The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) recently held its 78th National Executive Board Meeting last December 2, 2015 at the DILG-NAPOLCOM Center in Quezon City. Officers of the ULAP National Executive Board and representatives from different local government leagues attended the event including the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB), League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines (LVGP), Vice-Mayor’s League of the Philippines (VMLP), Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP), Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL), Lady Local Legislators League (4L), and National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL).
It was during this event that the “#ParaSaBayan: Pagtataguyod ng Makabuluhang Adhikain ng Pamamahalang Lokal” advocacy was officially launched by ULAP in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Local Government Code in October 2016. Member leagues enthusiastically expressed their full support to this endeavor and vowed to pursue the achievement of a strong and consolidated local government agenda. A commitment signing participated by representatives from the member leagues, national government agencies, private sectors, and civil service societies for the #ParaSaBayan advocacy was, thereafter, held to affirm their pledge to support the goals, objectives and activities of the advocacy.
The “#ParaSaBayan: Pagtataguyod ng Makabuluhang Adhikain ng Pamamahalang Lokal” advocacy is a slogan emphasizing that development of towns and communities is commensurate to the development of the country. It is the pursuit of a consolidated local government (LG) agenda. One strong agenda that echoes over and beyond party lines, one that local government units as a whole would fight for especially in the advent of the 2016 elections. It anchors itself on the following core/objectives:
Advocate platforms for sustainability and further improvement of policies and programs that pursue autonomy, devolution, and empowerment of local governments and their communities;
Identify concrete directions for policy reform to support performance measurements and corresponding incentives for local governments in all levels (provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays)
Bridge partnerships between local governments and private and civil society organizations in support of LGUs’ meeting of performance targets.
The 78th ULAP National Executive Board Meeting were attended by ULAP Executive Board Members Gov. Alfonso Umali, Jr. (ULAP National President), BM Atty. Edmund R. Abesamis (ULAP Sec. General), Coun. Kirk A. Asis (ULAP Asst. Sec. General), Mayor Abraham T. Burahan (ULAP Auditor), BM Jose Enrique Miraflores (ULAP Asst. Liaison Officer) and Coun. Marlon Paulo C. Alejandrino (Chairman for Advocacy and Policy) and special guests DBM Secretary Butch Abad, DILG USec. Austere Panadero, Commission on Population (POPCOM) Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Bantay Kalikasan Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) Chairman, Ms. Regina Paz Lopez and DBM ASec. Maxine Tanya Hamada.
Attendees from LPP were Gov. Edgardo Chatto (Prov. of Bohol), Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla (Prov. of Leyte), Gov. Samuel Gumarin (Prov.of Guimaras), Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza (Prov.of Agusan del Sur), Gov. Arturo Uy (Prov.of Compostela Valley), Gov. Ruth Padilla (Prov.of Nueva Vizcaya), Gov. Mario Gene Mendiola (Prov.of Occidental Mindoro), Gov Zaldy Villa (Prov.of Siquijor), Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario (Prov.of Davao del Norte), Gov. Junie Cua (Prov.of Quirino), Gov. Albert Garcia (Prov.of Bataan), and Gov. Nestor Fongwan (Prov.of Benguet). The LCP representatives were Mayor Lina Montilla (Tacurong City), Mayor Arlene Arcillas (Sta.Rosa City), Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta (Batac City), Mayor and Mayor Peter Miguel (Koronadal City). The LMP was represented by Mayor Abraham T. Burahan (Municipality of Hadji Panglima Tahil).
Other attendees included representatives from the LnB namely Chairman Lorenzo Zuñiga (Sec.Gen), barangay Chairman Gerard Hilarion Ramiro (VP for Mindanao), Chairman Abelardo Pangilinan (Region 4-B), ChairmanNeson Maraña (Region 5), Chairman Laureano Taya (Region 11), Chairman Dulia Sultan (Region 12), Chairman Adnan Biruar (ARMM), and Chairman Benzi Tan Chi (Region 2). More so, LVGP was represented by Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto (VP for Visayas/Leyte), and Vice Gov. Jonah Pimentel (Auditor/Camarines Norte). Representatives from the PBML were BM Jose Enrique Miraflores (EVP/Aklan), BM Baldomero Zamora (VP for Mindanao/Lanao Del Norte), and BM Roderick Agar (Auditor). Representatives from the PCL were Coun. Jesus Cruz (Sec. Gen Luzon), Coun. Jaime Cembrano (RCC Region 13, Butuan City), Coun. Raul Corro (RCC NCR Muntinlupa City), Coun. Roger Montesclaros (Carcar City, Cebu), Oliver Garcia (RCC Region 10, Valencia City, Bukidnon), and ED Wilson Paclibar. Lastly, representatives from the NMYL were Coun. April Marie Dayap (Davao City), BM Abegail Sable (Isabela), Coun. Jose Marcelino, Jr. (Northern Samar), and ED Rey Fajardo.
Guests from USAID-FPI, Microsoft, ABS-CBN Foundation, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, and Provincial Road Management Facility were also present during the meeting.
Other discussions during the board meeting were Sec. Abad’s discussion on Performance Incentives and Direct Downloads to the LGUs, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Bantay Kalikasan Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) Chairman Ms. Regina Paz Lopez’ talk on the Puno ng Buhay Program and POPCOM Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III’s presentation on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH).

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), in partnership with Making All Voice Count (MAVC) and HIVOS International, conducted a Design Thinking Workshop and Consultation for the “Developing technology-based innovation platforms at provincial level: Supporting Bottom Up Budgeting (BuB) projects for 2015 in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to identify context specific tech-based innovations to support with making the BuB reporting and monitoring more feasible and information accessible to civil society organizations, provincial government and communities at large” project on November 27-28,2015 at Quest Hotel Cebu City, Cebu.
The first day started with Project Officer Irish Generoso together with Programs, Plans and Policy (PPP) Manager Crystal Eunice Dela Cruz and Technical Officer Norbert Peter Indunan welcoming the 25 participants from the municipalities of San Remegio, Tudela and Tabuelan as well as representatives from the provincial DILG and the province of Cebu.
The workshop utilized the design thinking process to develop technology-based platforms at the provincial level to improve relationships and increase opportunities for feedback loops between citizens and governments, with the OpenBuB portal as the basis for reporting, monitoring, and feedback of local BuB implementers and partners. The Design Thinking Process requires participants to empathize with the beneficiaries, define the problem, ideate solutions, prototype projects/programs and test the prototypes.
The first day of the workshop was designed for the first two steps. The participants were requested to share experiences of what worked and what did not work in the BuB reporting process. Grounded by their experiences, they were then asked to define the problem through an idea/problem map to identify the root causes of the problem.
Day 2 was focused on seeking innovative solutions and developing prototypes to solve identified problems. The participants had the opportunity to give feedback and improve their ideas during the workshop. It ended with a presentation of 2 proposed solutions, CEBU (Collective Efforts for BuB Undertakings, use of currently available “Barangay E-Systems & Tools (BEST)” platform for BuB monitoring and reporting) and SUGBU (Sustainable & Unified Gains on BuB Undertakings, a detailed system for project reporting, implementation and monitoring).

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of all the leagues and elected officials in the country, embarked in the first ever regional series of dialogue and consultation for the “#ParaSaBayan: Pagtataguyod ng Makabuluhang Adhikain ng Pamamahalang Lokal” advocacy in Region IV-B - in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last November 22, 2015. This was participated by the following Local Chief Executives (LCEs): Occidental Mindoro Governor Mario Gene J. Mendiola; Oriental Mindoro Governor and ULAP President Alfonso Umali, Jr.; Romblon Governor Eduardo Firmalo; Marinduque Acting Governor Romulo Bacorro; and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron. DILG OIC of Region IV-B and a representative of Palawan Governor Jose Alavar also graced the event.
The “#ParaSaBayan: Pagtataguyod ng Makabuluhang Adhikain ng Pamamahalang Lokal” advocacy is a slogan emphasizing that development of towns and communities is commensurate to the development of the country. It is the pursuit of a consolidated local government (LG) agenda. One strong agenda that echoes over and beyond party lines, one that local government units as a whole would fight for especially in the advent of the 2016 elections. It anchors itself on the following core/objectives:
Advocate platforms for sustainability and further improvement of policies and programs that pursue autonomy, devolution, and empowerment of local governments and their communities;
Identify concrete directions for policy reform to support performance measurements and corresponding incentives for local governments in all levels (provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays)
Bridge partnerships between local governments and private and civil society organizations in support of LGUs’ meeting of performance targets.
At the end of the advocacy, on the 25th anniversary of the Local Government Code in October 2016, the local governments seek to secure concrete commitments and progress on these advocacy tracks with the national government, as espoused by the Code.
During the dialogue, DILG OIC-Regional Directoranswered some of the questions specially on the performance based incentives, which are given to LGUs who pass the Seal of Good Local Governance. Further, LCEs expressed full support of national programs specifically, the continuity of these incentives because accordingly, these have augmented LGUs’ financial capability to sustain the operationalization of local programs and projects for their constituents, especially the poor, Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) dependent local governments.
The dialogue was followed by a ceremonial signing of the commitment to the #ParaSaBayan advocacy. Local media witnessed this and were given the opportunity to ask questions to the attendees. The event concluded with the LCEs thanking ULAP for the dialogue because it gave them a venue to share their inputs for fiscal policy reform. ULAP, with its bridging role, shall bring forth the matter to concerned agencies.
The dialogue was followed by a ceremonial signing of the commitment to the #ParaSaBayan advocacy. Local media witnessed this and were given the opportunity to ask questions to the attendees. The event concluded with the LCEs thanking ULAP for the dialogue because it gave them a venue to share their inputs for fiscal policy reform and were able to raise some of their concerns to the national government. ULAP, with its bridging role, shall bring forth the matter to concerned agencies.

Proposed papers should be able to document and discuss the actual uses and applications of CBMS relating to (but not limited to) any of the following:
1. Grassroots participatory planning and budgeting
2. Impact monitoring and evaluation
3. Program design and targeting of beneficiaries for poverty reduction initiatives
4. Environmental Management and Climate Change Adaptation
5. Migration and Development
6. Disaster preparedness and rehabilitation
7. Inclusive growth and development
Requirements:
Interested LGUs may coordinate through their DILG-Regional Director’s Office, and submit the following requirements not later than December 11, 2015:
1. Official letter of intent to present in the conference
2. A one-page abstract of the presentation which includes the following information:
a. Title of Presentation
b. Name and Position of Presenter
3. Two (2) to five (5) statements on the specific benefits and actual uses of CBMS (APP or paper-track) in the locality with reference to any of the above-mentioned topics
Successful proponents will be invited through their DILG-RDO to participate and present in the 12th CBMS Philippines National Conference. Live-out conference registration fees of successful proponents will be shouldered by the conference organizers.
Guidelines in the Submission and Presentation of Conference Papers
December 11, 2015 Submission of letter of intent with abstract of presentation and related supporting requirements
January 30, 2016 Submission of Final Version of Full Papers (in Prescribed Format by the Organizers) and Powerpoint Presentations for Inclusion in the Conference Kit
Feb 29-Mar. 2, 2016 Presentation of Papers in the 12th CBMS Philippines National Conference to be held at the Crowne Plaza Manial Galleria, Ortigas Cor. ADB Ave., Quezon City

Further clarification or request for information regarding this matter may also be sent through: CBMS Network Office of DLSU at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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, in partnership with Making All Voices Count (MAVC) and Hivos International, is undertaking the “Developing technology-based innovation platforms at provincial level: Supporting Bottom Up Budgeting (BuB) projects for 2015 in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to identify context specific tech-based innovations to support with making the BuB reporting and monitoring more feasible and information accessible to civil society organizations, provincial government and communities at large” project as part of its commitment as member of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee, and in support of the Bottom Up Budgeting (BuB) implementation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
This project is featured in MAVC’s official website which also features other projects from Ghana, Liberia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania.
To learn more about the project, you may visit https://www.makingallvoicescount.org/project/union-of-local-authorities-of-the-philippines/