DAY 1. The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) in partnership with the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI), and Bantay Kita conducted the second of the six LGU Roadshows, National Resource Governance at the Local Level: Making Transparency Matter, Fersal Hotel, Puerto Prinsesa City on July 22-23, 2015. Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. welcomes the 20 participants composed of LGUs from MIMAROPA Region, local CSOs, Regional Directors of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Energy, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Customs, Department of Budget and Management and Department of the Interior and Local Government and Bureau of Local Government Finance. Also present during the first day are Alfonso Umali Jr. (Governor), Jose Alvarez (Governor), Lucena Demaala (Mayor), Wenceslae Ignacio (Councilor) and Ethel Olid (Councilor).
The first day of the Forum discussed current gaps and issues in the extractive sector and possible policy recommendations on the national and local levels. It also looks at how the EITI process can contribute to good governance in the extractive industries. During the morning session, the PH-EITI Multistakeholder Group, represented by Atty. Marie Gay Alessandra Ordenes, presented the highlights and findings of the 1st EITI Report.
A panel discussion was also conducted to gather insights from the different stakeholders on what have emerged from the first report and can these insights target particular policies and implementation reforms, specifically on the computation and release of the LGU shares on the national wealth. The panelists were Jose Alvarez (Governor), Jennifer Galorport (DILG), Engr. Roland De Jesus (Mines and Geosciences Bureau), Atty. Josephine Sescon (Mines and Geosciences Bureau), and Ronald Barnacha (PH-EITI). The panel was moderated by ULAP Technical Manager, Genixon David.
The participants were asked to sign the commitment on continuing the advocacy of transparency and good governance in extractive industries. On the afternoon, the participants attended different track sessions on extractive industries. The topics are: Sub-national EITI Implementation, Environmental Governance, Social Development and Management Programs and Social Expenditures, Mining 101 and Small-scale Mining. Ms. Jane Abella of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was also present to discuss the existing process and structure on the LGU Shares from the national wealth. She also mentioned that the Department, together with the different collecting agencies such as BIR and MGB, are currently looking into the current process to hasten the release of shares to the LGUs.
