Manila—Canada’s largest ongoing Program in the Philippines, the
Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) is
coming to an end this year after eight years of implementation.
LGSP-LED is a cooperation
program of the Governments of the Philippines and Canada. Since 2008, the
program has been working through the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) to improve the country’s programming and policy framework for
local economic development. The ultimate objective is to reduce poverty and
improve economic livelihoods for Filipino women and men.
The Program has supported the
development of new and enhanced policies at the national and local levels, as
well as a variety of local initiatives that built competitive local industries,
particularly in agribusiness and tourism. Throughout the 8 years, LGSP-LED has
worked with 134 partner-LGUs from 17 provinces, 17 cities, and 100
municipalities.
LGSP-LED has harvested outstanding
results in terms of investments, employment, and creating the conditions
necessary to make local economies grow. Local governments have attracted
billions of dollars in new investment, created thousands of new jobs and
significantly increased visitor arrivals in the local tourism sector.
“Cumulative results achieved
to date are impressive,” according to Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder’s
statement. “Since 2009, targeted LGUs have attracted at least PHP 55 billion in
new investments and created more than 26,000 jobs in the tourism sector.”
The partnership between the
Governments of Canada and the Philippines, through the DILG has been
instrumental to this success.
DILG Secretary Mel Sarmiento
extended gratitude to the Government of Canada and the other national
government agencies that helped LGSP-LED achieve and in many cases surpass its
target results. He also thanked the many project partners and contributors: “We
also appreciate the commitment of LGU Leagues; LGU partners; private sector,
such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the various local
private sector associations and international development partners who have
become champions for LED.”
A forum on Growing Local
Economies through Business-Friendly and Competitive Local Governments will be
held on Thursday, 28 April 2016 at the Manila Hotel to share LGSP-LED’s
experiences on helping LGUs build their local economies. The Forum, organized
by LGSP-LED in collaboration with Local Government Academy (LGA), will
celebrate the culmination of LGSP-LED’s eight years of work.
Government leaders,
undersecretaries, governors, and mayors, as well as business leaders, who have
been instrumental in LGSP-LED’s success will be sharing their unique experience
of pursuing LED in the Philippines. Topics will include Preparing Local
Economies for ASEAN Economic Integration; Building Vibrant, Inclusive,
Sustainable, and Resilient Local Economies; Climate Change and Mitigating
Disaster Risks in Local Economic Development; among others.
The Forum is open to all
local government executives, business leaders, and other stakeholders who are
involved with LED initiatives. Space is limited, so participants are encouraged
to confirm as soon as possible by visiting www.lgsp-led.ph.
Those who cannot attend the
Forum can watch a live stream of the event:
https://www.youtube.com/user/lgspledph.
Dress code for the event is FIlipiniana.
DILG Secretary Mel Sarmiento
and Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder will be the Forum’s Keynote Speakers.
LGSP-LED will also be recognizing LED Champions through an awards ceremony. (DILG news)
Comments
Post a Comment