Development planning in selected provincial governments in the Cordillera Administrative Region

Abstract

People’s needs continue to increase, and yet, government’s resources remain to be limited. In the midst of scarce resources, the government must prioritize the use of whatever resources it has to ensure that the most-felt needs of the citizens are satisfied. Development planning is one tool it can be used in determining the courses of action that will provide the maximum satisfaction to the most number of beneficiaries and in facilitating the achievement of development goals. Recognizing the importance of development planning, this study aimed to find out the following: the adequacy of provincial government resources for development planning, the extent of involvement of non-government organizations and people’s organizations, the extent of implementation of planning structures, the level of accomplishment of planning outputs, and the problems of local government units as regards development planning. The primary data were obtained from 84 respondents through a questionnaire, interviews with key informants, and content analysis of existing records and plans of local government units. The local government technical resource and leadership support are perceived to be adequate, but financial resource is not. Perceived satisfactory are the extent of involvement of non-government organizations and people’s organizations in development planning; the extent of implication of planning structures; and the level of accomplishment of planning outputs. Although the technical resource is generally adequate, its determinants are perceived differently. Educational attainment and length of service of the planning staff are adequate, but training and actual work experiences are not. A great majority of the planning staff have been in the planning office for 11 years or more. Of the 14 training programs required for development planners to undergo, only three are deemed adequate, as follows: project proposal/ feasibility study preparation, development plan framework, and situation analysis. The technical staff’s contribution in the formulation of development plan comes in the form of data collection, analysis, and dissemination. As to financial resource, perceived not adequate is the budgetary support for activities such as accreditation and orientation of non-government organizations and people’s organizations, conduct of forums and symposia on planning, hiring of consultants, and updating the provincial development council. On the other hand, perceived adequate is the financial support for the administrative requirements of the Provincial Planning and Development Office. Leadership support is likewise perceived to be adequate as the Provincial Governors have manifested interest in long-term development planning and in enjoining other sectors in the local community to actively participate in development planning, except that of the Congressman or his representative. The involvement of non-government organizations and people’s organizations seeking accreditation from the local governments are more interested in partaking of rather than augmenting local government resources. In addition, local governments have fallen short in providing the non-government organizations and people’s organizations the proper motivation to continue their participation in local planning activities. The level of accomplishment of planning outputs is satisfactory with the Provincial Development Plans the most appreciated. The problems perceived to adversely affect the development planning at the local level are lack of local funds to support planning activities, lack of interest and skills among Sanggunian Panlalawigan members to competently review development plans, and lack of funds to implement planned programs and projects which discourages long-term planning