How do you ensure that your local government is being run honestly? You either train the spotlight on it, or work with it.

Thirty-three groups that propose to do this each received a maximum P1 million on Thursday to pursue projects that will engage their choice local government units (LGUs), specifically in the areas of delivery of basic social services, governance and administration, livelihood and enterprise management, and environmental management.

Called Panibagong Paraan, this is the third search by the World Bank for innovative ideas to address development challenges in the Philippines. Held every two years, each search is governed by a theme.

The 2008 search is for project proposals that seek to improve local governance by ensuring transparency and efficiency in LGUs. Depending on the requirements of the project, the World Bank and partner institutions give a maximum funding of P1 million for each project.

Health and education

World Bank country director Bert Hoffman said they "looked for ideas focused on addressing local governance issues and on fresh, creative approaches as well as indigenous mechanisms for participatory governance."

"Many of the proposed projects aim to improve transparency and accountability, broaden and improve the quality of citizen participation in governance processes and improve collaboration among stakeholders," Hoffman said.

Health and education projects, to be jointly carried out by LGUs and non-government organizations, dominate those that will receive the Panibagong Paraan grants under the delivery of basic services category.

In Benguet, they will be growing plants that are natural enemies of the Aedes egypti mosquito to prevent dengue. In Bukidnon, health and education services will be directed toward minority and indigenous communities.

Child workers in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, will be given counseling and alternative education, and so will handicap children in Mandaluyong City.

Farmers and citizen journalists

Governance and administration projects that will receive funding include workshops on leadership, business skills, and cooperative development for Cordillera farmers; barangay civil registration program in Zamboanga City to be carried out in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism’s monitoring of the implementation of programs in the five poorest provinces, with the help of citizen journalists.

A multi-sectoral collaboration to mitigate the effects of climate change in selected towns in Eastern Samar, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, and Cebu is among the grant recipients under the environmental management category.

The community-based disaster management program in critical areas in the Davao River Watershed and the strengthening of school and community participation in sustaining eco-tourism in Agusan Marsh in Agusan del Sur will receive funding, too.

Batanes’s program for responsible tourism for development and the establishment of a processing plant for coco and nipa ethanol in Quezon province are among the winners in the livelihood and enterprise management category.

Hagedorn awards

Meanwhile, 11 other organizations and LGUs that turned in what the World Bank called "highly acclaimed" proposals received the first ever "Panibagong Paraan sa Puerto Princesa Award."

Winning project proponents can send two representatives to Puerto Princesa City for an educational trip. Puerto Princesa has received numerous international and local recognitions for good governance, environmental protection, and efforts at ensuring sustainable growth.

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said the award recipients will be have an opportunity to exchange information with the city’s development practitioners and policy makers.

A total of 500 entries were submitted to the World Bank but only 99 finalists in four categories were presented and judged in the two-day competition.

A panel composed of jurors from the government, academe, and civil society chose projects proposals based on four criteria: innovation; partnership building; development results; and sustainability, scalability, and replicability. (abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak)

Click here to see the complete list of the 2008 Panibagong Paraan Winners

Click here to see the list of the winners for the Panibagong Paraan sa Puerto Princesa Award

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