Comparative Study of Capacity Development of Local Government Units as Baseline Towards Full Devolution

Abstract

In response to Mandanas Ruling, Executive Order 138 or the Full Devolution mandates all Local Government Units to fully assume the functions, services, and facilities under Republic Act (RA) 7160, section 17, by the end of 2024. This study was conducted to assess the Capacity Development Agenda of Lower-Class Municipalities in the island province of Masbate. Three main sectors in the Philippine Government were studied concerning its current state of capacity, the desired state of capacity, capacity development interventions, and alignment of these interventions to the criteria of the Philippine devolution. These are the Agriculture and Extension Services, Environment and Natural Resources, and Social Welfare Services. The result will be the used as basis of the National Government Agencies in identifying priority capacity development agenda for Local Government Units (LGUs). The researchers used the qualitative-descriptive method by reviewing the Devolution Transition Plans (DTP) of the LGUs and made a comparative assessment. The result showed that the lower-class municipalities have a very low capacity to assume devolved services mandated in Section 17 of RA 7160 and other devolution laws. In the sector of Agriculture and Extension Services, services like water systems, communal irrigation, artificial insemination, and medicinal plant establishments are among the services that are not present and not functional in the LGUs. In terms of Environment and Natural Resources, lower-class LGUs are weak in the implementation of integrated forestry programs as well as in air and water quality management. Similarly, the Social Welfare Services were poorly implemented especially in the programs related to rehabilitation for vagrants, beggars, street children, juvenile delinquents, and family welfare. These capacity gaps were then proposed with specific and strategic capacity development agenda, and these were categorized into six (6) capacity pillars. The capacity development agenda that is aligned with the devolution criteria is the useful baseline in crafting the National Agencies Capacity Development Program.