The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) – the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government units and locally elected officials in the country – with the AustralianAID (DFAT)–The Asia Foundation (TAF) partnership in the Philippines, conducted an a Round Table Discussion (RTD) on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), entitled “LGUs and Disasters: Funding the Frontliners”, which aims to identify policy and program directions for agenda-setting and consensusbuilding for more effective and efficient implementation of DRRM work at the local levels.

This is in line with the advocacy of ULAP, which takes on the theme of #ParaSaBayan: Pagtataguyod ng Makabuluhang Adhikain ng Pamamahalang Lokal (Pursuing Meaningful Agenda for Local Governance) as a slogan to emphasize that the development of towns and communities is commensurate to the development of the country. The #ParaSaBayan campaign is being conducted in celebration of the Local Government Code’s 25th anniversary in 2016 through a series of policy dialogues and program advocacies in support of the local government agenda in national government policies.

The advocacy has several tracks, each covering critical local government agenda directions, and is operationalized through ULAP’s strong ties with national government agencies, international and local development partners, civil society groups, and private sector organizations. One of the tracks specifically tackles local fiscal reform in national government agencies and legislative actions. One of the topics discussed under the said track is strengthening the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) capacity of LGUs, specifically on financing related programs and projects.

Given the demand from the LGUs with regard to the challenges they encounter in the delivery of their services on disaster risk reduction and management, and with support from the TAF partnership, ULAP conducted a Round Table Discussion on reviewing the local fiscal and capacity support environment for DRRM and increasing the access of LGUs to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) on March 11, 2016 at Microtel Hotel, Commonwealth Avenue, UP Ayala Land Technohub Quezon City. ULAP invited Local Chief Executives and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (LDRRM Officer) of different provinces, cities and municipalities from the three island clusters of the country (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). In addition, ULAP also invited local government leagues, representatives from concerned national government agencies, representatives from legislative committees, development partners and civil society organizations (CSOs).
The event gathered stakeholders to build consensus and map out issues and corresponding suggestions of LGUs, CSOs, and NGAs on DRRM, to firm up the local government agenda for reform in DRRM. Specifically, the objectives of the project are as follows:

   • Explore options for a faster and more responsive release of funds to the LGUs for the immediate implementation of programs and projects, either through the revision of NDDC MO No. 02, series of 1999 or the DRRM IRR;

   • Expand the menu of projects that can be financed through the NDRRM Fund and other funding facilities (such as Bottom Up Budgeting and the People’s Survival Fund) in order for LGUs to have more options on the type of projects they can request; and,

   • Identify concrete directions for policy reform in DRRM financing that will inform the advocacy and lobbying efforts of the ULAP and its partners.