Good Governance:

Key to Sustainable Urban Growth and Development

Inter-Local Cooperation:
ALAMINOS CITY INITIATIVES
HON. HERNANI A. BRAGANZA Mayor, Alaminos City
Presented November 18, 2011, by:

MR. ROLAND G. CABIGAS Managing Director, La Liga Policy Institute

The First District of Pangasinan

9 municipalities and 1 city, 1/3 of the total land area of the province 70% of agricultural lands rainfed; 30% irrigated Major Products: Crops Palay, Mango, Corn; Fisheries: Milkfish, Salt; Livestock: Cattle 75% of major tourist destinations in Pangasinan is found in the First District Major tourist destinations include Hundred Islands National Park, Caves, Beaches, Historical Sites and Waterfalls

4,351 # of establishments, more than half from Alaminos City Around18,000 employed, almost 70% based in Alaminos City Commercial and retail establishments mainly agriculture & aquaculture-related industries, and resorts & tourism-related establishments

Alaminos City
Home of the Hundred Islands
Economic Hub of Western Pangasinan (1st District) Center of trade & commerce, educational & financial institutions Rich in natural and man-made attractions, making tourism a flourishing industry Agricultural city with the following barangay-clusters:
A: Coastal lowland 7 brgys B: Coastal upland 6 brgys C: Agricultural upland Rainfed 10 brgys D: Agricultural lowland Irrigated 9 brgys E: Urbanizing 7 brgys

A
C D E

Situationer and Challenges

Average Poverty Incidence in the 1st district is about 37% equal to national average Continued prevalence of poverty and unequal opportunities for growth and development even among neighboring cities and municipalities Natural and human Resources remain untapped/ undeveloped Need for human and public infrastructure development to enhance local competitiveness Local governance, growth and development highly affected by politics

Situationer and Challenges

LGUs remain IRA-dependent LGU resources do not suffice to address growing local demands and ever-increasing pressure to meet delivery of economic & social services: health, education, agriculture support, environment, peace and order, et.al. Limitation of resources are made more pronounced by growing external demands - regional, national and even international level (MDGs, Climate Change, Human Rights) More and more development issues, concerns and challenges faced by local governments - common and cross boundary (ex. Climate related disasters) and yet no formal mechanism for cooperation

Challenge
Need for a Local Governance Strategy, that is: Responsive to demands of constituency Address resource limitation of LGUs Address efficient and effective delivery of economic and social services Facilitate cooperation among LGUs

Inter-local cooperation among LGUs (LGU Alliance Building, LGU Cluster Approach) is one such governance innovation.

One Pangasinan Alliance of LGUs (OPAL):

Economic alliance of nine (9) co-equal Local Chief Executives and LGUs Areas of Cooperation

BANI

ALAMINOS AGNO ANDA

BURGOS

DASOL

MABINI

Potable Water Systems Sustainable Agriculture Basic Social Services Ecotourism Natural Resources Management Waste Management Renewable Energy

INFANTA

SUAL

OPAL Profile

Members: LGUs of Alaminos City, Agno, Anda, Bani, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini and Sual Date of Creation/Organization: Formally organized on February 13, 2009 but have been jointly undertaking common development initiatives since 1995 like the Bayanihan 2020 Program for Sustainable Development and the Save Lingayen Gulf Basis of Organization: Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the seven (7) LGU chief executives on February 13, 2009. (LGUs of Dasol and Infanta joined the alliance in 2010 as a result of the OPALs expansion initiatives.) Financial Arrangement: Ordinance passed in each LGU institutionalizing membership in the OPAL and providing annual appropriation for expenses incurred in the implementation of various activities of the Alliance First Project: Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

OPAL LGSP-LED Vision:

Transform Western Pangasinan into a peaceful, self-sustaining agro-industrial and vibrant eco-tourism center

Cooperation among modernizing LGUs serving as enablers and promoters of local economic development Vibrant local economy anchored on agriculture and eco-tourism as drivers of growth Adequate, reliable and quality water service for households, businesses and agriculture

Multi-stakeholder, ecologically-sound and genderempowering growth and development

Initial Gains
Strengthened cooperation, shared initiatives and concerted efforts on local growth and development Enhanced knowledge, improved capacity-building and human resource development Maximized use of limited resources, increased cost-effectiveness and improved efficiency Louder political voice Developing strategies for institutionalization, sustainability and replication

Continuing Initiatives
MDG Pathways:
Technical assistance to four OPAL LGUs for participatory MDG baseline review, planning, programming and budgeting Supported by EU and implemented by the La Liga Policy Institute Outcome: MDG Enhanced 2011 and 2012 Annual Investment Plan and Budget Outcome: aligned MDG plans, local, regional, national

Continuing Initiatives
Replication of the Udonthani (Thailand) Best Practice Model on Constructed Wetlands

The Udonthani constructed wetlands: a low-cost and low-maintenance wastewater treatment facility imitating natural systems thru the use of indigenous aquatic plants Lead Agency: Partnership for Democratic Local Governance in Southeast Asia (DelGoSea) funded by European Commission and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) of Germany. Piloted in Alaminos City, to be replicated in the other OPAL towns

Continuing Initiatives
MDG Acceleration for Region1:
Targets the 8 cities in Region1 for a multi-stakeholder partnership initiative Response to President Noynoy Aquinos priority policy thrust to meet the countrys MDG commitments by 2015 Expansion of the EU-funded MDG Pathways Project initially started in three OPAL LGUs Enhanced MDG planning, targeting and implementation of local MDG interventions Regional MDG Acceleration Action Plan

Continuing Initiatives
Key Features of the MDG Acceleration Plan for Region 1 Cities MDG Acceleration Program - baseline, targeting, monitoring, partnership dialogues MDGs for Local Economic Development - R1 ferry system, agri-terminals, eco-tourism master plan, sustainable agriculture MDG Social Services feeding program, health investment planning, community outreach, social safety net program Environment, Natural Resources, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction national greening, eco-waste management, integrated water, renewable energy

Continuing Initiatives
Organikong Palayan Pangasinan

Launched in August 2011 Partnership Project: DA, Alaminos City, Bani, Burgos and Dasol and the La Liga Policy Institute and Go Organic! Philippines Promotes organic fertilizer production and the shift to organic rice production Components: season long training, learning farms, production support for at least 300 farmers within the four towns of OPAL

Knowledge and capacity development opportunities

Partnership building among members of local government clusters, around participatory and cluster level planning, programming and budgeting Knowledge, skills and experience sharing on inter-local cooperation, LGU-citizen partnership Localization of initiatives and processes for international, national and regional priorities including: MDGs, CCA, DRRM

Capacity building on legal requirements and processes to formalize inter-local government cooperation
Resource mobilization and project development

Information, education, communications, advocacy and social mobilization for inter-LGU cooperation, including development issues

Success Factors

Cities as engines of growth

Growth and development initiatives radiating from city centers Progress/development in cities are cascaded to adjacent municipalities

Cluster approach
includes cluster planning and budgeting and common resolutions/ordinances passed by neighboring LGUs

Lessons & Insights

Partnership Based Inter-Local Cooperation: co-equal members, particularly in organizational structure and processes Issue/program-based: real/tangible partnerships, complementary programs and projects Integrative Approach: takes into account local situation, plans and budget; and in line with formal local development processes Harmonization or alignment of local plans, programs and budget to national and even international priorities

Thank you!