Local planning and development coordinators serve as WBA technical working group

Among the sites visited by the WBA Study Tour participants was the Museo ni Jesse Robredo.
The late Jesse Robredo started the Metro Naga alliance 25 years ago.

October 25, 2018, Isabela City, Basilan – Champions and supporters of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) convene today at the provincial capitol, this city, to discuss updates and ways forward for the alliance. Among the WBA champions present are Engr. Nelson Akmadol, the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator and Mr. Mohammad Noore Ladjagais, Executive Assistant of the Provincial Vice Governor.

Both officials participated in the study tour to Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC) and Central Negros Council for Coastal Resource Development (CENECCORD) sites in Bicol and Western Visayas regions.

In his sharing, Engr. Akmadol is very particular on how local government units mobilize their staff and share internal resources to support alliance building and development activities.

Mr. Ladjagais is overwhelmed by multi-sectoral participation he observed throughout the study tour. He also appreciates the involvement local legislative bodies in supporting the alliance plan through budget allocation and program support.

In the meeting, the involvement of local planning and development coordinators as WBA technical working group members was reiterated. While serving as core members, additional members maybe invited as the need arises.

Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the AECID-funded MILAB Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) with the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA) as CSO partner.

CSO participation is critical pillar in local alliance building

Study Tour participants at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Bago City,
having conversation with CENRO staff on current programs and challenges.
Bago City mayor is the current head of CENECCORD. 

October 25, 2018, Isabela City, Basilan – Ms Meriam “Deddette” Suacito, Executive Director of Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc., expresses optimism over civil society participation in the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) in a meeting with key government officials today at the Office of the Provincial Governor, in this city.

Ms Suacito is one of the three participants representing the local civil society invited to participate in the study tour conducted for WBA officials. The other two were Fr Angel Calvo and Ms Espie Humida, President and Executive Director of the Zamboanga Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA), respectively.

The two-week study tour was funded by AECID, the Spanish aid agency, and provided first-hand exposure for champions of the Western Basilan alliance (WBA) to areas where there are functional interlocal cooperation models. There a number of models throughout the country and closer home. However, the need for good models is an imperative for success – to learn from long experiences that have demonstrated resilience, continuity and competence through the years.

In conversation with Dr Herwig Mayer, GIZ consultant on the matter and a pioneer in inter-LGU alliance building in the country, two areas were identified as good models for the champions of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) – Metro Naga Development Council or simply MNDC organized in 1993 and Central Negros Council for Coastal Resources Development (CENECCORD) organized in 2005.

In her statement before the WBA tactical group meeting, Ms Suacito highlighted what she observed as the vibrant participation of the civil society organizations in both MNDC and CENECCORD; as well as similarities and differences between these alliances and WBA.

Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the AECID-funded MILAB Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) with the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA) as CSO partner.

WBA Champions Prepare for Study Tour in Metro Naga and Negros Occidental

Zamboanga City (September 06, 2018) – Champions of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA), from the local government units and NGO partners, prepare for a two-week study tour to Metro Naga and Negros Occidental scheduled from September 18 to 26, 2018. 

Mr Noor Saada, Project Manager of the AECID-fund Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) Project as implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), said, this study tour is of part of the capacity building intervention to provide first-hand exposure for champions of the Western Basilan alliance (WBA) to areas where there are functional interlocal cooperation models. While there a number of models throughout the country and closer to home; the need for good models is an imperative for success – to learn from long experiences that have demonstrated resilience, continuity and competence through the years.

The first leg of the study tour will be the Metro Naga Development Council or simply MNDC organized in 1993, making it among the pioneer alliances in the country and arguably the oldest still functional. MNDC is celebrating its silver anniversary this year, that is 25 years of ups and downs, learning through the rope and across 8-9 terms of change in local administration. The MNDC's  cooperative portfolio (Metro Naga Equipment Pool, Metro Naga Senior Citizens Program, Metro Naga Emergency Rescue Service, Metro Naga Livelihood Program, Metro Naga Project Assistance Fund, Metro Naga Water Supply Enhancement Project, etc.) attest to how inter-LGU alliance is making a difference in improving public services and promoting good governance in the locality. 

The second leg of the study tour will be the Central Negros Council for Coastal Resources Development (CENECCORD) organized in 2005. CENECCORD is a decade and three years old of interlocal cooperation among seven (7) local government units (LGUs) in the central region of Negros Occidental and decidedly focused on “restoration and conservation of coastal resources but also for the maintenance and preservation of sound ecological balance, clean environment, equitable use of resources and most importantly, giving preferential treatment to marginal fisherfolk.” It is important to note that this arrangement was also driven by the provincial and municipal agriculture offices. 

The participants will be learning from these models, reflecting on them and acting on these models as they concretize allied, shared or joint interventions under the WBA. After the study tour, the WBA is expected to finalize their Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), prioritize its thematic focus and LGU champions to provide the imperative in mobilizing LGU staff and resources through the WBA technical working groups, and to build the competence of their staff in formulating feasibility studies or project proposal at the alliance level.