DILG 10 IN OPERATIONALIZING EO 70: STRENGTHEN LGU PLANNING, BUDGETING PROCESSES

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 10 cited the local government units’ roles in the operationalization of Executive Order (EO) 70, otherwise known as “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework.” 

The Whole-of-Nation approach addresses the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, facilitating societal inclusivity, and ensuring active participation of all sectors of the society in the pursuit of the country’s peace agenda. 

In the conduct of the Northern Mindanao Peace and Development Coordination Group Meeting for the Convergence Areas on Peace and Development (CAPDev), attended by representatives from DILG, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine National Police (PNP) on March 25, 2019, DILG 10 emphasized the need to use existing mechanisms to support the implementation of the said Executive Order.

“Together with  our local government units and the concerned agencies, our priority is on ensuring that all our efforts and actions will be complemented towards peacebuilding and as well as development,” DILG Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe said. 

With this, DILG 10 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Hazel L. Occeña discussed and reiterated the local development planning processes and possible CAPDev entry points. CAPDev is region’s banner program to address the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and the like, for inclusive development. 

                “By being familiar with the planning processes in the local level, we will be able to identify as to  where we can mainstream CAPDev local planning and budgeting in the barangays, cities, municipalities, and provinces,” ARDO Occeña explained. 

                She elaborated that with the LGUs being able to effectively identify their priorities as reflected in their plans, could influence the national government agencies, especially those projects which could not be implemented by LGUs alone due to budget constraints. By integrating this to the municipal, city and provincial levels, unfunded projects will possibly be supported by the different Regional Line Agencies, which eventually leads into its implementation.

                This is in line with the general welfare and delivery of basic services as indicated in Sections 16 and 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991—which is an important element when it comes to Whole-of-Nation approach. 

                Further, NEDA 10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño proposed the 2019 CAPDev Action Plan, with its aim to promote the establishment of durable peace and development, and empowered communities in these areas through: (1) peacebuilding and reconciliation, (2) good governance and institution building, and (3) socio-economic transformation.