Republic of the Philippines

Department of the Interior and Local Government FM-LGTDD-04

Rev. 00 01/03/2018
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY

LGU/LDC Capacity Building Program

Closing the Functionality Gap
and Gearing up for More Dynamic LDCs
LEARNING ACTIVITY DESIGN

I. BACKGROUND

In the 1970s, the Local Development Councils (LDCs) were created to integrate local planning
into the national planning framework of the process of regionalization pursued as part of the
national development strategy. Under the new Local Government Code (1991) LDCs were
conceived as a major structure that institutionalizes participation as a key feature of the system
of governance in the Philippines. The new LDC was envisioned to be “the mother body of all
other local special bodies” where key planning issues are debated, discussed and addressed
involving both the government and representatives from the non-government sectors including
the private sector. At the end of this process is the crafting of the local development plan and
the annual investment program that reflect local priorities with the purview of addressing the key
development issues. Thus, LDCs serve as the main and mandated avenues for crucial planning
activities to take place at the local level.

The study conducted by DILG-OPDS in collaboration with the Urban Resources and EBJF in
1991 highlighted the non-functionality of LDCs as a common perceived problem by both LDC
members and non-members across respondents from provincial, city and municipal LGUs. This
is indicated by the lack of regular meetings, their limited capability on the technical aspects of
planning especially with respect to prioritization of projects including the financial matters, lack
of or limited people’s participation, improper composition and low level of awareness of LDCs.
Ten (10) years later, in 2011 a similar study on the state of LDCs pointed to similar set of
concerns about this major special body especially on LDC meetings not convened, lack or
limited CSO participation and insufficient capacity and limited technical capacity of all LDC
members. More recently in 2017, the DILG through the BLGS and with support from the
Assistance to Municipalities (AM) program, a survey on the status of the LDCs in the country
was conducted. A total of 310 local governments were identified and categorized with low level
of LDC functionality characterized by weak composition (e.g. non-compliance to the LGC
provisions), irregular meetings, low quality of local plans and accomplishments.

Against this backdrop of organizational concerns regarding the status of LDCs in the country are
larger planning issues that further highlight the compelling reasons for LDCs to be functional
and measure up to its mandate. For one the required local development plans have not been
effectively enforced particularly the CLUP and CDP, the latter containing the 3-year LDIP and its
annual slice, the AIP for proper programming and budgeting. None of the LGUs’ plans such as
the CLUP, CDP, and LDIPs are publicly available, either. This makes it difficult for citizens to
hold the government accountable for the implementation of certain programs or Achieving the
goals set in the development plans. Other reasons that compel LDCs’ improved functionality
are their implications on the following:

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 a. Address fragmentation in the current of local development planning
b. Support the continued building up of planning database needed for the use of LGUs and
NGAs. The latter continue to retain a substantive role in the provision of sub-national
infrastructure and services given their much larger and increasing budget, leading to
fragmented planning and diffused accountability.
c. LDCs provide the platform for non-government sectors and representatives to be part of
statutory planning process. The structure of LDCs provides a wide latitude for
discussion and integration of all area-wide, sector-based and thematic concerns and
thus a better coordinated if not comprehensive approach to addressing these concerns.

II. TARGET AUDIENCE/ PARTICIPANTS

The training initially targets the 310 LGUs with low LDC Functionality. LGUs with medium LDC
functionality are also targeted to participate in the training. At the minimum, the LGU team
should be composed of five (5) members to include the Local Administrator, Local Planning and
Development Coordinator (LPDC), Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO), and select
members of the LDC. Those who have participated in the training are expected to lead the
resolution of the LDC functionality concern of their LGU by ensuring that their re- entry action
plan is implemented, among others.

III. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The training aims to develop an LDC that is participatory, efficient and effective by orienting the
LGU team of participants on various facets of LDC functionality as well as the processes, tools
and activity designs to enable them to address particular LDC functionality concerns of their
municipalities. In particular, after the training, participants are expected to:

1. Enumerate the LDCs’ mandates, roles, functions and compelling reasons for improved
functionality
2. Explain LDC’s structure, mandated plans and planning process as essentials to
improving LDC functionality
3. Determine the presence and status engagement of the non-government sectors vis-à-
vis policy covering CSO participation in LDCs
4. Draw up an Plan of Action to strengthen the LDC of their respective LGUs

IV. CONTENT

The module is composed of four sessions. Session 1: Taking a Closer Look at LDCs takes up
key concepts and principles, as well as the state of LDCs and some areas of concern. Session
2: Structure, Plans and Process tackles the essentials to LDC Functionality. Topics include
Planning Structure, Mandated Plans, Overview of the Planning Process, and Preparing the
Database for Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) Updating). Harnessing effective CSO
participation is discussed in Session 3: CSO Participation. Topics include policy on accreditation
and selection of CSO representatives in the different local special bodies, especially the LDC,
and avenues for CSO participation. The last session is geared towards coming up with an action
plan that outlines steps that the LGU will undertake to close the functionality gap as well as
strengthen their respective LDC.

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Training Framework

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V. LEARNING PLAN

MATERIALS &
DATE/ TIME LEARNING OBJECTIVES CONTENT METHODOLOGY
REFERENCES
DAY 1
8:30- 9:00 Opening Program

Prayer and National Anthem

Welcome Remarks
9:00- 9:30 Introduction to the Module

Clarify the module objectives vis-
à-vis expectations of participants.
Introduce the flow and objectives
of the Module
9:30- 10:00 Enumerate the LDCs’ mandates,
roles, functions and compelling
reasons for improved functionality
Expectation Setting
Overview of the Activity
Session 1. Taking a closer look
at the LDCs
1. LDCs and CSOs as Catalyst
for Local Economic
Development
Group Activity Powerpoint Presentation
for Mechanics for
Expectation Setting and
Plenary Discussion Overview of the Activity
Trigger Activity: Powerpoint Presentation
Short quiz for Mechanics of the Short
Quiz and Quiz Items
Lecture Discussion Presentation Material

10:00- 10:30 2. The Mandates for LDCs: key Lecture Discussion Presentation Material
concepts and principles
- Codal Provisions on LDCs:
Composition, roles,
functions, structure as
expounded in the
Rationalized Planning
System of DILG

10:30- 11:00 3. State of LDCs and Key Areas Lecture Discussion Presentation Material
of Concerns
- Status of LDCs based on

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 MATERIALS &
DATE/ TIME LEARNING OBJECTIVES CONTENT METHODOLOGY
REFERENCES
previous studies
11:00- 11:30 Clarify and ask questions about Open Forum Q&A
the topics presented
11:30- 12:00 Workshop 1: Status of LGU’s LDC Workshop Ppt Presentation on
Workshop Mechanics
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH BREAK
1:00- 2:00 Presentation and Discussion of
Workshop 1 Outputs
2:00- 3:00 Explain LDC’s structure, LDC Session 2. The Essentials to
committees, mandated plans and LDC Functionality: Structure,
planning process as essentials to Mandated Plans and Process
improving LDC functionality
2.1 Structure: Sectoral and Interactive Lecture Ppt. Presentation
Functional Committees Discussion
3:00- 4:30 To identify the concerns re status Challenges and Issues on the Workshop Workshop Mechanics with
of the sectoral and functional Sectoral and Functional Group Reporting Guide Questions
committees of the LDC Committees of LDCs Processing &
discussion
4:30- 5:00 Day 1 Synthesis and Feedbacking
Session
DAY 2
8:30- 9:00 Recapitulation of the previous
day’s session
9:00- 10:30 To deepen understanding of 2.2 Mandated Plans: Activity: What is Powerpoint material about
mandated plans: CDP and CLUP. Salient features of CDP and CLUP CDP, what it is not; CDP, CLUP and LDIP, AIP
The LDIP and AIP What is CLUP, what it Process Flow of CDP and
- LDC Mandated Plans and is not CLUP
Tools to Implement the
Plans Lecture Discussion

To ascertain the current status of Status of LGU Plans

the LGU/MDC’s plans and

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DATE/ TIME LEARNING OBJECTIVES
planning initiatives
10:30- 12:00 To deepen understanding of local
planning process and key
concepts.
12:00 – 1:00
1:00- 4:30 Better understanding of the
importance of developing,
maintaining and building up the
planning database
8:30- 9:00
9:00- 12:00 To understand the policy covering
CSO paxn in LDCs.
To determine the presence and
status of the non-government
sectors operating in the area
MATERIALS &
CONTENT METHODOLOGY
REFERENCES
Updating by the
LPDC
Open Forum
2.3 Overview of Planning Lecture Discussion Ppt. Presentation
Process: Key concepts of
planning process, linkages of
various types of plans;
- Horizontal and vertical Open Forum
Integration of Plans:
- Aligning local plans with
the PDP;
LUNCH BREAK
2.4 Preparing the Database for Lecture Discussion Ecological Profile section
CDP Updating of the current Plans (CLUP,
Workshop CDP) of the LGU
Minimum set of data/information Checking the Gaps in
required for each of the 5 LGU’s database and Ppt. Presentation
development sectors. Action Points
Presentation of
workshop result and
Agreements
DAY 3
Recapitulation of the previous
day’s session
Session 3. Harnessing Short lecture PPt presentation and DILG
Effective CSO Participation in MC on CSO Selection and
LDCs Representation in LDCs
3.1 Policy re Proper accreditation Activity: Use of Venn Mechanics
and selection of CSO Diagram to establish
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 MATERIALS &
DATE/ TIME LEARNING OBJECTIVES CONTENT METHODOLOGY
REFERENCES
representatives the presence, status
of engagement and
3.2 Who, Where and How of relationships of
CSOs in Planning and CSOs vis-vis the
Governance LGUs;
Processing

3.3 Avenues for CSO participation Lecture/Input on DBM Manual on CSO

in planning, IP and budgeting; spaces for CSO Participation in the Local
engagement; Budget Cycle

3.4 Innovative Practices in Video or sharing on Documented Innovative

participatory governance
3.5 Gauging the level of CSO
engagements in the locality
Innovative Practices Practices on harnessing
on PG. people’s participation in
governance and the
Workshop and benefits reaped
Reflection Session
Venn Diagram Output (3.2)

Prepared Matrix to
capture Reflection Points
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH BREAK
1:00- 4:00 Enable the participants to draw up Session 4 :Closing the Mechanics
a Plan of Action to strengthen the Functionality Gap++ Action Plan Template
MDC of their respective LGUs
Way Forward: & Action Planning Action Planning
Workshop
4:00- 5:00 Closing Program