1. About the Project
  2. The MDG Localization
  3. On-Going Efforts

THE LGU GUIDE ON MDG LOCALIZATION

Policies on MDG Localization

LGU Options to Address the MDGs

Some Documented MDG-related Good Practices

The MDG Album

The MDG Video

About the Project

The project aims to capacitate Local Government Units (LGUs) to effectively and efficiently implement MDG-responsive programs and projects toward reducing poverty in their localities. This shall be accomplished thru the development and institutionalization of detailed operational mechanisms, tools and policies on MDG localization and monitoring LGU performance on MDG using the core local poverty indicator monitoring system (CLPIMS)

Goals and Objectives

The project’s major goal is for LGUs to contribute to the attainment of MDG target by 2015. Specifically, The project aims to achieve the following objectives:

  • Develop detailed operational mechanisms, tools and policies that will guide the localization or mainstreaming of MDGs at the local level;
  • Advocate for the integration of MDG-responsive sectors in local plans;
  • Provide a menu of services and activities addressing MDG target for LGUs to implement; and
  • Establish an LGU Performance Monitoring System on MDGs.
Expected Output
  • Strengthened LGUs capacities in effectively and efficiently implementing MDG-responsive PPAs; and
  • Increased LGU budgetary allocation for basic social services.

The accomplishment of the expected outputs shall be facilitated by the following project deliverables:

  • LGU Guide for MDG Localization
  • MDG Localization Communication Strategy
  • Simplified Planning Guide for MDG Integration in the Local Planning and Budgeting System
  • Case Write-Ups on MDG-related Good Practices
  • Trained/Oriented LGUs on MDG Institutionalization
  • Technical Assistance for the Institutionalization of Mechanisms for MDG Mainstreaming
  • Performance Monitoring System on the Attainment of the MDG Targets in LGUs

The MDG Localization

As signatory to the Millennium Declaration in 2000, the Philippines together with the 189 UN member states committed to address the global targets set against the eight (8) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Millennium Development Goals are the world's time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty and worst form of human depivation in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exlcusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environment sustainability. The eight MDGs are:

The Millennium Development Goals are:

  1. Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  2. Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education
  3. Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women
  4. Goal 4. Reduce child mortality
  5. Goal 5. Improve maternal health
  6. Goal 6.Combat HIVs/AIDs, malaria and other infectious deceases
  7. Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability
  8. Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development

Meeting the requirements of the MDGs will entail collaborative efforts of major stakeholders - the national and local government units (LGUs) as well as the private sector through related interventions geared toward mainstreaming the MDGs in the local development agenda.

LGU Roles on MDG Localization

As frontline institutions, the LGUs have significant roles to play to realize the MDGs. For most part, the achievement of the MDG targets largely depends on the delivery of devolved services.

As provided under the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160, local government units (LGUs) assume the primary responsibility for the provision of basic services and facilities and the improvement of the quality of life of their constituents. Section 16 and 17 particularly, enumerates LGU basic services such as:

  1. promotion of health and safety,
  2. enhancement of people's right to a balanced ecology,
  3. promotion of ecological balance and economic prosperity and social justice,
  4. maintenance of peace and order, and comfort and convenience of their inhabitants among others.

Likewise, the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act of 1997 gives the LGUs the frontline role in the fight against poverty. The law tasks the LGUs to be responsible in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Anti-Poverty Reduction Agenda within their area of jurisdiction.

The Department of Interior and Local Government, through its Bureau of Local Government Development, has taken on the responsibility of localizing the MDGs localization by virtue of Social Development Council (SDC) Resolution No.1 Series of 2003 mandating the DILG to take the lead in MDG localization.

The MDG Localization Framework

The national government provides the enabling environment for the LGUs to be aware, committed and capacitated to address the MDG targets in the locality. The DILG developed the MDG Localization framework to guide all localization efforts and initiatives. The MDG localization framework identified a set of desired outcomes for an MDG responsive LGU which includes the following:

    1. a local development plan incorporating the MDG targets and corresponding increase budget allocation for MDG-responsive PPAs,
    2. local policies that facilitate the achievement of the MDGs;
    3. local monitoring system to benchmark LGU contribution in the attainment of MDG targets and to track down accomplishments vis-à-vis targets; and
    4. improved delivery of basic services through replication of good practices, and
    5. inclusion of accomplishment of MDG targets as one of the performance commitments of the LGUs.

To attain the outcomes under the localization framework, LGUs need to be equipped with knowledge and skills through interventions such as: (a) advocacy, (b) policy formulation, (c) development of tools and instruments, and (d) documentation of good practices.

Approaches in Localizing the MDGs

Several approaches are being carried out by the DILG in capacitating LGUs to contribute to the attainment of the MDGs and uplifting the quality of life of their constituents. These interventions are particularly stated in DILG MC No. 2004-152 “Guide to Local Government Units in the Localization of the MDGs” dated November 2004, which provides for the: (a) menu of PPAs per MDG goal and target to guide LGUs in responding to MDGs; (b) diagnosis of local situation using existing local indicators and monitoring system; and (c) call for documentation and replication of good practices.

1. Poverty Planning and Resource Allocation for Basic Social Services

First, LGUs are encouraged to formulate their Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans/Agenda and prioritize local budgets for focused interventions for the poor and vulnerable sectors. Due to the limited resources of LGUs, priority should be given to the delivery of basic services which would directly impact on poverty reduction. In addressing this concern, a menu of options or a list of local services which have direct impacts on the achievement of the MDGs have been identified.

The LGU Options recommend specific projects and activities which LGUs may implement to address the MDG targets under each goal. With these options, LGUs are expected to increase their budgetary allocation for basic social services responsive to MDGs.

2. Documentation of MDG-related Good Practices

Second, LGUs are assisted to improve delivery of basic services by replicating award-winning innovations of other LGUs in providing effective and efficient services to their constituents. An inventory and documentation of MDG Good Practices in Mindanao was developed through the partnership with the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) and United National Development Programme (UNDP).

The inventory showcases model practices which can be replicated in other LGUs such as:

  • Partnership between the LGU and an NGO to combat HIV/AIDS;
  • Improving local revenue generations to provide for delivery of basic services;
  • Promoting volunteerism and self-help in communities;
  • Capacity building of households to address minimum basic needs; and
  • Introducing rewards system to improve service delivery of barangays.

3.  MDG Benchmarking and Local Progress Monitoring

Third, LGUs are being capacitated to institutionalize a local monitoring system for poverty diagnosis and planning and tracking down resources for poverty projects.

Developing targets, or targeting, has been a major weakness of most LGUs in the country as they lack reliable/credible baseline data, particularly poverty statistics. More often than not, LGUs rely on centrally produced data like NSO/NSCB data for their planning. These data however are not disaggregated at the municipal/city government and barangay government level - the lower level LGUs that are primarily at the forefront of policy or program execution – thereby making it difficult for proper targeting and programming.

A number of local monitoring system has been developed and are being used at the local level (e.g. MBN-CBIS, MBN-CBPIMS, IRAP, MIMAP-CBMS). A consensus among various government agencies agreed to review the existing monitoring tools and establish a core set of comparable core indicators across monitoring systems. This resulted to adoption of the Core Local Poverty Indicators (CLPIs). These are carefully selected human development and income-based indicators from the different local poverty monitoring systems existing at the local level. An additional indicator on maternal health was included to harmonize the CLPIs with the MDGs.

MDG Benchmarking and Progress Monitoring using CBMS

The Core Local Poverty Indicators

The Core Local Poverty Indicators (CLPIs) were approved by NAPC En Banc Resolution 7 (7th NAPC En Banc Meeting on 19 March 2003) to be adopted for local poverty monitoring and being institutionalized at the local level through DILG MC 2003-92 providing for the adoption of the CLPI in local planning.

Through the DILG MC 2004-152, LGUs, especially those without a local monitoring tool are encouraged to use the Core Local Poverty Indicator Monitoring System (CLPIMS) for MDG benchmarking and poverty monitoring tool. CLPIs shall help LGUs to assess their poverty situation and gather baseline information to institute measures to help meet the country's MDGs by 2015.

Monitoring MDG Benchmarking and Monitoring Tool

With the forging of partnership with the CBMS Network Coordinating Team, the DILG has adopted the Community-Based Monitoring System as the data collection and processing ule for CLPIMs. CBMS as a tool for generating the CLPIs at the local level would complement the national poverty monitoring systems. CBMS would fill in the void of information at the local level and supplies disaggregated information to be able to diagnose poverty, and identify appropriate interventions to targeted beneficiaries at the local level.

CBMS has been incorporated in the various projects of the DILG particularly on poverty diagnosis and benchmarking local MDGs indicators. Under of the project “Strengthening Local Government Capacity for Poverty Assessment, Plan Formulation and Monitoring” under the World Bank-ASEM Technical for Poverty Monitoring and Analysis. The three (3) pilot provinces, namely:

  • Marinduque,
  • Camiguin and
  • Masbate

are in various stages of institutionalizing the monitoring system in their respective provinces.

CBMS is also being advocated to be used by the 12 pilot cities for localizing the MDGs being supported by the UNDP, namely:

  • Marikina , Muntinlupa, and Pasay in the NCR
  • Antipolo, Tagaytay, San Jose Del Monte, Science City of Munoz, and Sorsogon in Luzon
  • Calbayog and Mandaue in the Visayas
  • Iligan and Samal in Mindanao

These areas were chosen because of their potential for success as well as their capacity to influence and trigger multiplier effects in surrounding municipalities.

The DILG is now in the process of scaling up the establishment of CBMS as the instrument to generate the CLPIs for poverty diagnosis and planning and monitoring local progress on MDGs. With the conclusion of the National Trainors Training for Regional MDG and poverty focal persons, the regional offices are now in full blast advocating the establishment of CBMS at the local levels.

On Ongoing-Efforts

Localizing the MDGs: Improving the Capacity of LGUs to Deliver Population and Reproductive Health Information and Services at the Local Level”

The project intends to capacitate the local government units to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs by strengthening the enabling environment for MDG Localization and improving LGU service delivery levels/standards addressing local MDG/Population Development issues.

The project has two components which ahs the following major components:

Components 1: Strengthening the enabling environment for MDG Localization shall include:

  • Supporting efforts of providing technical assistance to LGUs find and implement solutions to their local MDG challenges;
  • Further strengthening the advocacy efforts both at the national and local levels and efforts of national government agencies in promoting program convergence to support MGD localization; and
  • Advocating to local learning institutions mainstream MDG issues in their education and training programs.

Component 2: Improvement on LGU service delivery levels/standards addressing local MDG /PopDev issues to promote the pro-poor agenda of the government shall include :

  • Assisting LGUs develop and institutionalize local policies and systems supportive of the localization efforts such as planning and budgeting, monitoring baseline information and the like;
  • Assisting LGUs establish Benchmarks in meeting local MGD targets and recognizing significant achievements;
  • Assisting LGUs integrate the MDGs in the local plans and budget and institutionalize local policies and systems supportive of the localization efforts; and
  • Supporting local initiatives in adapting and innovating new methods in social services delivery and encouraging LGU exemplars to advocate and promote to other LGUs their good practices.

Expected Output

  1. Project documents and advocacy materials.
    • Training Modules on MDG Benchmarking and Monitoring (incorporating the CBMS Data Collection and Processing Module);
    • Manuals the Documentation and Replication of on MDG-related Local Good Practices; and
    • Flyers, brochures, CDs on MDG Localization.
  2. Strengthened advocacy efforts on MDG Localization and convergence of regional and provincial NGAs
  3. Strengthened DILG provincial teams in providing technical assistance to LGUs on:
    • Integrating the MDGs in the Planning and Budgeting systems of the LGUs
    • Bench marking local MDG targets and indicators and monitoring local progress on MDGs
    • Documentation and Replication of MDG responsive good practices
  4. Documented good practices packaged in several forms: CDs, manuals, flyers and brochures.
  5. A number of LGUs replicating good practices
  6. LGUs with established benchmarks on MDG targets and indicators and institutionalization of local MDG monitoring system.
  7. LGus with integrated MDG Targets and Benchmarks in Local Plans and Budgets
  8. LGUs with Local Policies and Systems Supportive of Localization Effort.
  9. Conduct of an Annual Search for MDG Local Champions on Reproductive Health and PopDev Good Practices .
Project Location

The project activities shall be mainly focussed on the ten (10) pilot provinces of UNPFA, namely:

    1. Ifugao
    2. Mt. Province
    3. Masbate
    4. Bohol
    5. Eastern Samar
    6. Sultan Kudarat
    7. Lanao del Sur
    8. Maguindanao
    9. Sulu
    10. Tawi-Tawi

plus one (1) city and (1) municipality namely:

    1. Olongapo City
    2. Concepcion, Iloilo

However, through capacitating the DILG Regional and Provincial Mobile Teams, the process may ulimately be replicated in the rest of the provinces nationwide.