Skip to main content

Philippines

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through the People’s Council in the Philippines

The training activities attempted to cover complex topics in very brief training sessions. This limited the prospects for building the practical knowledge of trainees in local governance and public participation issues.
Project Partner
Naga city people's council
Project Description
The project had the overall development goal of facilitating the recognition and replication of the Peoples Council in the country as a democratization mechanism in local governance. The immediate project objective was to establish, expand and institutionalize the Peoples Council in 21 barangays in the city and six municipalities in the Metro Naga area. In Naga City, the People’s Council proved itself as an effective mechanism for public participation, particularly for representatives of poor and other vulnerable groups. The project’s initiative to replicate the success of the Naga City People’s council was a relevant contribution to the broader aim of enhancing local democracy in the Philippines. The project had mixed success in achieving its targets and encountered some major disappointments in reaching the goal of institutionalizing the People’s Council in the 27 target local government areas. However, the People’s Councils were officially recognized in the case of four of the six municipal people’s councils, but only in five of the 21 barangay people’s councils. Despite this, grantee cannot be faulted on its effort to achieve the project goals, and, given the scope of what the project sought to achieve, a great deal was accomplished.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through the People’s Council in the Philippines

The project ran its operations efficiently and smoothly, for the most part. The grantee took complete responsibility for management and finance. Memoranda of understanding were signed with all partners and these provided a solid basis for partnership. All partners and beneficiaries were positive about the grantee, not only on the technical support provided, but also on the management of logistics and resources. Generally, the project’s human and financial resources were used appropriately and with care in support of intended results.
Project Partner
Naga city people's council
Project Description
The project had the overall development goal of facilitating the recognition and replication of the Peoples Council in the country as a democratization mechanism in local governance. The immediate project objective was to establish, expand and institutionalize the Peoples Council in 21 barangays in the city and six municipalities in the Metro Naga area. In Naga City, the People’s Council proved itself as an effective mechanism for public participation, particularly for representatives of poor and other vulnerable groups. The project’s initiative to replicate the success of the Naga City People’s council was a relevant contribution to the broader aim of enhancing local democracy in the Philippines. The project had mixed success in achieving its targets and encountered some major disappointments in reaching the goal of institutionalizing the People’s Council in the 27 target local government areas. However, the People’s Councils were officially recognized in the case of four of the six municipal people’s councils, but only in five of the 21 barangay people’s councils. Despite this, grantee cannot be faulted on its effort to achieve the project goals, and, given the scope of what the project sought to achieve, a great deal was accomplished.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through the People’s Council in the Philippines

The grantee underestimated the level of resistance of the entrenched local government councils - municipal and barangay - to accepting the People’s Council as an official partner in local governance.
Project Partner
Naga city people's council
Project Description
The project had the overall development goal of facilitating the recognition and replication of the Peoples Council in the country as a democratization mechanism in local governance. The immediate project objective was to establish, expand and institutionalize the Peoples Council in 21 barangays in the city and six municipalities in the Metro Naga area. In Naga City, the People’s Council proved itself as an effective mechanism for public participation, particularly for representatives of poor and other vulnerable groups. The project’s initiative to replicate the success of the Naga City People’s council was a relevant contribution to the broader aim of enhancing local democracy in the Philippines. The project had mixed success in achieving its targets and encountered some major disappointments in reaching the goal of institutionalizing the People’s Council in the 27 target local government areas. However, the People’s Councils were officially recognized in the case of four of the six municipal people’s councils, but only in five of the 21 barangay people’s councils. Despite this, grantee cannot be faulted on its effort to achieve the project goals, and, given the scope of what the project sought to achieve, a great deal was accomplished.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through the People’s Council in the Philippines

The objective of the small grants disbursed by the projects was to build local ownership of the People’s Councils. The desired result was accomplished in only a very few cases. Insufficient attention was given to preparing and enforcing guidelines on the grants and how they were to be used and reported on.
Project Partner
Naga city people's council
Project Description
The project had the overall development goal of facilitating the recognition and replication of the Peoples Council in the country as a democratization mechanism in local governance. The immediate project objective was to establish, expand and institutionalize the Peoples Council in 21 barangays in the city and six municipalities in the Metro Naga area. In Naga City, the People’s Council proved itself as an effective mechanism for public participation, particularly for representatives of poor and other vulnerable groups. The project’s initiative to replicate the success of the Naga City People’s council was a relevant contribution to the broader aim of enhancing local democracy in the Philippines. The project had mixed success in achieving its targets and encountered some major disappointments in reaching the goal of institutionalizing the People’s Council in the 27 target local government areas. However, the People’s Councils were officially recognized in the case of four of the six municipal people’s councils, but only in five of the 21 barangay people’s councils. Despite this, grantee cannot be faulted on its effort to achieve the project goals, and, given the scope of what the project sought to achieve, a great deal was accomplished.
Evaluation Date
January 2016
Country