LGSP II (1999 - 2004)

In August 1999, LGSP Phase II began through a contract issued by CIDA to the Canadian Executing Agency, Agriteam Canada, to manage and implement the program. LGSP II was a PHP 1.0 B (Canadian $ 30 million), four-year program funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in partnership with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). 

The goal of LGSP II was to assist the government of the Philippines in realizing its objectives of equitable growth and poverty reduction through more effective local governance with enhanced multi-stakeholder participation. LGSP II developed capacities for effective local governance through a four-by-four-by-four framework. Specifically, the purpose of the program was to strengthen the effectiveness of local governance in four key outcome areas: local government management, service delivery, resource generation and management, and participatory governance. In recognition of the barriers to sustainable development caused by impoverishment, war and violence, discrimination, and environmental degradation, the program identified four crosscutting themes namely: poverty reduction, peace and unity, gender equality, and environmental soundness. LGSP viewed the capacity building process in four stages: consensus building, capacity development, application and institutionalization.

From 1999-2004, LGSP established a variety of partnerships as part of its implementation strategy. Through its national and seven regional offices, it worked with LGUs and civil society organizations to help them identify their capacity development needs, implement capacity development programs, apply new skills and systems, and institutionalize improvements. Progress was monitored and results tracked at each stage to determine the level and type of LGSP support required. LGSP II also worked with Local Resource Partners to provide the technical assistance required throughout the various stages of capacity development.

Capacity development activities and projects were LGU-driven and based on the needs of individual LGUs and CSOs, as well as on the development priorities of the respective municipality, province and region. LGSP II supported LGUs to form alliances to address common development concerns; helped LGUs link with community groups, the private sector, the academe, national government agencies and international organizations for mutual benefit; and assisted LGUs to mobilize and leverage resources to implement their own development plans.

A National Program Steering Committee (NPSC) provided strategic direction and policy guidance. It was composed of representatives of the government of the Philippines (DILG, NEDA), the government of Canada (CIDA), civil society organizations (CSO), and was chaired by the DILG representative. In each region, a Regional Program Steering Committee (RPSC) was formed to ensure that the LGSP activities support regional development plans and priorities. Each RPSC was made up of representatives of DILG, NEDA, CSOs, CIDA and the NPMO with the DILG representative as Chair.

At the end of 2004, LGSP II served a total of 205 LGUs, consisting of 1 regional government (Autonomous Regional Government or ARG), 19 provinces, 11 cities and 174 municipalities.
Click here to view LGSP II Regional Profiles

Exemplary practices were identified from varied sources in each key outcome area for possible dissemination and replication. An important part of sustainability was sharing lessons learned and exemplary practices that could be replicated in other communities in the Philippines. LGSP II, in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), promoted the peer-to peer learning methodology in replicating exemplary practices. The program developed a tool for replication entitled, Learning from Peers for Good Governance: A Guidebook on Establishing a Program for Replicating Exemplary Practices for Local Government.

At the end of 2004, LGSP honored 42 LGUs through the Kaagapay Seal of Excellence in Local Governance given at the Governance Expo 2005. Click here for full story