Vision

The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS) recognizes that good urban governance is key for tackling poverty and growing urbanization. Acknowledging this vision, the five-year Canada-Philippines Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance (CPPPGUG), a local government capacity development initiative under the International Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance (2001-2006) seeks to assist selected local governments in Western Visayas (Philippines) achieve more efficient and equitable delivery of economic, environmental and social services through the promotion of inter-local government cooperation. Funded by the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency, the program supports the Philippines' continued thrust towards decentralization of powers to local authorities and empowerment of communities in local decision-making, as set forth in the 1991 Local Government Code. This involves capacity development and institutional strengthening of several local authorities in the Western Visayas Region.

Approach

• Participatory Strategy Development - undertaking strategy development and action planning processes with broad-based stakeholder participation.
• Capacity Development and Institutional Strengthening -facilitation and advisory assistance for organizational improvement and change processes through workshops, study tours, action learning activities.
• Communication and Dissemination--sharing of knowledge and project experiences to other local governments and institutions.

Initiatives

METROPOLITAN ILOILO INITIATIVE (MII)

The Metropolitan Iloilo Initiative (MII) involves building the capacity of Iloilo City Government and the Municipalities of Leganes, Pavia, Oton and San Miguel (Province of Iloilo) in operationalizing a model approach to inter-local government cooperation through a new metropolitan governance structure. Assistance will be directed towards: a.) participatory strategy development and implementation, b.) capacity development c.) institutional strengthening of MIDC to initiate demonstration projects on economic promotion, environmental protection, heritage conservation and basic service delivery and, d.) developing and implementing a communication and dissemination strategy to share project experiences and lessons to other local governments in the country and region in order to influence policy dialogue in good governance and tackling metropolitan growth and development.

GUIMARAS ECONOMIC INITIATIVE (GEI)

The Guimaras Economic Initiative (GEI) aims to continue capacity development assistance to the provincial and 5 municipal governments of Guimaras, Philippines to promote economic strategy development and implementation as well as sustain environmental protection. The province views economic development as means to reduce poverty and enhance revenue base in order to raise level of local services. CUI's capacity development assistance will focus on initiating a process to improve inter-local government cooperation in economic development to further pursue Guimaras' vision of sustainability.

LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE (LSSDEI)

The Local Social Service Delivery Enhancement Initiative (LSSDEI) is being delivered to the Municipality of Malay and selected local governments in Western Visayas, in partnership with civil society organizations involved in the development and delivery of social service programs. This is done to find new ways to better manage the complex sets of partnerships, programs and deliver mechanisms. Capacity development in integrated social service delivery is seen as a real and urgent need to be sustained in order to improve efficiency, effectiveness, equity of and access to locally delivered social services and facilities for the poverty groups. The LSSDEI in Malay will allow the local authorities to improve the coordination and sustain the quality of the delivery of environment and health services for the disadvantaged groups through broad-based inter-agency coordination and partnership development.

Partners

Metropolitan Iloilo Development Council
City Planning and Development Office
Iloilo City 5000 Philippines
Telefax: (+63 33) 335 1334
Email: midc@skyinet.net
Website: www.midc.mypage.org

Provincial Government of Guimaras
c/o Provincial Planning and Development Office
Guimaras Provincial Capitol
San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras, Philippines
Telephone: (+63 33) 237 1356
Email: kerdan@skyinet.net
Website: www.guimaras.mypage.org

Municipality of Malay
c/o Municipal Planning and Development Office
Municipality of Malay, Province of Aklan
Telephone Number: (+63 36) 260 3040
Fax: (+63 36) 260 3039
Email: lgumalay@i-next.net