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103The 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.