Metropolitan Arrangements - Philippine Institute for Development ...

Foreword
ing of the Local Government Code in 1991. This single Act of
ne granting of the landmark more autonomy legislations and responsibilities in Philippine history our islocal the pass-
government
units has had tremendous impacts on the way governance takes
place at the local level. Perhaps the most significant has been in the
challenge that the Code had incited among local officials and citizens in
coming up with innovative ways to address issues and shortcomings in
their respective spheres.
Of course, the Code--and the accompanying decentralization process
as a whole--is not without problems, to say the least. The decentralization
process was rendered even more complicated by the rapidly
growing urbanization phenomenon that has taken place in the past few
decades and which has impinged heavily on the fiscal condition of the
various localities.
This first volume of a 2-volume publication documents these phenomena-urbanization
taking place against the framework of a decentralized
environment for governance. The overall picture is a bit bleak
and shows the urgency of resolving the fiscal situation first and foremost.
But the accompanying snapshots to the bigger picture are encouraging.
They show that in coping with such situation, the innovativeness
and determination to succeed of a number of local communities shine
through.
This book is about them. In coming up with this volume, therefore,
I sincerely hope that the winning case illustrations will serve as an
inspiration to more local government units and communities to put their
acts together and aspire to be among the best in their endeavors.
Finally, I wish to thank the Demographic Research and Development
Foundation (DRDF) through its director, Dr. Corazon P. Raymundo,
for its support of the research project as well as of this two-volume publication.
The writing of the case studies for this volume would also not
have been possible without the assistance provided by the following individuals
and offices in the regions: Ms. Madelyn Escandor of NEDA
Region VII (Central Visayas); the Primary Health Care and Barangay
Environmental and Sanitation Implementation Group (BESIG) members
of Surigao City; the staff of NEDA Region IV (Southern Tagalog)
and Puerto Princesa City Planning and Development Office and satelxix