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nomic and social development plans and budgetsare prepared and approved. Barangay plans andprojects have a palpable impact on communities.Road projects, for example, can lead to dislocationof some communities, and health-related projectsmay overlap rather than complement communityinitiatedfacilities.In general, local development councils are mandatedat all levels, from the barangays up to thecities and provinces. They were created to encouragepeople’s participation in governance andthereby to promote transparency in all local governmenttransactions. The barangay developmentcouncil, in particular, is a vehicle that ensures theparticipation of civil society groups in the choice ofdevelopment projects and in the appropriation anduse of funds, so that these are not the sole responsibilityof barangay officials. HPFP leaders lobbiedsuccessfully for the activation of a barangay developmentcouncil in Quezon City, on which thereare as HPFP representatives, and HPFP leadersare also members of the city development councilof General Santos City. However, the experience ofthe federation is that without local pressure, thesecouncils may not operate effectively and may existonly in name.Engaging government and private agencies did notcome easily to the HPFP. Communities still struggleas they interact with government and privateentities that are not accustomed to dealing withthe poor on an equal footing. Below are some strategiesthat the HPFP has learned to adopt throughyears of engagement with public and private agencies.Alignment with electoral cycles: One of the lessonsfrom previous engagement experiences is that anyprojects or concessions approved by elected officialsshould be completed within the electoralperiod. Thus, planning must also be aligned withelectoral cycles.Establishing relationships with career officials:Despite changes in elected officials, the HPFPcan maintain relationships with career officials,who retain their positions even after changes inpolitical leadership. The HPFP continues to receivesupport from career officials, some of whomendorse the officials.Show of numbers and a broad network: The HPFPalso uses its national and international network toobtain concessions from public agencies, and therehave been instances where government officialsand landowners have agreed to certain concessionswhen these were requested in the presenceof large numbers of people. The federation hasused its international connections and its membershipin international groups (for example, theShack/Slum Dwellers International) to force closerrelationships with important public officials. It hasalso invited public officials to participate in multilateralprojects and international exchanges, thushelping to consolidate individual relationships andidentify win—win strategies.Capitalising on its track record and the HPFP nameto bolster local efforts: The HPFP has earned credibilitywith government and private organisationsthrough its self-help efforts in mobilising savingsand securing land tenure. Government functionariesand private agencies usually ignore HPFPcommunities until they find out about the financialstake members have invested in their work, thegains they have achieved through their own initiativeand the networks that they have been able toestablish.Strengthening technical know-how. Needless to say,good technical know-how is critical to taking a principledand informed position when negotiating. Unlesscommunity associations know how to expresstheir interests in operational terms, they will not be181