinoyWISE program; in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Committee on Migration and Development IV-A (Calabarzon) under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office IV-A, Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc., Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) and Local Government Academy (LGA). SUMMID Calabarzon aims to strengthen, upscale and mainstream migration and development in the local level through inclusive and sustainable programs that will minimize social cost and maximize gains of overseas migration. The project is funded by the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation through the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (Phase II). SUMMID CALABARZON covers the five provinces of the whole CALABARZON region, where the best M&D practices developed in previous projects for the provinces of Batangas and Laguna (covered by PinoyWISE JMDI Phase 1 project) will be replicated in the three other provinces – Cavite, Rizal and Quezon. OneStop Migration Resource Centers will be established in all the five provinces to ensure sustainability of activities. ULAP lead role in the project is to ensure the sustainability and replicability of the JMDI initiatives by enhancing the local framework and identifying strategies for the sustained engagements of the LGUs. ULAP will spearhead the model and knowledge product development which will be used for mainstreaming and scaling up of the project. Moreover, ULAP is bringing in its network of member local government leagues and chief executives, and its excellent working relationships with national agencies such as the DILG to provide policy and program support for the initiatives. ULAP has also become one of members of the NEDA SubCommittee on International Migration and Development, together with Department of Labor and Employment, DFA, CFO, DILG, and NAPC.
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ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management MINING INDUSTRY COORDINATION COUNCIL, INCLUDING PHILIPPINE POVERTY ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVES (PHASE II) ULAP is a council member of the Mining Industry Coordination Council (MICC). In addition, it also seats as member of the following:
• TWG - Environmental Protection & Legislation (EPL) • TWG - on Economic Concerns on Mining • TWG - Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) • TWG - Small-Scale Mining • TWG - Philippines Poverty Environment Initiative (PPEI) As part of the Council, ULAP helped in the drafting of the new Revenue Regime on Mining for Large Scale Mines and review and revision of IRR of People’s Small-Scale Mining Act. Inputs were also given for the development of MICC maps and reporting template and the materiality of revenue streams under MSG and TWG. In addition, ULAP co-conducted the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Workshop in April, 2014 with DILG and supported by PPEI. It is also involved in the technical inputs to the maps and guidelines related to mining industry. ULAP continues to engage EITI to assist the concerned local governments in coming up with the first extractive industry transparency report by the end of 2014. The Philippine EITI is also part of the OGP Commitments of the Philippines to the international community.
DRRM, INCLUDING NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION NETWORK PHILIPPINES
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
TABANG VISAYAS CONSORTIUM
Following the destruction of Typhoon Yolanda, ULAP coconvened Tabang Visayas with its private and civil partners, with Assisi Development Foundation as the Secretariat, and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. Significant relief efforts (in terms of resources channelled in and households reached) were conducted in key “hubs” in the affected areas.
“Bangon Visayas, ” a needs assessment and partners networking workshop, was conducted on December 16-17, 2013, with Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Tabang Visayas and the League of Municipalities for 53 municipal mayors from the areas affected. Outputs of the workshop became the basis for monitoring maps and engagement references for the partners. ULAP continues to monitor the activities of Tabang Visayas partners on the ground with ADF. Data maps are available online. ULAP is coordinating with the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) under Secretary Panfilo Lacson for the data gathering, needs assessment, and convergence of efforts under the newly released Rehabilitation Plan.
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EVIDENCE-INFORMED POLICY MAKING AND WINNING LOCAL ELECTIONS In 2012-2013, ULAP was engaged by the Ateneo de Manila University – Department of Political Science Department, through Prof. Anne Candelaria, PhD, to implement a research funded by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) on evidence-informed policy making (EIPM) and its relationship on the winnability of local chief executives in elections. With the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the joint research team conducted surveys among municipal mayors and later a focus group discussion for the study. The results of the study are currently being arranged for academic publication, with a technical working paper available from the research proponent. The project is slated for a follow-up initiative that translates the study into capacity-building efforts that will enable local governments to learn and apply EIPM in focus areas in service delivery in the sub-national levels.
DILG-LGA NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS PROGRAM In 2013, ULAP engaged the DILG – Local Government Academy (LGA) to develop several modules for the Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) capacity-building program. ULAP tapped its networks for the modules – namely, Zuellig Family Foundation and the 162 to 52 Health Coalition for the “Bridging Leadership” and “Health Governance” modules, and The Asia Foundation and the Coalitions for Change group for the “Education Governance” module. The NEO program seeks to enable the newly elected officials in the local executive levels through web-based and peer learning platforms. The program is regularly run by the LGA with the local government leagues. On May 28, 2014, ULAP received citation and appreciation for its significant contribution to the NEO program.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
CONCLUDING NOTES
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W
ith ULAP’s current leadership under Gov. Alfonso Umali, Jr. and the National Executive Board, the resolve to represent and assist local governments for inclusive growth and good governance is stronger than ever. The ULAP National Executive Board is prepared to further take on discussions and action to uphold the autonomy and empowerment of local governments. For the next years, ULAP will continue working closely and further intensify its collaboration with national government agencies, ULAP’s member leagues, and partners from the private sector and civil society groups to open opportunities for local governments to forward policy reform, and develop programs to benefit communities. The work of the past years will also not be possible without the leadership and competence of the ULAP Secretariat. ULAP gives special recognition to its former Executive Director Sonia Lorenzo, who dedicated the last years of her great life serving in ULAP. Her credibility and dedication allowed ULAP to engage partners and renew its commitment to local governments. Her passing is a great loss to the cause of empowering local governments, but her life has been a testament of how excellent and honest local leaders can change the landscape of leadership and service delivery in the Philippines. She once described ULAP as “the mother of the local governments who should be ready to respond to any cry and need it hears”. Her attitude of open, bridging engagement carries on in our work.
The ULAP Secretariat is now led by Czarina MedinaGuce, who has been recently awarded as one of 10 inaugural fellows in “The Asia Foundation Development Fellows: Emerging Leadership for Asia's Future” program, which provides highly qualified, young professionals from Asia with an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and gain in-depth knowledge of Asia's critical development challenges. Medina-Guce is the only Filipino in the group, having been chosen from more than 600 applications from all across Asia. The ULAP Secretariat is becoming more dynamic and responsive under her leadership. As a concluding note to this accomplishment report, ULAP sends out a call to action. To our partner national government agencies, we thank you for your trust. We hope we can continue openly engaging each other for policy reform and program implementation that will lead to further win-win scenarios to the national and local governments, and our private and civil society partners. To private and civil society groups, work with us. ULAP can engage you for programs and advocacies that can be expanded and mainstreamed with local governments. Working with local governments requires a language and approach that looks at pragmatic and strategic considerations. ULAP is ready to be of assistance to you. To our local governments, ULAP thanks you for your confidence in us. We hope that we can further fulfil our mandate to be your representative in discussing critical issues, and be your bridge for innovative and transformative improvements with the way we do local governance. After all, when we talk of impact in development work, the platform in which quickly measurable and observable changes is always the local level. We, in the local governments, are in the forefront of reform and development.
ULAP ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2011-2014
ULAP CONTACT DETAILS UNION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, Inc.
“Uniting for Local Autonomy, Converging National and Local Growth” Office Address
28/F Unit 2803 Summit One Tower, 530 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City Philippines
Telephone
(63-2) 718-1812, (63-2) 717-1810, (63-2) 534-6787
Telefax
(63-2) 534-6789
Email Address
ulapnatsec@gmail.com
Website
www.ulap.net.ph
Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/ulap.org.ph
ULAP SECRETARIAT (As of 02 October 2014)
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