ADB loan to help boost LGU operations
Credit to Author: Lisbet K. Esmael| Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2019 16:43:33 +0000
MANILA-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a statement it has committed to lend the government $300 million through the Local Governance Reform Program (LGRP) subprogram 1 to support local government units (LGUs) nationwide in improving their services, strengthen the local economy and substantially reduce poverty.
“ADB supports the Philippine government’s goal of creating a high-trust society, where citizens have confidence in the capacity of local government institutions to deliver services to communities and provide a simpler business environment for private enterprises,” Jose Antonio Tan 3rd, director for Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade at ADB’s Southeast Asia Regional Department, was quoted as saying in the statement. He added, “a healthy business environment will lead to more jobs and strengthen the local economy.”
The program targets to help LGUs increase their own revenue and lower cost of doing business for private investors.
“The ADB program under LGRP is helping the government provide LGUs with the tools and skills necessary to deliver high-quality public services in an accountable and cost-effective manner,” ADB Public Management Specialist for Southeast Asia Robert Boothe also said.
Complementing the LGRP, the government introduced an online client rating system for business permit application to monitor the performance of LGUs.
The government has also embarked on reforms to strengthen the legal framework for local service delivery to clarify roles and responsibilities, distribute shared taxes more fairly and improve the ability of local governments to partner and coordinate on delivering key services.