1. Welcome to the Philippines ! Country Report

2. The Philippines & its Basic Facts………… FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang Motto: Filipino: For God, People, Nature & Country Anthem: Luoang Hinirang (Chosen Land) Capital: Manila Largest City: Quezon City Official Language: Filipino and English

3. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang Government: Unitary-Presidential Republic President: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Vice President: Noli de Castro Independence: from Spain and US Declared: June 12, 1898 Recognized: July 4, 1946 Current Constitution: March 25, 1986 Area: Total: 300,000 km2 115,831 sq mi Water: 0.6% Population: July 2005 est.: 83,054,000 (13 th ) 2000 census: 76,504,077 Density: 276/km2 715/sq mi GDP (PPP) : 2005 estimate Total: $ 453 billion (25 th ) Per Capita: $ 4,923 (102 nd ) HDI (2203): 0.758 (84 TH ) – Medium Currency: Philippine peso (piso) (PHP) Time Zone: PST (UTC+8) Internet:.ph Calling Code: +63

4. Brief Introduction to my organization FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines FlagCoat of arms My organization is part of an agency of the government which is called the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). It is the Local Government Sector. We are task to undertake the delegated supervisory function of the President over local government units, as embodied in Executive Order 339 and RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines. The head of the organization is the Secretary of the Interior & Local Government, ably supported by Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries.

5. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms There is an extensive organizational field operation as there are established Regional Offices under which we have Provincial Offices which subsequently supervises the Municipal Offices. All these level of operation are manned by Regional as well as field officers and organic personnel. So it is assured the our function is saturated in all levels of local government clientele. The DILG organizational structure and tasks focus on seeing to it the local government administration is carried out in accordance with government rules, laws and regulations to render better government service.

6. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang Present status & future prospects of the urban & regional development & management in home country Government policy and legal framework regarding urban and regional development The Philippine Government observes the democratic approach to development, whether urban or regional. Being a democratic country, development planning is done through consultation. There is the hierarchy of Development Councils created at all levels, namely: The National Development Council The Regional Development Council

7. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms The Provincial Development Council The Municipal Development Council The Barangay Development Council Development plans are brainstormed at the Barangay Development Council, in the context that development needs should be best determined by the people themselves in the barangays. Hence development efforts to answer these needs should also emanate from them. These development plans are then consolidated and crystallized at the next level of hierarchy of Municipal Development Council and so forth until the highest level of the council.

8. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms There are a lot of existing laws, legal frameworks and policies (e.g. Environmental Law, Zoning Laws and Ordinances, Housing and Land Use Laws, etc.) that supposedly support the development strategy of the government, however, there seemed to be the lack of political will to implement these policies and laws that development efforts of both the national and local governments are hindered. Issues & countermeasures relevant to the topic There are a lot of issues that affect urban and regional development policy in the Philippines. These, if not addressed, will surely affect the future development of the

9. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines country, as a whole. General assessment would bear the following concerns/issues: Bloated government red-tape, too much hierarchy of councils to handle planning and decision making; Too much politics in the government, both national and local; Graft and corruption in the government system. Countermeasures: Cut down the hierarchy of councils, reduce red tape. Create practical levels of Councils to handle development. Organize and capacitate fewer but dedicated people to take the responsibility of urban and regional development

10. Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines FlagCoat of arms Politicians, political leaders should not get involved in urban and regional development policy formulation, because as always, the politics of patronage will prevail which is very curtailing to coming up with sound development policies. Graft and corruption should be eradicated, if not, minimized, in the government system. This is really a hindrance to any development effort and objective.

11. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines FlagCoat of arms Problems that hinder development of work, project, organization and necessary countermeasures against them, and future aspects of organization or vision FlagCoat of arms There are identified problems and felt needs that hinder development in the work/project/organization. These include a). lack of capacity of organic personnel in charge of urban and regional policy formulation; b). Absence of professional drive to improve; c). Organic personnel do not cope up with global competitiveness; d). Politics in the organization; e). Deficient support or incentives to workforce.

12. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines FlagCoat of arms As it is, necessary countermeasures should be undertaken to address these problems/issues, viz: a). Capacitate technical personnel in the aspect of urban and regional development policy formulation and other related function of the organization focused on; b). Update professional environment and technologies, provide career exposures to technical personnel; c). Eradicate politics in the organization, this is affecting professionalism and performance; d). Create and implement a program that would provide appropriate incentives to organic personnel.

13. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms

14. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms

15. FlagCoat of arms Republika ng Pilipinas Republic of the Philippines MottoMotto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (Filipino: For God, People, Nature, and Country)Filipino AnthemAnthem: Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land)Lupang Hinirang FlagCoat of arms