LMP holds First Partners’ Forum

Makati City – The League of Municipalities of the Philippines held its first Municipal Development Partners Forum last 23^rd of November 2022 at the Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City. The LMP members, together with different local and international organizations, gathered to identify possible areas of cooperation on food security, local economic development, childcare and development, health and sanitation, climate and disaster resilience, and e-governance through building of harmonious partnerships and collaborations with other institutions. Also, to facilitate the creation of business and employment opportunities in the countryside, and in the process, contribute to inclusive national development. Present as well during the forum was the acting DILG Secretary Marlo Iringan as the Guest of Honor.

During the forum, the LMP presented its research on the development initiatives by various development institutions which seeks to increase the access of underserved municipalities to much needed resources through meaningful collaboration with government and nongovernmental institutions. The forum also provided the opportunity to discuss mechanisms to ensure effective and efficient resource use, and inclusive and sustainable program delivery from varied perspectives.

LMP’s Secretary-General, Mayor Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes, presented the LMP’s research on development initiatives of various developmental institutions. There are 306 existing projects nationwide from 37 developmental institutions invited. These projects range from health, education, disaster risk management, environment, livelihood, good governance, and social protection. Specifically, 46 projects are primarily focused on the overall physical and mental health of the Filipinos, 54 projects are livelihood projects promoting improved living standards by generating additional income, 35 projects are aiming to meet education challenges with innovative and flexible solutions, 62 projects focused on the welfare of the people through programs that help them achieve inclusivity, protection of their rights, and development, around 26 projects involved taking care of natural resources as well as actions toward the fight for climate justice, and 32 projects advocating the effective and efficient application of human rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights which are devoted to promote good governance.

There are notable projects mentioned in the forum that significantly contributed to the progress of some of LMP’s member-municipalities. 

On Health, Build Universal Health Program of Asian Development Bank (ADB) which supports the government’s initiatives to improve the financing and delivery of health services and San Miguel Foundation’s building of community clinics and diagnostic centers to various places in Mandaue, Davao del Sur, etc. 

On Education, Unilab Foundation’s flagship program using integrated STEM principles that helps build a future-ready Philippines, and Gokongwei Brothers Foundation’s STEM Agri Scholarship that aims to develop and implement teacher development programs on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

On Disaster and Risk Management, Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Program of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which is designed to accelerate resilience-building efforts at the local level by collaborating with multiple stakeholders to unlock financing and implement risk-informed and inclusive resilience actions.

On Environmental/ Climate Change, Conflict-sensitive resource and asset management of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) in areas of Mindanao which focuses on armed-related violence and marginalized population that cannot benefit from the existing natural resources and public service.

On Livelihood, Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) of Jollibee Food Corporation that has trained more than 2,000 farmers, with 600 directly delivering to JFC commissioners or stores through 15 farmer cooperatives and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations which helps to offset the socioeconomic impacts induced by the pandemic on farmers in Hungduan.

Lastly, on Good Governance, Local Government Finance and Development Project (LOGOFIND) of United Nations which initiated a capacity building for LGUs in the field of municipal governance, investment planning, revenue generation and project development and implementation; Citizen Monitoring of LGU Performance Promoting Accountability and Governance in Health and Social Protection of Delegation of European Union which aims to motivate the citizens located in the 15 municipalities to hold their LGUs accountable to the development plan that will be jointly crafted, implemented and monitored by the institution, the LGUs, and stakeholders; and Mine Action for Trust and Normalisation in Bangsamoro (MATNIB Project) of Delegation of European Union which aims  to contribute to a peaceful, cohesive, secure, and inclusively developed Mindanao.

The National President, Mayor JB Bernos, recognized its current partners for their invaluable and continued support to the organization and presented proposal projects and various existing partnership projects in 2022. Specifically, the proposed partnership with PAGCOR in the project Providing Access to Essential Medicines; partnership with World Surgical Foundation-Philippines for Free Surgical Mission which provides free major and minor surgeries to our constituents; and Rice Mill Project that will help to boost the production and quality of rice products in the country.

Also, Mayor Bernos emphasized that the Municipal Development Partners Forum was a good opportunity to network and to look for more programs that will be beneficial for LMP’s member-municipalities.