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).