Participatory Local Governance in Northern Luzon

Participatory Local Governance in Northern Luzon

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER: NLCGG
YEARS: 2011 – 2012
GRANT AMOUNT: $39,500
THEME: Local Governance

Corruption in the Philippines is so well-entrenched that it exists in all branches and levels of government – executive, legislative, and judicial; from national down to the barangay level. NLCGG shall focus on curbing the corruption problem at the barangay level, the basic territorial and political unit of government and the most accessible to people but the least prioritized by anti-corruption initiatives.

However, the foregoing funds received by the barangay are not used to combat poverty and address basic social services. Instead, Barangay programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) are often used for barangay hall improvement, basketball courts, and other infrastructures that have little impact on the barangay’s development. Corruption in the form of kickbacks laces these PAPs as barangay residents remain unaware of how the funds are disbursed. Unfortunately, such practices are backed by congressmen and other local politicians who seek to maintain their power base.

In that sense, NLCGG seeks to increase public participation in monitoring public budget’s planning and expenditure, where we work with The NLCGG Coalition in different areas. Those areas are divided into three regions, those are Region 1 (Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan), Region 2 (Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya), and Cordillera Administrative Region (Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province).

Overall, the project seeks to contribute to the realization of NLCGG’s long term goals of: i) enhancing citizen participation in government processes and programs and mandated bodies; and ii) promoting open consistent and continuing consultation of government with the constituents from the barangay up to regional levels.

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