Details

To further strengthen the link between local government units and the national government, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung partner, the Local Government Development Foundation (LOGODEF), organized a dialogue on the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) in Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao. In attendance were regional officers of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), members of the Conference of Mayors, and nine municipalities that are members of the Inter-Municipal Teams, also organized by LOGODEF. The three participating municipal clusters were the following: BMT (Balingoan, Medina and Talisayan); ManLuNa (Manticao, Lugait and Naawan) and BinKiSu, (Binuangan, Kinoguitan and Subongcogon).

The conference centered on operationalizing the concept of “Inter-local Cooperation”, a concept ardently advocated by LOGODEF. This framework of cooperation actively promotes amalgamation rather than division of local government units. It is seen as a crucial step in achieving good local governance given political and structural limitations. Decentralization and devolution adopted as a key policy of the state under the 1991 Local Government Code are supposed to empower local government units and allow them to achieve autonomy and self-sufficiency. However, the long tradition of centralism, as well as the remaining structural challenges and political limitations prevented the achievement of this goal. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines office has been working closely with the LOGODEF in giving life to decentralization and devolution by facilitating the crafting of policy proposals to reform the Code as well as gathering the experiences of local governance advocates.

DILG Region 10 Director Loreto Bhagwani delivered the welcome remarks while Mayor Sulpicio Uyguangco from the municipality of Medina stepped in for Talisayan’s Mayor Rommel Maslog as main convenor.

LOGODEF’s Executive Director Prof. Edmund Tayao discussed the utility of creating an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) - baseline data in comprehensive planning. GIS-mapping demonstrations from the municipalities of Naawan and Lugait followed, showcasing their accomplishments to the local executives.

Ms. Sally Grace Uy from the local office of the DILG facilitated the discussion during the workshop wherein challenges were faced and proposed solutions raised regarding the cooperation and integration of efforts by the member municipalities.