quarterly progress reportpdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pa00n58q.pdflist of surge project ltta staff hired...

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USAID Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project Quarterly Progress Report, April – June 2017

QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT April - June 2017

Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project CONTRACT NO. AID-492-H-15-00001

JULY 31, 2017

This report is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of the International City/County Management Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

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QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT April - June 2017

Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project CONTRACT NO. AID-492-H-15-00001

Program Title: USAID/SURGE

Sponsoring USAID Office: USAID/Philippines

Contract Number: AID-492-H-15-00001

Contractor: International City/County Management Association (ICMA)

Date of Publication: July 31, 2017

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CONTENTS

Executive Summary 1

I. Introduction and Project Overview 7

II. Key Accomplishments and Results by Component 10 Component 1 10

Component 2 19

Component 3 32

Crosscutting Key Activities and Accomplishments 41

1. Institutional Support Mechanisms for the SURGE Project Implementation 41 2. Gender Integration 41 3. Communication and Information Strategies 44

III. Major Accomplishments by City 48

1. Batangas City 48 2. Cagayan De Oro City 50 3. General Santos City 53 4. Iloilo City 57 5. Legazpi City 60 6. Puerto Princesa City 64 7. Tagbilaran City 69 8. Zamboanga City 72

IV. Correlation to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan 77

V. Management and Administration 87

VI. Financial Performance Report 89

Annexes 90

Tables Table 1. Counterpart Funds Generated 1 Table 2. Component 1 Summary of Plans and Accomplishments for April-June 2017 15 Table 3. Comparison between the JMC 2016 Standard Steps and the Cities' Steps

(New Business and Renewal Processes) 21 Table 4. Component 2 Summary of Plans and Accomplishments for April - June 2017 27 Table 5. Component 3 Summary of Plans and Accomplishments for April-June 2017 37 Table 6. Report on Performance Indicators 77 Table 7. List of SURGE Project LTTA staff hired (April to June 2017) 87 Table 8. List of SURGE STTA Personnel hired (April to June 2017) 87

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Figures Figure 1. Organizational Structure of the Palawan Seaweed Network 34 Figure 2. Distribution of CDI Newsletter Readers in the Philippines 45

Annexes Annex 1. Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) 92 Annex 2. Creating the Land and Asset Management Office of the City Government of

Cagayan de Oro 93 Annex 3. Memorandum of Partnership Between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro

and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 10 96 Annex 4. Provincial Ordinance No. 2016-015, Creating the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran

Executive Council (PITEC) 98 Annex 5. Memorandum of Understanding Between USAID and Legazpi City 100 Annex 6. Media Placement 102 Annex 7. Memorandum of Understanding Between Cagayan de Oro City and the Higher

Education Institutions (HEIs) 106

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Acronyms

ADAPT Asia-Pacific Adaptation Project Preparation Facility for Asia and the Pacific AIP Annual Investment Plan BOSS Business one-stop-shop BPLO Business Permits and Licensing Office BPLS Business permits and licensing system CCA Climate change adaptation CDI Cities Development Initiative CDP Comprehensive Development Plan CENRO City Environment and Natural Resources CLUP Comprehensive Land Use Plan CMCI Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index CPC City Program Coordinator CPDO City Planning Development Office DA Department of Agriculture DAR Department of Agrarian Reform DENR Department of the Environment and Natural Resources DILG Department of the Interior and Local Government DOST Department of Science and Technology DOTr Department of Transportation and Communication DPWH Department of Public Works and Highways DRR Disaster risk reduction DRRM Disaster risk reduction management DTI Department of Trade and Industry eBPMS Electronic building permit management system ETRACS Enhanced tax revenue assessment and collection system GAD Gender and development GESI Gender equality and social inclusion GHG Greenhouse gas emission GIS Geographic information system HEIs Higher Education Institutions HLURB Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board ICMA International City/County Management Association IPC Investment Promotion Center LEIPO Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office LAMO Land and Asset Management Office LCCAP Local Climate Change Action Plan LGI Land Governance Innovations LGU Local government unit MOPA Memorandum of Partnership Agreement MOU Memorandum of Understanding NCC National Competitiveness Council OCA Office of City Agriculture PENRO Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office PITEC Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council PSF People’s Survival Fund RoD Registry of Deeds SAT Systematic adjudication team SIAP Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines SURGE Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity TCWS Tagbilaran City Waterworks System TWG Technical working group UDLC Urban development learning center USAID United States Agency for International Development

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Executive Summary

This Third Quarter Progress Report (QPR) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Philippines Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, from April through June 2017 of Year 2, reflects the achievements relating to activities under the three project areas or components, along with the accomplishments on crosscutting areas (institutional mechanism, mainstreaming gender and inclusion, and communication and information strategies), project management and project work correlated with the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (M&E). Through USAID’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI), the SURGE Project continued to see increased and robust engagement with the government, community partners and local stakeholders to bolster the role of secondary cities as engines of inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and resilient growth. The project works collaboratively with eight CDI partner cities of Batangas, Legazpi and Puerto Princesa in Luzon, Iloilo and Tagbilaran in the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Zamboanga in Mindanao. The project has three objectives: (1) improve local capacity in inclusive and resilient urban management and processes; (2) promote low-emission local economic development strategies; and 3) expand urban-rural connectivity and access. Throughout the quarter, the project continued to move forward implementing its activities as described in the main body and accompanying annexes of this report. Presented below are some of the key accomplishments during the period.

Key Project Accomplishments for the Quarter Generated counterpart funds The SURGE Project continued to mobilize support from local stakeholders for the various activities implemented during the third quarter. From April to June 2017, the SURGE counterparts contributed worth of counterpart resources for SURGE activities. These contributions were given in the form of financial resources for event venues, transportation, supplies, equipment, and manpower support. Combining this quarter’s support from stakeholders with last quarter’s contribution results in US$368,000 of total funding attributed to SURGE counterparts. During Year 2 over three quarters, SURGE estimates that about U was leveraged from SURGE counterparts for project activities. Table 1 shows the amounts generated per city for this quarter: Table 1. Counterpart Funds Generated

Cities City Counterparts

(In PHP) City Counterparts

(In USD)

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Forged partnership and organized the Stakeholders’ Forum One of the major activities during the quarter was the forging of partnership on May 17 between USAID and the City Government of Legazpi in implementing priority actions for successful SURGE Project activities in the city. USAID Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of USAID, while Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal represented the city. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara and key city officials and representatives from the academe, business and non-government organizations. Prior to the signing of the MOU, the project facilitated the Legazpi City Stakeholders’ Forum participated in by more than 150 persons from the national agency, local government, academe, business and civil society groups. The forum, which aims to elicit a broad range of support on the SURGE Project activities, focused on addressing the challenges related to the city’s economic growth, infrastructure and human capital, environment and resilience, and health. Conducted capacity development activities The project collaborated with USAID’s Climate Change Adaptation Project Preparation Facility for Asia and the Pacific (ADAPT Asia-Pacific) program to help CDI partner cities gain access to international and local climate adaptation funding so they can enhance climate resiliency. Through the Project Preparation and Finance Workshop conducted from June 19-23 in Metro Manila, 28 participants (16, female, 12 male) from the local government units in eight CDI partner cities were able to learn more about climate finance and how it can be accessed, project design or bankable project proposals, implementation and monitoring. As a result, some of the proposed projects identified for funding were on the dredging and soil protection under the Calumpang River Master Plan of Batangas City, drainage flood diversion channel of General Santos City, and other projects for possible funding. On June 4-9, 2017, the project also facilitated the Geographic Information System (GIS) Orientation and Workshop for more than 60 city officials from CDI partner cities on the concepts, techniques and application of GIS and information management systems. The workshop was designed to serve as the technical foundation in supporting CDI partner cities in their geospatial database build-up, mapping and visualization production and geospatial systems development which are crucial in climate-resilient land-use and infrastructure planning, sustainable land governance and in fiscal management. In implementing land-use and infrastructure planning activities, the SURGE Project has taken various sets of measures on gender equality and social inclusion to manage potential adverse impacts to the environment. See Annex 1 for the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP). Assisted in upgrading and rehabilitating waterworks system The project facilitated on April 24-28, 2017 the Water Operators Partnership/Twinning Arrangement between Tagbilaran City and Maynilad, a private water and wastewater services provider for 17 cities and municipalities that comprise the West Zone of the greater Metro Manila area in the Philippines. The twinning methodology included lectures/ technical inputs, field assessment, feedback and sharing of assessment findings and recommendations, and joint planning workshop.

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Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Lim Yap II requested SURGE Project to assist in assessing the city’s existing water supply system, which shall serve as basis of decisions and investments. With technical guidance from the project, the city embarked on upgrading and rehabilitating the LGU-run Tagbilaran City Waterworks System (TCWS) so that it will improve its current 8-18/7 service hours, expand its services to cover population not connected to Level III system, while improving its financial and operational performance. Collaborated with Antipolo City and Cagayan de Oro City on land administration and management activities

The project and the Local Governance Innovations (LGI) closely worked with Antipolo City local government on land administration and government reforms. Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro Ynares is embarking on the project’s continued technical assistance in the areas of adjudication, alternative dispute resolution, and asset management. The project also advised the city to create a land property map to make it easier to prioritize LGU-owned lands. In Cagayan De Oro City, the project conducted follow-up activities on land tenure and discussed plans to address the challenges as well as improve land administration in the city. Ground validation and field investigation were facilitated in residential titling of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to validate various issues, such as: whether the lot claimant is actually the one living in the house; boundary conflicts among adjoining parcels; to check information with the neighbors of the claimant; to collect and obtain personal information; and to enable the lot claimant to present a valid ID and fill out an application form. Inspired by the successful USAID/SURGE Project’s Conference on Sustainable Land Governance that was held in Manila in February 2017, the Provincial Government of Palawan and the City Government of General Santos expressed their plan to conduct localized Land Tenure Conferences this year. The continued assistance of the SURGE Project in CDI cities of Puerto Princesa and in General Santos on land administration and management also paved the way for local officials and the local government units to address the challenges in land governance, sharing of good practices and new sustainable approaches to urban land administration. Facilitated the establishment of an inter-agency council in Cagayan de Oro City An inter-agency council was created in May to lead land administration and management reforms in Cagayan de Oro City. The project facilitated the activity wherein representatives from several local government agencies such as the city government, DENR and Agrarian Reform, Land Registration Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and Chamber of Commerce and Industries worked together to establish the Land Management Council. This aims to strengthen policy direction and support to the land titling program, and to provide at least 140,000 untitled parcels in the city. Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and DENR Region 10 Executive Director Edwin Andot signed a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) on May 12, 2017 to support these land administration reforms initiatives. Established the Seaweed Network in Puerto Princesa City The Seaweed Network was established in May through the assistance of the SURGE Project and Puerto Princesa’s City Agriculture Office. The network, composed of thirty stakeholders and nine

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seaweed growers/buyers, and processors will advocate for the development of the local seaweed industry in the city through improved modern production and post-harvest technologies, direct market linkages with buyers and processors and more effective support services from government institutions. Organized tourism strategic action planning activities A series of tourism strategic action planning activities are being conducted in Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City since April. During the period, the project organized a workshop in Tagbilaran City to gather key tourism private sector stakeholders’ inputs into the strategic action plan. Private sector groups identified heritage tourism and creative arts development as key pillars for Tagbilaran City’s long-term tourism development. In Puerto Princesa City, six tourism circuits were identified as priority tourism development areas in the next few years. The SURGE Project helped in the formulation of priority issues for development including infrastructure and provided technical input in sectoral meetings (among accommodation, transport, tour/travel operators, souvenir shops). Strengthened supply chain linkages between producers and buyers and supporting agencies Through the efforts of the SURGE Project and Zamboanga City’s Office of City Agriculture (OCA), the newly established Association of Cassava Growers, Assemblers and Traders (ACGAT) has been linked with San Miguel Food, Inc. (SMFI) and its designated assemblers. With this market linkage, the Lubigan Farmers Association (a member of ACGAT), delivered in June about three (3) metric tons of cassava chips to SMFI assembler, the Cristobal Trading. Furthermore, the project collaborated with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in assisting the Lubigan Farmers Association to upgrade existing drying facilities for cassava chips. This includes possible acquisition of a granulating machine through a grant from the DTI. The project also provided the association with a prototype design for a papag dryer (elevated dryer), which the association constructed in one of its consolidation areas. Supported the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) in economic development planning The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol formally passed on May 18, 2017 the Provincial Ordinance 2016-15, creating PITEC. To help strengthen PITEC as an institution for urban-rural planning and coordination in the province, the SURGE Project continued to assist PITEC in its strategic planning process. The PITEC strategic plan will outline key projects on economic-related activities in the province such as on tourism, climate change resiliency, access to water and sanitation services, business development, agriculture and road network and transport plans. Moreover, the project has been coordinating with the Bohol Provincial Planning and Development Office, in providing additional information to Panglao’s local legislative council to help respond to the latter’s concerns regarding PITEC. Once the required local ordinance has been passed by the three LGUs, the Bohol Governor will convene a PITEC general assembly attended by the three local chief executives and other senior local officials. Integrated gender aspect in all project activities The SURGE Project continued to integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) principles into all of its activities. For instance, mainstreaming socially inclusive and gender responsive

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disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation local development planning during the Project Development Workshop on Adaptation and Climate Finance in June with USAID’s ADAPT Asia-Pacific Project. Visibility and accountability for gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion in land tenure are also continuously sustained through the representation of women groups, non-government organization, people’s organization and the academe community as member of the coalition members on sustainable land governance. The CPCs from Legaspi City and General Santos City were also coached and mentored on GESI to prepare them as resource persons to the integrating GESI Perspectives in the Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Streamlining Workshop. The project also assisted Tagbilaran City and Puerto Princesa City in finalizing and operationalizing its heritage tourism plan and guidelines with key considerations in strengthening the heritage program’s gender equality and social inclusivity features. GESI was also integrated across project actions at the Stakeholder’s Forum and action planning workshop in Legaspi City in May to address growth constraints in economic growth and education, environment and energy and health.

Continued to implement communication and information strategies Success and sustainability of the SURGE Project hinges on effective communication of project achievements, results and lessons learned to a broad audience, both local and national. During the quarter, two issues of the CDI Newsletter (see link here http://surge.org.ph/cdi-newsletter) were published. The project also generated 51 news stories published in the local and national media, and in in-house publications of the city governments. By the end of June 2017, the project’s Twitter account, @USAID_SURGE, accumulated a total of 226 followers and produced 231 tweets. Aside from promoting the project’s strategic activities such as the Stakeholders’ Forum, signing of the CDI Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USAID and Legazpi City, the project participated in the observance of Earth Day and the Philippine Environment Month. Staffing and management

Implementing Challenges for the Quarter

http://surge.org.ph/cdi-newsletter

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I. Introduction and Project Overview

The Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of USAID/Philippines’ Cities Development Initiative (CDI). The CDI project is a crucial component of the broader Partnership for Growth (PFG), a White House initiated “whole government” partnership between the U.S. Government and the Philippine Government to achieve sustained, more inclusive economic growth. The five-year SURGE Project (from July 27, 2015 to July 26, 2020), with the engagement of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), envisions that second-tier cities become economically thriving and growth centers that can spur higher levels of investment and employment, and improved urban resiliency through enhanced disaster risk preparedness. To fulfill PFG goals and SURGE Project objectives, project implementation focused on three areas or components. Component 1: improve local capacity in inclusive and resilient urban development. The project supports partner cities enhance their capabilities to promote inclusive and climate-resilient development and improve access to water and sanitation services. Component 2: promote low‐emission local economic development strategies. To improve revenue generation and expenditure management, streamlining local permits, promoting land tenure security, and generating investments, the project continues to work with local stakeholders. Component 3: expand economic connectivity and access between urban and rural areas. The project continues to support strategic interventions that reduces connectivity costs and improve access. Crosscutting themes through all of the project components include institutional mechanism, mainstreaming gender and inclusion, and communication and information strategies. The project also continues to scale-up its capacity to monitor, and report results as a key aspect of its work program through monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The project supports eight CDI partner cities: Batangas, Legazpi and Puerto Princesa in Luzon, Iloilo and Tagbilaran in the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Zamboanga in Mindanao. The submission of the Third Quarter Progress Report (QPR) is in compliance with Section F.6 (Reports and Deliverables) of the contract between USAID and ICMA. It presents a description of the work conducted to achieve the strategic objectives and priority goals during the third quarter of Year 2 project implementation. This report, which covers the period April 1, 2017 through June 31, 2017, is divided into six sections: (1) Executive Summary and Implementation Challenges, (2) Key Accomplishments by Component and Crosscutting Areas, (3) Key Accomplishments by City, (4) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), (5) Management and Administration, and (6) Financial Performance Report.

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Component 1: Improving Local Capacity in Inclusive and Resilient Urban Development

Sendong (international name: Washi), the world’s deadliest storm in 2011, badly hit the city. Learning from the mistakes that resulted in devastating loss of life, widespread damage to infrastructure, displacement of thousands of families and threatened water and food supply, the growth hub of Northern Mindanao is putting measures in place to prepare and adapt to future hazards. “Never again – that became our motto,” says Engineer Ermin Stan Pimentel, head of the newly created Department of Housing and Urban Development of Cagayan de Oro City Government. Sharing the sentiments of Kagay-anons, Pimentel adds that he does not want to witness the city unprepared to deal with another major disaster. Engr. Pimentel recently participated in a .

workshop on Project Preparation and Finance in Manila, which he considers a significant intervention in helping the city become more resilient to extreme natural events. “The USAID workshop helped us strengthen our efforts to make Cagayan de Oro a resilient city,” explains Engr. Pimentel. “We are still in the process of rebuilding and rehabilitating the city after the wrath of Typhoon Sendong. The workshop is timely as it allowed us to broaden our knowledge and skills in making plans that are attuned to climate impacts.” The five-day workshop held on June 19 to 23, 2017 was organized by two USAID projects, the Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project and Thailand-based Climate Change Adaptation Project Preparation Facility for Asia and the Pacific (Adapt).

agayan de Oro City is on the path toward climate resilience six years after Typhoon Sendong

C Working toward Cagayan de Oro City’s resilience to disasters

“The USAID workshop helped us strengthen our efforts to make Cagayan de Oro a resilient city.”

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Pimentel joined more than 25 other city officials involved in city planning and disaster risk reduction from USAID’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI) partner cities of Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga. The local officials learned to prepare adaptation proposals that integrate social inclusivity, climate resilient planning, and the legal and institutional frameworks to access international and local sources such as the Philippine Government’s flagship climate finance program, the People’s Survival Fund (PSF). A vulnerability study in Cagayan de Oro City in 2013 showed that while the city received 11 typhoon hits over a 20-year period—compared to an average of 20 typhoons that enter the Philippines each year—the city has, of late, been hit by one typhoon too many. “SURGE is helping capacitate our institutions—the city departments, specifically—draw up a comprehensive plan responsive to the different needs of our constituency. This plan will pave the way for the development of a resilient city and will be able to equip Kagay-anons to contribute to the larger task of nation-building,” says Engr. Pimentel. The 2013 vulnerability study also projected changes in climate hazards in the coming years such as the rise in temperature, changes in seasonal rainfall, and increase in the frequency of extreme events like stronger winds and storm surges during typhoons, flooding and drought. “We hope that the partnership USAID/SURGE is forging with CDI cities will be sustained and that we are together not just in the planning stage but till the fruition of our efforts. All this will take a lot of time and resources. We hope this partnership will be resilient as well,” Pimentel adds.

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II. Accomplishments and Results by Component

Component 1

Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results During the reporting period, the project continued to support CDI partner cities to enhance their capabilities to pursue data-driven decision-making, access climate finance, and secure domestic water services on their way to resilient and inclusive growth. Specifically, the project assisted CDI partner cities in preparing their major local development plans, business plans for water utilities and water service providers, climate and disaster risk management plans, and climate mitigation plans in compliance with mandated government regulations and guidelines. As part of capacity development of local water districts/ water service providers and local government units (LGUs), the project sponsored the attendance of their staff to conferences hosted by academic institutions, non-government organizations (NGOs and professional organizations. The project also brought them to successful demonstration sites for water and sanitation practices and encouraged networking with practitioners for support on replicating similar interventions. Component 1 made significant headway through these accomplishments:

• Tapping the corporate social responsibility program of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (or Maynilad) through a Twinning Partnership on Water Service Improvement in Tagbilaran City. (Maynilad is the water and wastewater services provider for 17 cities in the West Zone of Metro Manila.)

• Establishing a partnership with the University of the Philippines in the Visayas – College of Management (UPV-CM) that led to the conduct of the Geographic Information System (GIS) Workshop as part of advancing the urban development program in Iloilo City.

• Facilitating the adoption of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) in Zamboanga City by virtue of a City Council Resolution. (The Project provided technical support to the city in the review and preparation of the CLUP and CDP.)

For this quarter, CDI partner cities provided a total of PHP374,946 (US$8,151) as counterpart funding to operationalize initiatives and interventions toward strategic climate-ready urban development benefitting all sectors. Subcomponent 1.1: Strengthening local capacity in urban development, including the promotion of disaster reduction and preparedness and improving climate resilient land use planning and development following international best practices Project Activity: Develop and implement local climate change adaptation and mitigation projects

The project collaborated with USAID’s ADAPT Project in organizing the Project Preparation and Finance Workshop for the eight CDI cities on June 19-23, 2017 in Metro Manila. The workshop gathered key LGU personnel on adaptation and climate finance, specifically on topics on Financing Climate Adaptation; Climate Change, Adaptation, and National Priorities; Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Options-Planning with Existing Frameworks; Economic and Social

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Analyses of CCA Projects. These training modules featured the different subcomponents of climate finance and how it can be accessed, from relevant climate information to project design, appraisal and monitoring. The workshop provided the following: (1) an overview of available adaptation and finance and the requirements/ procedures/criteria of financiers; (2) described data and information requirements and the sources for adaptation projects; (3) demonstrated how to ensure projects align with existing national strategies and priorities; (4) explained how bankable project proposals are structured; and (5) shared best practices for

government officials tasked with managing project design, implementation and monitoring. Project Activity: Conduct capacity-building of stakeholders in mainstreaming socially inclusive and gender-responsive DRR-CCA to local development planning, including water and sanitation services

Iloilo City’s review and updating of the economic development and investment promotion component of its Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) was conducted through the assistance of the project. This was in line with the previous technical assistance provided to the city in enhancing its CDP, Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), and vision statement. The activity, which was conducted in Iloilo City on May 15-16, reviewed the current actions related to the investment programming and economic development objectives of the city and identified how to support the LGU in undertaking an aggressive, coordinated, and sustained promotion and marketing of the city as an investment location. The activity was participated in by the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), the Local Investment and Incentives Board, the City Tourism Development Office, the Local Economic Enterprise Office, and the City Agriculture Office, including the City Council’s chairman for investments, Councilor Candice Tupas. The event aimed at enhancing the institutional capacity of the LGU in developing and using various tools to enhance basic information on business potential and LGU services to prospective investors. These are on establishing a local economic data base, operational manual/ work plans, conduct of advocacy and information dissemination on local government policies on investment, and required permits, implementation of focused investor services, and monitoring of investment leads and outcomes. Participants from the civil society and the business sector, such as the Iloilo Business Club, the Youth First Initiative/Produkto Lokal, and representatives from the realty and mall, actively provided inputs on strengthening collaboration and coordination with other investment promotion organizations – i.e., Negosyo Center, one-stop shops (OSS), BPLO, Economic Planning Office, Academe and Local Chamber/ Business Club) as well as the Local Investments and Incentives Board – in the implementation of the board’s programs and incentives. They also discussed how to enable greater private sector participation and input in the design and implementation of investment promotion programs. Representatives from the academe joined the other participants in providing inputs and guidance to the Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office

City government personnel from CDI partner cities detail the challenges they encounter in developing adaptation proposals during the USAID/SURGE workshop.

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(LEIPO), Investment Promotion Center (IPC), and OSS on the enhancement of the CDP economic sector component. Subcomponent 1.2: Improving local climate-resilient infrastructure planning, financing, and implementation Activity: Utilization of geographical information system (GIS) in low-emission climate adaptation programming in CDI cities The GIS Orientation and Workshop was held from June 4-9 in response to the initial GIS Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) which the SURGE Project accomplished in CDI partner cities in 2016. The development of the Strategic Guide for GIS Implementation was the output of that activity. The Strategic Guide stated the identification of city stakeholders of the need to establish a technical capacity-development program that would enhance the technical knowledge of staff in GIS to promote its use in performing departmental day-to-day functions. The activity, participated in by the city staff from CDI partner cities, was designed to serve as the technical foundation in supporting CDI partner cities in their geospatial database build-up, mapping and visualization production and geospatial systems development through a series of mentoring sessions and capacity building activities. The SURGE Project will continue to support CDI partner cities through coaching and mentoring sessions on GIS. Prior to the mentoring sessions, staff from CDI partner cities were introduced to basic GIS knowledge through a series of lectures, discussion forums, and hands-on exercises that guide the participants to understand GIS concepts and functional applications. The sessions equipped CDI partner cities with technical knowledge that would support them in land use planning, climate change adaption and disaster risk reduction and management, land administration and management, infrastructure planning and implementation, and fiscal management.

Interconnecting city offices through geospatial data

“The USAID workshop showed us that the basic functions of key city offices and departments can become more efficient because of the generation, management, and utilization of spatial data,” says Marianne Ordonia, Licensing Officer of the Business Permits and Licensing Office in Iloilo City.

The Geographical Information System (GIS) workshop, organized by USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project on June 4 to 9, 2017 in Iloilo City, included lectures, plenary and hands-on exercises on the concepts, techniques and functional applications of GIS and information management systems.

Ordonia and more than 60 other city officials from USAID’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI) partner cities of Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga gained knowledge on the usefulness of GIS in climate-resilient land-use and infrastructure planning, sustainable land governance, and sound fiscal management.

“GIS can make our field inspections easier because we can electronically tag, locate, and find directions to the establishments we need to check. This makes us more efficient in terms of time and effort. This is certainly the way to go as we face a future fraught with climate impacts,” says Ordonia. Most of the participants said that their usual practice to collect data involved going to other offices with a flash drive in hand. This was time consuming and made their files vulnerable to computer viruses.

“This is a great opportunity to link all our offices and departments electronically. We are happy to know that GIS offers a more efficient way of data collection, generation, sharing, storage, and custodianship,” explains Aizar Muhallus, Project Evaluation Officer at the City Planning and Development Office in Zamboanga City.

The city officials also created story maps detailing hazards and potential risks in selected areas in their cities, and action plans that will address these hazards and risks. “I was fascinated by the exercises that demonstrated a way to create maps with local data through GIS. This helps us gain a firm grasp on the realities on the ground,” says Puerto Princesa City’s Forest Ranger Gerald Opiala.

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To further enhance the capacity and competencies of the TWGs, the sessions aimed at: (1) bridging scientific knowledge and practice; (2) providing support tools and techniques that help inform institutional decisions; (3) creating a venue for open discussions of best practices and challenges among CDI cities; (4) encouraging collaboration within the city’s departments and offices; and (5) applying the concepts learned with a view of expanding city resilience. Subcomponent 1.3: Increasing access to sustainable water supply and sanitation services

Project Activity: Improve the capacity of Water Districts/ Water Service Providers/ Water Utilities for sustainable water and sanitation services in CDI cities

The SURGE Project facilitated a Water Operators Partnership/ Twinning Arrangement between Tagbilaran City and Maynilad, a private water and wastewater services provider for 17 cities and municipalities that comprise the West Zone of the greater Metro Manila area in the Philippines. Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Lim Yap II requested the project to assist in assessing the city’s existing water supply system, which shall serve as basis of decisions and investments. With technical guidance from the project, the city embarked on upgrading and rehabilitating the LGU-run Tagbilaran City Waterworks System (TCWS) so that it will improve its current 8-18/7 service hours, expand its services to cover population not connected to Level III system, while improving its financial and operational performance. The LGU then created a Technical Working Group (TWG) with three sub-teams: Ring fencing, Water Supply, and Septage Management Teams. It allocated not only budgets for operations and maintenance but also investments for the improvement/rehabilitation of the TCWS. MAYNILAD, through its Maynilad Water Academy, facilitated collaborative partnerships with local water districts and governments to enable the transfer of best practices, expertise and technology in water supply operations, non-revenue water management through joint assessments, coaching and mentoring, peer-to-peer exchanges, and on-the-job trainings as a means to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local water districts and government-run water utilities. Under the twinning arrangement conducted in April 24-28, 2017, Maynilad and Tagbilaran City jointly prepared a work plan, which they agreed to support and implement over a period of one year. In the implementation of the joint work plan, Maynilad will provide in-kind support through its technical services and administration of selected events, while Tagbilaran City will be responsible on the required capital investments in the improvement/ upgrading of the system and in-kind support for workshop venues, local transport and administration including transportation and accommodation of experts to and from the city.

Tag n y n Ge ll p and Ma d r y e ire a Ga a ign MOU d

by D ines e n

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The activity aimed to transfer best practices, expertise and technology and promotes scale-up and replication of knowledge transfer under a twinning arrangement. Specifically, the activity is expected to:

• Enhance the capacities of LGU water supply engineers and technical staff directly involved in the operation of the TCWS and decision makers on various operations good practices that can be adopted by TCWS;

• Provide awareness and understanding of the issues and concerns affecting the operation of the TCWS as a result of an assessment that will be conducted covering a pilot network of the system;

• Level off and discuss the recommendations of the joint assessment as basis of strategic decisions and actions; to identify the capacity needs of TCWS and other staff involve in the operation of the TCWS; and

• Agree on activities that Maynilad and Tagbilaran City will jointly implement and support to address the assessment findings and capacity gaps of the TCWS and other involved LGU staff.

The twinning methodology included lectures/ technical inputs, field assessment, feedback and sharing of assessment findings and recommendations, and joint planning workshop. At the end of the twinning program, Tagbilaran City and Maynilad entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Mayor Yap and Maynilad Water Academy Executive Director Rodora N. Gamboa. Project Activity: Improve access to sanitation through technical assistance on septage management for CDI cities

To proceed with data-driven decision-making and action planning, the project assisted Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City as they embarked on data-gathering on household water and sanitation systems and practices. The results would provide information/data that are necessary in the identification of sustainable sanitation strategies, formulation of sanitation improvement programs and policies such as septage management that contributes to improving the health and quality of life of city residents. The data/information are inputs in the preparation of a pre-feasibility study specifically in determining the following: (1) capacity of the proposed septage treatment facility; (2) capacity and number of vacuum trucks for the collection and transport of septage; and (3) as basis in the formulation and enforcement of ordinance, development and implementation of education and monitoring support programs. The activity, conducted on May 22-30 in Tagbilaran City, was participated in by 30 enumerators and plumbers and six encoders. On the other hand, the same activity was held in Puerto Princesa City on May 25 to June 2, with 44 enumerators and plumbers and ten encoders. The activity was not only limited to data-gathering but included data encoding and establishment of a database for septage management information. All of these provided inputs for the analysis and report on the cities’ household water and sanitation systems and practices. Previous to this, the SURGE Project organized the Water and Sanitation Data Gathering Training wherein Puerto Princesa City and its major water service provider, the Puerto Princesa City Water District, selected 44 enumerators, ten encoders and six plumbers/ technical inspectors as participants to the training. This activity provided an orientation and training on the data-collection process. It included a discussion of the items on the data gathering tool, familiarization with the data gathering and encoding forms and instructions in the actual data gathering. The training also included supervised actual data gathering through field practicum.

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Table 2. Component 1 Summary of Plans and Accomplishments for April-June 2017

Activity Plans for Quarter 3 from Quarter 2 Progress Report

Accomplishments

Activity 2-1.1.01 Improve science-based decision-making, policy and planning on land use, infrastructure, water and sanitation services in climate-sensitive and disaster-risk areas

Generate downscaled projection of climate parameters for Legaspi City and General Santos City;

Established linkage with national agencies such as PAGASA, Phil LIDAR and NAMRIA to access relevant information needed by the CDI cities

Draft and finalize the climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (CCA-DRR) manual

Held a meeting with HLURB regarding the development of a of CDRA manual that will supplement existing manuals

Activity 2-1.1.02: Develop and implement local climate change adaptation and mitigation projects

Facilitate a workshop on project preparation for accessing the People’s Survival Fund (PSF);

Conducted the Workshop on Project Preparation and Finance in collaboration with USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific to help cities develop project proposals for accessing the People's Survival Fund

Facilitate GHG management planning workshops in Zamboanga City; Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City;

Conducted the GHG Management Planning Workshop in Zamboanga at the entity level

Activity 2-1.1.03: Conduct capacity-building of stakeholders in mainstreaming socially inclusive and gender-responsive DRR-CCA to local development planning including water and sanitation services

Conduct disaster preparedness simulation exercise using participatory three dimensional mapping

Conduct CLUP updating workshops in the cities of Iloilo, Batangas and Tagbilaran

Assisted in preparing the TOR for hiring a consulting firm for revising Batangas’ CLUP/CDP Reviewed the CLUP/ Zoning Ordinance of Tagbilaran City and provided inputs for compliance to requirements set by oversight agencies

Activity 2-1.1.04: Set up Urban Development Learning Centers (UDLC)

Initiate urban development programs in Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City

Held a meeting with the College of Management Dean of UP Visayas regarding the objectives of urban development program in relation to the conduct of GIS Training for CDI cities in Iloilo Also attended a meeting with USTSP in Cagayan de Oro on their current urban development needs and urban development related programs and certifications; discussed about developing a work program; agreement on collaborative work

Activity 2-1.1.05: Establish baseline measurements for competitive and resilient urban development through the Urban Development Index (UDI)

Activity 2-1.2.01: Utilization of geographical information system (GIS) in low-emission climate adaptation programming in CDI cities

Conduct basic GIS training and procurement of base maps for all CDI cities

Conducted the Basic GIS Workshop for the eight cities

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Accomplishments

Activity 2-1.2.02: Climate-resilient land-use and infrastructure planning in CDI cities’ identified priority areas

Activity 2-1.3.01: Improvement of water services through climate resilient local planning

Activity 2-1.3.02: Improve the capacity of Water Districts/Water Service Providers/Water Utilities for sustainable water and sanitation services in CDI cities

Conduct water supply operations, NRW and use of EPANET training for Tagbilaran City and Batangas City LGU

Assisted in the conduct of the household water and sanitation data gathering training and actual data collection and encoding for both Tagbilaran City and Puerto Princesa City

Conduct household water and sanitation data gathering and collection, and report writing for General Santos City

Continue facilitation of water operators' partnership between water services providers and CDI cities (Batangas, Tagbilaran, and Puerto Princesa)

Facilitated water operators' partnership/twinning activity between Maynilad and Tagbilaran City Government for the improvement of its water and sanitation services

Conduct water safety workshop and plan formulation for Batangas City RWSAs

Activity 2-1.3.03: Improve access to sanitation through technical assistance on septage management for CDI cities

Prepare/update FS, POW, and TOR for the proposed septage treatment facility of Puerto Princesa City Water District and Tagbilaran City

Continuous coaching and mentoring of Water Districts and Water Service Providers in the cities of Tagbilaran, Batangas, and Puerto Princesa as part of strengthening newly created technical working groups dedicated to water and sanitation activities.

Prepare IEE for Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran septage management facility

Planned Activities for Next Quarter (July – September 2017)

• Conduct review of CLUP and IZO of General Santos City and Iloilo City;

• Conduct Environmental Code workshop in General Santos City and EMP workshop in Puerto Princesa City;

• Conduct meetings with UP Visayas regarding the establishment of the UDLC in Iloilo City;

• Development of a web-based GIS system in Zamboanga City;

• Facilitate the preparation/ updating of the feasibility study, program of work and TOR for the proposed septage management facility in Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City;

• Facilitate twinning arrangements between CDI cities (Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Batangas) and water service providers (Baliwag Water District and Maynilad);

• Conduct water supply operations, NRW, and use of EPANET training for Tagbilaran City and Batangas City;

• Conduct water safety workshop and plan formulation for Batangas City;

• Conduct water and sanitation data gathering collection and report writing in General Santos City; and Conduct preparation of IEE for Tagbilaran City and Puerto Princesa City Water District septage treatment facilities.

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Component 2: Promote Low-Emission Local Economic Development Strategies

Unlocking the potential of land in Cagayan de Oro City

and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Director for Northern Mindanao Edwin Andot signed a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) on May 12, 2017, which will pave way for land administration and management reforms in the city. The partnership enables the exchange of records and data including maps and survey records, joint conduct of land-titling activities, and learning opportunities for city government officials to perform duties related to land administration and management processes. Considered the growth hub of Northern Mindanao, the city is poised to be the metropolitan center for nearby provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. Currently, the city is already facing urban land constraints with 90 percent of its population occupying only 20 percent of its 57,850-hectare land .

area. It has to unlock its agricultural lands if more lands are required for horizontal expansion of residential and commercial areas. USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project is assisting the city government and the DENR achieve its goal of establishing a land titling program as part of its work in improving land tenure security in the city. The project facilitated the partnership, and the creation of an inter-agency council to lead land administration and management initiatives in the city. The Land Management Council, comprised of representatives from the Cagayan de Oro City Government, DENR, Department of Agrarian Reform, Land Registration Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry will

agayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and Department of Environment C

“The training for the Systematic Adjudication Team helped us gain a deeper understanding of the land registration process.”

-

-

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provide the unified policy direction and support to the land titling program in the city. The council is committed to streamline land titling procedures that will provide patents for at least 140,000 untitled parcels in Cagayan de Oro City. Furthermore, the city appointed a Systematic Adjudication Team (SAT) to help the DENR address problems on untitled lands. Based on the SURGE Project assessment studies conducted in 2016, 30 percent of Cagayan de Oro’s land parcels remain untitled. “The training for the SAT helped us gain a deeper understanding of the land registration process. We learned a lot about the processes on investigation, inspection and verification of titles, which are important to effectively undertake the job,” explains Lulu Lumagsao, officer of the City Housing and Urban Development and a member of the SAT. The SURGE Project is working with national government agencies, local government units, and other partners to unlock the potential of land to stimulate investments and inclusive growth by helping establish a well-functioning land market.

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Component 2

Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results Activities conducted in Component 2 for the quarter continued to focus on: (1) improving land tenure security and land information management; (2) streamlining and automating business, building and occupancy permits and licensing system, (3) strengthening local business development, facilitating investment and support services to foster low emission growth and, (4) improving local revenue generation and expenditure management. Subcomponent 2.1 Improve local revenue generation and expenditure management Project Activity: Implement Asset Management activities in CDI cities The SURGE Project assisted Cagayan de Oro City and Puerto Princesa City in managing assets to improve their local finances, service delivery and facilitates local economic development. The Land and Asset Management Office (LAMO) was set up in Cagayan de Oro City as part of the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement or MOPA (Annex 2). Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and DENR Region 10 Executive Director Edwin Andot signed a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) on May 12, 2017 to support these land administration reforms initiatives and optimize the use of local assets particularly on increasing the effective use of real property, owned or operated by the city government (Annex 3). In May 2017, a meeting with the City General Services (CGS) and the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) of Puerto Princesa City was held where the SURGE Project presented and shared its recently updated and revised Manual on Asset Management. The project, through the City Program Coordinator, also shared information on how to address concerns on asset management by providing efficient and effective property and supply management as part of improving the city’s resource mobilization. Subcomponent 2.2 Streamlining and automating local business permits and licensing system (BPLS), including inspection systems, and building and occupancy permits Project Activity: Streamline and automate the BPLS in selected CDI cities Various capacity development activities were implemented during the project’s initial year. It started with a baseline assessment, benchmarking/study tours, streamlining workshops, and teaching frontline service personnel about customer relations. Project activities focused on four areas of BPLS reforms to address the complex process of doing business and increase investments in partner cities. These reforms are on: (1) compliance with the service standards set in the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2016 set by the national government; (2) enhancing the existing Business One-Stop Shops (BOSS) which local governments usually organize during the renewal period

“USAID/SURGE helped us establish a coordinated post-registration joint inspection team. Close monitoring of businesses makes the city more competitive and at the same time ensure businesses are safe, sanitary and compliant. Indeed, USAID/ SURGE has transformed our city.”

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in January every year; (3) computerization and automation of the BPLS; and (4) setting-up a business-friendly inspection system. During the quarter, the integrated report on the BPLS reforms in the cities of Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga was completed. The report, which was submitted to USAID on June 30, aims to describe and assess the current process of applying for business permits for new and existing businesses, its attendant inspection process and the operations of the BOSS. The SURGE Project’s interventions proved to be significant. Findings of the study showed that processes in all three cities improved from 2016 when all did not even meet the 5-step national standards of the DILG-DTI JMC s. of 2010. The three cities reduced so many steps from last year’s (baseline) processes to the new standards required in the revised guidelines of the JMC 1. series of 2016. In summary, the three cities were able to: (1) lessen their steps from 2 to 3; (2) adopt a much simplified application form; (3) introduce e-signatures; and (4) reduce documentary requirements. Compared to the 2016 standard time, processing time during the renewal period in January this year was significantly shorter than last year’s.1 New business processes took a minimum of 5 days for Puerto Princesa City, 6 days for Tagbilaran City and 3 days2 in Zamboanga City. Last year’s renewal process also took longer with more than 11 days in Puerto Princesa, 6 days in Tagbilaran and at least 1 day3 in Zamboanga City. The same key streamlining solutions that reduced the number of steps consequently reduced the processing time in the three cities. These were moving inspections and its related tasks (like claiming the resulting permit) to post-permit steps, removing the steps for NGA clearances, eliminating and merging a few steps. Among the second batch of CDI partner cities, Zamboanga City registered the best performance in terms of significant improvement in most of the process indicators for both new and renewal of business registration. All three cities, however, were able to achieve significant improvements in almost all of its BPLS process indicator targets. Table 3 shows the three standard steps of the JMC 2016 national standards and the corresponding steps in the new business and renewal permitting processes of the three cities. The new business and renewal permitting processes of the cities of Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran met the standards in number of steps with three each. There was no sample tracked for Zamboanga City, however, for the renewal process. Zamboanga City surpassed the JMC standard by implementing a two-step process.

1 It should be noted that the required sample in the 2016 assessment was larger. 2 This is an understated figure. 3 Zamboanga’s indicator of 1 day and 4 hours is an understated number. The inspections were part of the business permit process but were not tracked and thus, not recorded.

“I am proud that another CDI city visited us to learn how we streamlined business registrations through USAID/SURGE assistance. I am happy to share what we have done and eager to learn from other cities.”

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Table 3. Comparison between the JMC 2016 Standard Steps and the Cities' Steps (New Business and Renewal Processes)

JMC 2016 Standard Steps (3)

Puerto Princesa City (3)

Tagbilaran City (3)

Zamboanga City (2)-Renewal

1 - Application Filing and Verification

1- File and Assess 1 - Submit Application Verification and Assessment

1 - Verification And Application

2 - One-time Assessment of Taxes, Fees and Charges

2 – Pay 2 – Payment 2 - Payment And Claim

3 - Pay and Claim - One-time Payment of Taxes, Fees and Charges

3 – Claim Approved Business Permit

3 - Claim Mayor’s Permit

*Issuance of Local Clearances/Permits

*None. Local clearances are processed and issued post-permit.

Local clearances are processed and issued with TOP.

Source: Integrated Report on Reforms in BPLS in the cities of Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran & Zamboanga

During the renewal period, the three cities used a single common site to receive and process applications for business registration. New business applicants also registered at this time. The BOSS made these processes convenient by centralizing the offices involved. This shortened the length of time applicants spent renewing or applying for their permits. Only Puerto Princesa City, however, has the BOSS for new business applicants in the same venue. The BFP is still within the BOSS, albeit not co-located in the assessment and payment tasks. As a permanent BOSS structure in Zamboanga is underway, new business applicants go through offices to process their applications. New business applicants, on the other hand, still use the Unified Form. The Tagbilaran City BPLO head said that there are no plans to establish a permanent BOSS. While Executive Order 22, signed by the city mayor authorized year-round BOSS services, the BFP is not co-located anymore; hence, this diminished the degree of centralization needed. None of the local BFP offices opted to designate the assessment and collection of payments. Puerto Princesa City’s executive order carried both options but negotiations broke down as the BFP Regional Office did not agree. It is likely that the same thing happened in the two other cities. Based on the study’s findings, it is apparent that the three cities have acted on many of the recommendations made in the previous assessment conducted from January to March 2016. The cities have also adopted the innovations they observed in the study tours. They also improved upon it with their own ideas. While operational streamlining has been achieved to some extent vis-à-vis the national standards, it can be improved further. The cities could look into the following areas for further reforms: 1) total time spent by business registrants; 2) pre- and post-permit steps for compliance with city offices’ regulations and NGA permits and clearances. In order for the cities to aggressively attract local and foreign investments into their jurisdictions, the study recommends to further pursue operational streamlining, begin regulatory simplification, and continue to pursue effective investment promotion. Project Activity: Streamline construction-related permits During the reporting period, the project started preparing for the four-day Streamlining Training-Workshop on Business Permitting and Licensing Systems in response to the request of the City Governments of General Santos and Legaspi. The activity aims to help the two cities improve

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their business permitting processes through process re-engineering, automation, and setting up of a BOSS. BPLS expert trainers from the Central Philippine University (CPU) to conduct self-assessment and training workshops for the new CDI cities were also mobilized. Preparatory activities have started in partnership with the city governments of General Santos and Legaspi. The two new CDI cities committed to provide counterpart funding for the venue and meals for the participants. The activities will be conducted in General Santos City in July 2017 and in the

Legaspi City in August 2017. Moreover, technical assistance in streamlining the building and occupancy permitting systems were provided in Batangas City. Specifically, the SURGE Project assisted Batangas City by providing expert advice in reviewing the draft executive order (EO) on construction permitting systems that will serve as an amendment to EO No. 16 series of 2014, otherwise known as the Creation of Batangas City’s Building Permit and Occupancy Permit One-Stop-Shop (BPOSS). The draft EO on BPOSS is one of the major outputs of a series of technical working group meetings and workshops which the project assisted and facilitated through its CPC. The project helped the city in drafting action plans that will further simplify its steps, processing time and requirements to comply with the following: National Building Code of the Philippines, Fire Code of the Philippines, Sanitary Code of the Philippines, Batangas City Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Batangas City Zoning Ordinance, and Environment Code of Batangas City. The project also assisted Batangas City’s advocacy to adopt the recently approved National Green Building Code (NGBC 2016) as part of streamlining BPOSS. The SURGE Project provided an analysis of documents from other model cities with best practices, particularly Quezon City’s Green Building Code and Ordinance. The NGBC requires the design, construction or retrofitting of buildings, among other structures, to meet the minimum standards of green infrastructure. A review of how the incentives such as tax credit will be calibrated was also done. This includes guidelines for implementation, credit components and restrictions which will be calculated given Batangas City’s existing environmental code of 2011. Subcomponent 2.3: Improve local land tenure security and land information management Project Activity: Develop a land tenure improvement strategy Inspired by the successful USAID/SURGE Project’s Conference on Sustainable Land Governance that was held in Manila in February 2017, the Provincial Government of Palawan and the City Government of General Santos expressed their plan to conduct localized Land Tenure Conferences this year. The continued assistance of the SURGE Project in CDI cities of Puerto Princesa and in General Santos on land administration and management also paved the way for local officials and the local government units to address the challenges in land governance, sharing of good practices and new sustainable approaches to urban land administration.

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The Provincial Government of Palawan asked for the assistance of the SURGE Project for the Land Tenure Conference, considering the project’s expertise in advancing urban land administration and reform. The City Government of General Santos, on the other hand, has coordinated with the SURGE Project City Program Coordinator for the city-level land tenure conference which will gather local experts, key government officials, academe and the business sector through General Santos City’s Chamber of Commerce. Collaborated with Antipolo City in improving land

tenure security

The SURGE Project, together with LGI, met with Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares, to identify priorities to improve land tenure security. The discussion focused on land administration and management activities in Antipolo City. Mayor Ynares shared the developments in Antipolo on land administration and government reforms. He emphasized the need to do a re-inventory of government special patents. The mayor looks forward to working with the SURGE Project and LGI in the areas of adjudication, alternative dispute resolution, and asset management. The project and the LGI are closely working with Antipolo City local government through their constant coordination and visits to the city. The project has established relations with various offices of the LGU such as Planning and Development, Assessor, Treasurer, and General Services. Aside from this, it is also working with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). Technical assistance will be provided to these agencies in identifying challenges in the city’s land administration and management. The project has assisted the city in identifying and addressing the main priorities of land security, and it also advised the city to create a land property map to make it easier to prioritize LGU-owned lands.

Promoting land information sharing in Antipolo City

“Antipolo City looks forward to working with the USAID/SURGE Project. We know that USAID can be of great help to us,” says Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III. USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project is working with the Antipolo City Government in identifying priorities to improve land tenure security in the city. While about 85 percent of the city’s land parcels are already titled, the city government is on its second phase of implementing a unified land information system that will link its land administration and management related data with other nearby city government offices. Antipolo City tackles challenges on overlapping land management and administration policies, high incidence of fake double titles or rights recognition, and outdated land information. Land conflict is also common in the city, such as unsettled political boundaries with neighboring municipalities involving more than 8,000 hectares, contested boundaries, illegal consolidation and illegal occupation of forestland, watershed, national parks and mineral lands. Mayor Ynares emphasized the need to do a re-inventory on the special patents that Antipolo secured for previously untitled government lands. The SURGE Project recognizes adjudication as another solution to enhancing the recognition of land rights as it could solve land disputes at the community level. The project and Mayor Ynares agreed to prioritize assistance in adjudication, alternative dispute resolution, and asset management. This led to a series of activities wherein the SURGE Project has initiated collaboration with the City Planning and Development Office, the City Assessor’s Office and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Taytay, Rizal. The project, together with the city government and PENRO, will identify untitled properties and land parcels that need alternative dispute resolution. The SURGE Project is establishing linkages with partner city governments and national land agencies to improve land administration and management. To facilitate the development of a functioning land market to stimulate growth, the project is enhancing local capacities on dispute resolution and promoting land information sharing to streamline the resolution of land issues.

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Conducted follow-up activities on land tenure in Cagayan de Oro City

The project visited Cagayan de Oro City in April 2017 to conduct follow-up activities in land tenure. This is in line with the objective to develop property rights recognition and implement action plans on land tenure in the city. Several officials from the city government, Assessor’s Office, Estate Management Division, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) discussed on ways to address the challenges and concretize plans to improve land administration in the city. In April, the project and the LGI visited Barangay Tumpagon in Cagayan de Oro City to:

• Reconfirm linkage and continue work with Barangay Tumpagon officials on the residential land titling program covering an estimated 200 untitled parcels;

• Conduct an ocular inspection and house to house visits on 48 lot claimants in Purok 5 for ground validation and field investigation prior to submission of subdivision survey plan prepared by CENRO personnel for approval by the Regional DENR Survey Office;

• Assess the status on additional lots (2,3 and 4) with an estimated 100 parcels for titling. The additional lots will be processed with the assistance of the systematic adjudication team (SAT); and

• Help CENRO Public Land Inspectors (PLI) review and complete the relevant information and requirements of the 48 parcels for submission and approval of the survey plan.

The linkage of the Land Team (DENR, CDO LGU and SURGE-LGI) to Barangay LGU of Barangay Tumpagon is critical to meet the objectives of securing the property rights of around 200 lot claimants in the barangay. It was important to mobilize the residents to facilitate and fast track the land titling process. Ground validation and field investigation were facilitated in residential titling by CENRO’s PLI to validate various issues: whether the lot claimant is actually the one living in the house; boundary conflicts among adjoining parcels; to check information with the neighbors of the claimant; to collect and obtain personal information; and to enable the lot claimant to present a valid ID and fill out an application form. The Land Team also completed the verification and submitted the survey plan for approval to the Survey Office. Through LGI, the project, together with the DENR, conducted skills training for the

“The USAID/SURGE training for the systematic adjudication team helped in updating, validating, and clarifying our questions, especially in the registration proceedings. It provided a lot of learnings in the investigation, inspection, and verification on the processing of titles.”

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members of the newly established systematic adjudication team (SAT). The SAT is composed of 15 city government officials. The training focused on knowledge and skills so that the team will be able to secure the land rights of communities in CDO. Through this, the SAT can assist the DENR on determining and processing rights and claims to untitled lands. The training equipped the SAT on the system and procedures involved in the adjudication of public lands, mass applications, and completion of titling requirements. Aside from technical assistance on untitled resettlement areas, SAT will also assist in coordinating with informal settlers and victims of natural disasters. Project Activity: Issue special patents for government units

Facilitated creation of an inter-agency council in Cagayan de Oro City

An inter-agency council was created in May to lead land administration and management reforms in Cagayan de Oro City. The project facilitated the activity wherein representatives from several local government agencies such as the CDO city government, DENR and Agrarian Reform, Land Registration Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and Chamber of Commerce and Industries worked together to establish the Land Management Council. This aims to strengthen policy direction and support to the land titling program, and to address at least 140,000 untitled parcels in the city. The MOPA between Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Moreno and DENR Region 10 shall give authority to government officials to exchange records and data such as maps and survey records. This will also create training programs to improve land administration skills and knowledge among government officials. A SAT was also established along with the LAMO. Both teams will be heavily involved in securing property rights and facilitating land titling services in Cagayan de Oro City. Project Activity: Technical Support to Reform Initiatives of the Sustainable Urban Land Coalition The Sustainable Land Governance Coalition consisting of key stakeholders met in May to discuss the coalition’s support for the issuance of an executive order to pass the National Land Use Plan. Through this, there will be a national framework to manage and allocate land use. The coalition also strategized on how it could further advocate land tenure security and address the challenges in implementation. The coalition was formed following the successful Conference on Sustainable Land Governance in February to advocate and push for policy and institutional reforms. The coalition also conducted a roundtable discussion with Jonas George Soriano, Deputy Executive Director for the Performance and Projects Management Office of the Cabinet Secretary of the Philippine Government, to focus on the prioritization of land administration and governance reforms. The group discussed interventions and solutions to address the challenges of the country’s land sector.

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The members agreed to prioritize coalition advocacy work in the areas of nationwide titling, inter-agency sharing of land information, and partnership with land administration and management champions through an executive order.

Subcomponent 2.4: Strengthening local business development, facilitating investment, and support services that foster low-emission growth

Project Activity: Strengthen Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office (LEIPO), investment promotion centers (IPC), and business support organizations (BSOs) Prepared Investment Promotion Workshop in Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran City Preparatory work has started for the Investment Planning and Promotion Workshop through the submission of a draft training design and close coordination with the city governments of Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran. Both cities committed to provide counterpart funding for the two-day activity. The activity aims to strengthen the cities’ Local Economic Investment Promotions Office (LEIPO) and other key players such as the Negosyo Center, private sector (chambers, business councils, etc.) on the following priorities:

• Standardization of LEIPO operational mandate and business plan (operations plan);

• Development of resource and process management program (i.e. information and knowledge management, quality processes, international communications);

• Development of enterprise and investor support services and delivery portfolio;

• Development of program for measurement and results (i.e. investor tracking, client satisfaction, data mining, sectoral profiling, reporting) and business retention and attraction strategy; and

• Formulation of an investment promotional plan of action.

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Table 4. Component 2 Summary of Plans and Accomplishments for April - June 2017


Accomplishments

Subcomponent 2.1 Improve local revenue generation and expenditure systems, skills, and practices of CDI cities as measured by locally generated revenues

Activity 2-2.1.01 Develop and implement a Tax Compliance Study

Deferred

Activity 2-2.1.02 Establish a Unified Land Information System (ULIS) and a Digital Cadastral Database (DCDB)

Moved to Sub- component 2.3

Activity 1: Implement Asset (Real Property) Management in CDI cities

Hire STTA for real property asset management and conduct of orientation for city officials of General Santos, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro

Did asset management activities in CDO and Puerto Princesa Some steps deferred to Year 3

Activity 2-2.1.03 Implement Public Finance Management (PFM) reforms in CDI cities to support economic growth

Deferred

Activity 2-2.1.04 Explore alternative financing sources for LGUs

Deferred

Subcomponent 2.2 Streamlining and automating local business permits and licensing system (BPLS), including inspection systems, and building and occupancy permits

Activity 2-2.2.01 Streamline and automate the Business Permits and Licensing Systems in selected CDI cities

Complete assessment report on BPLS streamlining in Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga cities

Completed integrated findings and recommendations on BPLS for Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga Prepared for streamlining workshop and training in the cities of Legaspi and General Santos

Activity 2-2.2.02 Streamline construction-related permits in Batangas City

Design Building and Occupancy Permit Streamlining for Batangas City; Hire STTA for automation of BPLS and BPOS

Provided Technical Assistance in Streamlining the Building and Occupancy Permitting Systems in Batangas City

Subcomponent 2.3 Improve local land tenure security and land information management

Activity 2-2.3.01 Develop a land tenure improvement strategy and Implement a land adjudication process.

Facilitate Training for Systematic Adjudication Team (SAT) in Cagayan de Oro on massive titling in Barangay Tumpagon and Macanhan. After the training, the SAT will be deputized by the DENR to assist land title applicants in documentation work and submission of application for titling to the Provincial Environment Office Facilitate Training on Alternative Dispute Resolution in Cagayan de Oro City. The SAT and the members of the Katarungan Pambarangay will be given training on ADR to enable them to handle land disputes effectively. This will be done back to back with the training on massive titling; Conduct benchmarking on exemplary land management practices in Cordova,

Met with Antipolo Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares and key members of the Antipolo LGU Conducted follow-up activities on land tenure in Cagayan de Oro Conducted SAT Training in CDO

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Accomplishments

Cebu and Bayawan, Negros, Oriental. Study visits to these two LGUs will be organized by the program for the land team of Cagayan de Oro, Antipolo and General Santos City. The two cities successfully implemented a massive titling program where Cordova attained 100% titling of residential lots and Bayawan increased its real property tax collection as a result of titling and updating of its schedule of market values (SMV)

Meet with Mayor of Antipolo City to

agree on land management

activities for the city

Conduct Rapid Assessment and stakeholders’ forum for Legaspi City; and

Conduct inventory and titling of government-owned land in Cagayan de Oro City.

Activity 2-2.3.02 Issue special patents on government lands.

Facilitated creation of an inter-agency council in Cagayan de Oro City

Activity 2-2.3.03: Implement a land title adjudication process

Merged with Activity 1

Activity 2-2.1.02 Establish a Unified Land Information System (ULIS) and a Digital Cadastral Database (DCDB)

Moved from Subcomponent 2.1 Deferred

Activity 2-2.3.05 Organize a Land Tenure Conference

Completed

Activity 4: Technical Support to Reform Initiatives of the Sustainable Land Coalition

Discussed the National Land Use Plan with Sustainable Land Governance Coalition members Conducted a roundtable coalition meeting with Assistant Secretary Jonas George Soriano

Subcomponent 2.4 Strengthening local business development, facilitating investment, and support services that foster low-emission growth

Activity 2-2.4.01: Strengthen Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office (LEIPOs), investment promotion centers (IPC), and business support organizations (BSOs)

Hire Investment Promotion STTA

(Ryan Evangelista).

Prepared for Investment Promotion Workshop in Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran City

Activity 2-2.4.02 Prepare an Economic Growth Action Plan for all CDI cities

Deferred

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• Facilitate inter-agency meetings involving agencies in land administration activities to ease

and resolve problems associated with land titling processes.

• Conduct a four-day self-assessment and streamlining-training workshop on BPLS in the cities

of Legaspi and General Santos. These activities will be organized with counterpart funding

from the city governments of both cities. Part of the activity is to formulate an action plan on

BPLS streamlining.

• Support and assist Batangas City in drafting the executive order on the amended BPOSS,

series of 2017, containing the streamlined construction permitting processes that is scheduled

for presentation to the City Mayor’s Office in July 2017.

• Conduct the Investment Planning and Promotion Workshop in Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran City in August 2017 to assist the LEIPO, Investment Promotion Council (IPC) and other concerned groups to determine their cities’ priority investment areas, develop operational plans, investor support services and delivery portfolio, business retention and attraction strategy and investment promotion plans.

• Facilitate a partnership agreement between the Antipolo Local Government and PENRO. The project will provide technical assistance on the following: identify pilot areas for land tenure activities, conduct a workshop with the LGU and DENR for project scope, delineate roles and responsibilities, level of expectations and conduct relationship building, and hold a training on alternative dispute resolution. It will also do continuous research work with PENRO on special patents.

• Identify a project coordinator from the LGU and a SURGE Project coordinator to facilitate project work and activities in Antipolo City.

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Component 3: Expanding Economic Connectivity and Access Between Urban and Rural Areas

“It’s easier for us to access government support that will help us grow and sell more seaweed.”

Component 3: Expanding Economic Connectivity and Access Between Urban and Rural Areas

livelihood for fisherfolk in the Province of Palawan, particularly in the tiny island of Pandan in Puerto Princesa City. Low productivity, lack of postharvest facilities and limited access to markets currently hamper seaweed farmers from reaping the benefits of the seaweed industry in the province. With continuous assistance from USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project and the Puerto Princesa City Agriculture Office (CAO) in linking the local seaweed industry with markets, Rebintinola has been able to revive his primary source of income and sell seaweed produce to local buyers like Tong Ning Aqua Ventures. The SURGE Project and CAO are also collaborating on initiating possible

possible supply arrangements with major processors such as Cargill and W Group. “The SURGE Project has helped the CAO bring together all the players in the seaweed industry of Puerto Princesa City and Palawan by establishing the Seaweed Network. The Seaweed Network will be able to provide information on price, supply trends, culture and management to its members that can bring in the increased volume of seaweeds into the city,” says City Agriculturist Melissa Macasaet. Rebintinola considers the newly-organized Seaweed Network crucial in expanding seaweed farming as a viable livelihood to many coastal communities in Puerto Princesa City. Through the network, local producers' associations and cooperatives, buyers and

or fisherman Angelino Rebintinola, 62, seaweed farming is an important livelihood

F

Reviving Puerto Princesa City’s seaweed industry

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processors can effectively tackle the various challenges confronting the industry such as low productivity, poor quality of raw dried seaweeds, and weak bargaining power with buyers. “Since the Seaweed Network includes supporting government agencies, it’s easier for us to access government support that will help us grow and sell more seaweed. We can connect with government agencies and get assistance for producers in terms of technology and license,” says Rebentinola. He is the network's co-chairperson, representing the private sector, and a member of the Pandan Marine Products Marketing Cooperative, the biggest seaweed farmers’ group in the city. Like Rebintinola, more than 5,000 fisherpersons in the province rely on cultivating red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii because of the increasing demand of this marine resource. Carrageenan from seaweed is used as a binder and stabilizer in several food products such as ice cream, instant chocolate mixes, toothpaste and gel for pharmaceutical use. In 2014, Puerto Princesa City produced more than 190 metric tons of seaweed, adding to the total production of Palawan Province that yielded around 24 percent of the national output.

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Component 3

Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results Component 3 has two overarching objectives: to reduce connectivity costs and to improve economic access between rural and urban areas. Achieving these will support the overall efforts of CDI partner cities to promote investments, generate growth and enhance sustainability. During this quarter, the project prioritized assisting cities in strengthening selected industries, particularly cassava, seaweeds and tourism. Subcomponent 3.2: Reduce connectivity and information costs that inhibit flows of goods and services

Project Activity: Identify priority urban-rural connectivity gaps focusing on infrastructure, transport, communications and logistics in new CDI cities Participants to the consultative workshop with local stakeholders in Legazpi City held in May identified major concerns that slow down movement of goods and people within the city and dampen investment potentials. These are traffic congestion in the city’s main thoroughfares, poor regulation of public transport services and poor telecommunication services. The stakeholders recommended expanding major road networks and establishing parking areas in the central business district to address traffic congestion in the city. Strict enforcement of existing regulations governing public utility vehicles particularly those related to route network and fare rates were also suggested. Stakeholders proposed to conduct a dialogue with existing providers to discuss ways on upgrading facilities and enhancing mobile telecommunication and internet connectivity to improve existing telecommunication services in the city.

Subcomponent 3.3: Strengthen supply chain linkages between urban and rural areas

Project Activity: Marketing and processing of cassava as animal feed ingredients for Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Zamboanga City Through the efforts of the SURGE Project and Zamboanga City’s Office of City Agriculture (OCA), the newly established Association of Cassava Growers, Assemblers and Traders (ACGAT) has been linked with San Miguel Food, Inc. (SMFI) and its designated assemblers. With this market linkage, the Lubigan Farmers Association (a member of ACGAT), delivered in June about three (3) metric tons of cassava chips to SMFI assembler, the Cristobal Trading.

The association, however, has temporarily deferred succeeding deliveries of cassava chips to further improve its quality in terms of moisture and fiber content. The SURGE Project and the SMFI field technicians provided assistance to the association on the improvement of post-harvest and processing

Farmers from Barangay Lubigan, Zamboanga City prepare and consolidate cassava chips produced from their farming sites for delivery to a local assembler in the city.

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practices. The project also helped the association in linking up with another SMFI assembler (Marcial Bendijo) as an alternative buyer of cassava chips, and Mega Plywood as a possible market for lower-quality cassava chips not compliant with SMFI standards. Mega Plywood is using cassava chips as an ingredient for adhesive used in plywood manufacturing. In collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the SURGE Project has also been assisting the Lubigan Farmers Association in upgrading existing drying facilities for cassava chips. This includes possible acquisition of a granulating machine through a grant from the DTI. The project also provided the association with a prototype design for a papag dryer (elevated dryer), which the association constructed in one of its consolidation areas.

Project Activity: Establish a Seaweed Network in Puerto Princesa City The Seaweed Network was established in May through the assistance and collaboration of the SURGE Project and Puerto Princesa’s City Agriculture Office (CAO). The newly-created Seaweed Network brings together the city’s key industry stakeholders such as growers, buyers and processors, academic and research institutions and support agencies under one formal organization. The network is composed of 30 stakeholder groups, including nine seaweed producer associations and three major buyers and traders. It is envisioned to be a private sector-led multi-stakeholder group that will advocate for the development of the local seaweed industry through improved modern production and post-harvest technologies, direct market linkages with buyers and processors and more effective support services from government institutions.

The papag dryer which has a UV plastic roofing and enclosure enables the association to dry cassava chips even during inclement weather. It protects the chips from contaminants such as soil and dust that affect overall product quality.

“Office of the City Agriculturist is glad to be working with USAID/SURGE in strengthening the local cassava industry through building linkages between growers and buyers, marketing and

promoting technology transfer.”

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The founding members of the Seaweed Network elected a set of officers representing key stakeholder groups such as growers, buyers and processors, and support agencies. Among the network’s priorities are holding a strategic planning session, conducting a province-wide Seaweed Forum in August and forging an institutional partnership with the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Organizational Structure of the Palawan Seaweed Network

The project also shared updates with the Provincial Government of Palawan on its seaweed-related activities, and discussed plans to expand the Seaweed Network to include growers and other stakeholders in the province. The Provincial Government committed to support these initiatives including the holding of a province-wide seaweed forum. The project also worked with the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (AmCham) to establish initial contacts with major seaweed and carrageenan processors and exporters such as Cargill and W. Group for possible supply linkages with Palawan seaweed producers. Project Activity: Facilitate business planning for Fish/Aqua Processing Center in Iloilo City The city government has identified fish and aquaculture processing at the Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC) as a key strategy to promote value-added food processing activities in the city. Based on discussions with the City Agriculture Office and the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), the SURGE Project helped in identifying private companies interested in undertaking fish or aquaculture processing operations or sourcing raw materials for further processing in the city. Two companies were identified -- Alsons Aquaculture and Fisherfarms.

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Alsons is interested to source out milkfish from growers in the city to support raw materials for its processing plant in Roxas City. The company, however, intends to make Iloilo City its distribution and transshipment hub for its milkfish products in the entire Visayas region. The project will assist Alsons in establishing supply linkages with local milkfish growers and traders operating at the IFPC. Fisherfarms has made initial arrangements with PFDA to set up a fish and aquaculture processing plant at the IFPC. Based on meetings with Fisherfarms, the project will help the company in formulating a business strategy for its planned processing operations in Iloilo including facilitation of supply arrangements with prospective fish suppliers in the city and neighboring areas. The SURGE Project is planning a market-matching forum during the first week of July to enable the two companies to present their various raw material requirements to local milkfish producers and discuss mutually beneficial supply arrangements. Project Activity: Organize a Heritage Symposium and develop Tourism Strategy and Action Plans for Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City Tourism strategic action planning activities have been on going in Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City since April. During these activities, the SURGE Project provided gender-mainstreaming inputs to the action plans of both local government units through the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines for Tourism. In Tagbilaran City, the project organized a workshop to gather key tourism private sector stakeholders’ inputs into the strategic action plan. Private sector groups identified heritage tourism and creative arts development as key pillars for Tagbilaran City’s long-term tourism development, validating the heritage tourism work initially done by USAID through the COMPETE Project.

Rediscovering tourism potentials in Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City

“Partnering with the City Government of Puerto Princesa helps the tourism industry as it has the mechanism and budget to promote potential tourism destinations,” says Mylene Victoria, owner of an accommodation establishment in the city. She added that the government could encourage locals to beef up a broad spectrum of goods and services for local and foreign travelers. Like Victoria, Mayette Gasatan of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce said the opportunity for locals is tremendous with a sustainable tourism industry. “The direction of Tagbilaran City on heritage tourism and creative industries should be pursued. The city has a lot of historical, artistic and heritage assets to showcase, such as heritage houses, fiestas, cuisine, churches, among others,” explains Gasatan. The two cities are gateways to the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. Puerto Princesa lies at the heart of the Palawan Province known for its attractions and biodiversity, while Tagbilaran is the urban center of the Bohol Province famous for the Chocolate Hills. In 2016, individual tourist arrivals in Puerto Princesa City reached 850,000, while Tagbilaran City reached more than 139,000 individual tourist arrivals, out of the 5.9 million that toured the Philippines. USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project has been working with the city governments of Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran to boost their tourism industries, by developing market-based strategies with local business groups. Each city faces different challenges. Puerto Princesa wants to diversify its attraction sites to entice new tourists and encourage repeat visits. Meanwhile, Tagbilaran City is preparing for the transfer of airport operations from the city to the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao Island, which is about 20 kilometers from the city’s central business district. The Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran city governments held consultations and planning workshops to update and finalize their Tourism Strategic Action Plans. Representatives from local tourism businesses, academe and government agencies agreed to collaborate in developing new destinations, promoting cultural and eco-tourism, and establishing business-enabling policies. “Tagbilaran City has now clearly defined its strategic tourism direction. We have rediscovered that we have an abundance of heritage assets, both natural and cultural,” says Shobel Ligalig, Tagbilaran City Tourism Officer.

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In Puerto Princesa City, the project provided technical advice during the City Tourism Office’s (CTO) organizational planning workshop to set the overall direction of the strategic action planning process. The CTO identified six tourism circuits which shall be the priority tourism development areas in the next few years. Technical working groups were formed to assess tourism circuits and formulate priority issues for development, including infrastructure. The SURGE Project also provided advice in sectoral meetings (among accommodation, transport, tour/travel operators, souvenir shops) that intended to identify important industry concerns and corresponding action plans.

A meeting between Puerto Princesa’s CTO and Palafox and Associates was organized to harmonize on-going tourism planning activities with the latter’s citywide master planning project. It was agreed that the tourism circuits identified in the tourism planning process will be integrated into the Tourism Management Areas (TMAs) proposed by Palafox under the city master plan. Continuing discussions will also be held to provide updates on the two activities.

Subcomponent 3.4: Develop metropolitan arrangements that improve coordination and exchanges between cities and adjacent rural areas

Project Activity: Support the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) in economic development planning for Tagbilaran City and the municipalities of Panglao and Dauis The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol formally passed Provincial Ordinance 2016-15, creating PITEC on May 18, 2017 (Annex 4). Parallel local legislations in the three LGUs (Tagbilaran, Dauis and Panglao) are currently being processed, with the Tagbilaran and Dauis ordinances being deliberated by their local legislative councils. The Bohol Governor, through the Provincial Planning and Development Office, in partnership with the SURGE Project, has also provided additional information to Panglao’s local legislative council to help respond to the latter’s concerns regarding PITEC. Once the required local ordinance has been passed by the three LGUs, a PITEC general assembly will be convened by the Bohol Governor and attended by the three local chief executives and other senior local officials.

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Table 5. Component 3 Summary of Plans and Accomplishments for April-June 2017

Activity Plans for Quarter 3 from

Quarter 2 Progress Report Accomplishments

Activity 2-3.1.01: Work with stakeholders in Batangas City and concerned national government agencies to strengthen policies related to competitiveness of local meat products

Deferred

Activity 2-3.1.02: Work with local stakeholders and national government agencies to support the enactment of local ordinances that promote good practices in sustainable mariculture, catch, and processing of priority commodities

Deferred

Activity 2-3.2.01: Identify priority urban-rural connectivity gaps on infrastructure, transport, communication , and logistics in new CDI cities

Conducted consultative workshop with local stakeholders. Priority connectivity gaps identified include: traffic congestion in major city roads; poor regulation of public transport services and; poor telecommunication services in the city

Activity 2-3.2.02: Assist the city in reviewing the feasibility study and PPP arrangement’s terms and conditions on the expansion of the Laguindingan International Airport

Deferred

Activity 2-3.2.03: Assist the city in reviewing the expansion project plan of the Mindanao Container Terminal and determine most appropriate financial modalities

Deferred

Activity 2-3.2.04: Train and assist the cities in the development of low-emission, clean energy and climate-resilient Transport and Traffic Management Plans for Puerto Princesa City, Tagbilaran City, and Zamboanga City

Conduct training workshop on low-emission and climate-resilient transport and traffic management planning for six CDI cities

Deferred

Activity 2-3.3.01: Marketing and processing of cassava as animal feed ingredients for Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Zamboanga City

● Assist Zamboanga Office of City Agriculture (OCA) in strengthening the association of cassava growers, and facilitate supply linkages with SMFI assemblers and other buyers

● Continue to assist Zamboanga OCA in accessing additional assistance from other agencies to cassava growers association

● Linkages between local cassava growers and SMFI assemblers established

● Lubigan cassava growers successfully delivered 3 MT of cassava chips to SMFI assembler (Cristobal Trading)

● Identification of alternative buyers/markets for Zamboanga City cassava growers thru another SMFI assembler (M.Bendijo) and Mega Plywood (for lower-quality cassava chips)

● Continuous upgrading/expansion of cassava post-harvest equipment through linkages with DTI and DA

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Accomplishments

Activity 2-3.3.02: Establish a Seaweed Network in Puerto Princesa City

● Conduct Seaweed Techno-Forum in Puerto Princesa and pursue seaweed quality improvement training and market linkage activities

● Continue to assist Puerto Princesa seaweed growers in accessing needed post-harvest facilities/equipment from other support agencies (DOST, BFAR, etc.)

● Formal creation of the Puerto Princesa Seaweed Network and election of initial set of officers and leaders representing key stakeholder groups

● Seaweed Network will advocate for needed post-harvest equipment/facilities from support agencies for prospective growers

● Techno-forum to be expanded into a province-wide Seaweed Forum to be pursued in Aug or Sept 2017

Activity 2-3.3.03: Facilitate market linkages between tourism establishments and vegetable producers in Iloilo City, Tagbilaran City and Bohol Province

Deferred

Activity 2-3.3.04: Facilitate market linkages between darag chicken producers in Iloilo and institutional buyers

Cancelled

Activity 2-3.3.05: Facilitate market linkages between cashew and lamayo producers in Puerto Princesa and institutional buyers

Cancelled

Activity 2-3.3.06: Establish traceability system for vegetable trading in Cagayan de Oro City

Deferred

Activity 2-3.3.07: Assist the city in developing the business and operations plan of the Puerto Princesa City Agri-Pinoy Trading Center

Cancelled

Activity 2-3.3.08: Facilitate business planning for Agri-Aqua Processing Center in Iloilo City

● Two major processing firms (Alsons Aqua and Fisherfarms, Inc.) identified as partners for milkfish market linkage and value-added processing at Iloilo Fishport Complex (IFPC)

● Alsons Aqua committed to link up with local producers for milkfish supply while Fisherfarms confirmed plans to set up fish processing operations at IFPC

Activity 2-3.3.09: Improve standards of the Tagbilaran City Slaughterhouse

Completed

Activity 2-3.3.10: Facilitate market linkages between commodities and buyers in new CDI cities

Deferred

Activity 2-3.3.11: Organize a Heritage Symposium and develop Tourism Strategy and Action Plans for Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City

● Initiate local stakeholder consultations for the formulation of strategic tourism action plans for Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran

● Assess heritage tourism development activities and Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran and determine appropriate follow-through

● Private sector support and commitment for Tagbilaran’s tourism strategic action plan

● Technical working groups established and priority tourism circuits defined in Puerto Princesa

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Accomplishments

activities (i.e. finalization of conservation guidelines and formulation of management plans for heritage districts)

Activity 2-3.4.1 Support the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) in economic development planning for Tagbilaran City and the municipalities of Panglao and Dauis

● Conduct Strategic Planning for PITEC

● Bohol Provincial Ordinance on PITEC signed

● Tagbilaran and Dauis City local ordinances under deliberation by their local councils

● Bohol Governor with SURGE providing information to Panglao to respond to local council’s concerns on PITEC


• Assist Zamboanga cassava growers in improving the quality of cassava for SMFI and other

markets;

• Conduct strategic planning for the Seaweed Network and holding of the province-wide

Seaweed Forum;

• Organize market matching forum to introduce business plans of private companies Alsons

Aqua and Fisherfarms, Inc. to prospective local milkfish producers and suppliers and facilitate

supply linkages;

• Assist Tagbilaran City and Puerto Princesa City in finalizing their tourism strategic action

plans; and

• Provide information to LGUs to support passage of local ordinance related to PITEC and

conduct strategic planning session for PITEC.

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Crosscutting Areas

“Legazpi City is a key driver of growth in the Bicol region, with a tremendous potential to pursue inclusive development in surrounding localities in Albay and beyond.”

Crosscutting Areas

Forming new partnership to promote inclusive and resilient urban growth

“ potential to pursue inclusive development in surrounding localities in Albay and beyond,” says Dr. Susan Brems, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, during an important event that marks a new partnership for USAID. USAID and the city government of Legazpi entered into a partnership to advance the inclusive and resilient growth of the city and the Bicol region. Dr. Brems and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 17, 2017, making Legazpi the seventh city to join USAID’s Cities Development Initiative. Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara served as witness to the MOU. Through this initiative, USAID is working closely with local governments to strengthen the economic competitiveness and resilience of cities outside Metro Manila, ultimately fulfilling their potential as engines of inclusive

growth. Other USAID partner cities currently include Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga. The Cities Development Initiative is a key element of the United States-Philippines’ Partnership for Growth with Equity. Under the partnership, the U.S. and Philippine governments are working to put the nation on an accelerated growth trajectory that benefits the majority of the Philippine population. “The city will be able to enhance its competitiveness and acquire the knowledge and skills to address disaster risks. These [projects] will help sustain our city's development," says Mayor Rosal. Throughout the country, USAID is working with the Philippine government to build resiliency and propel development, contributing to a more stable, prosperous, and well-governed nation. .

egazpi City is a key driver of growth in the Bicol region, with a tremendous .

L

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Crosscutting Key Activities and Accomplishments This quarter the SURGE Project has implemented activities that cut across various areas or components to provide an enabling environment for CDI partner cities.

1. Institutional Support Mechanisms for the SURGE Project Implementation USAID’s projects are implemented in partnership with the local governments. During the quarter, the SURGE Project continued to collaborate with CDI partner cities, specifically in the conduct of the Stakeholders’ Forum and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City Government of Legazpi.

Organized the SURGE Project Stakeholders’ Forum The Stakeholders’ Forum held on May 16 served as a mechanism to identify, prioritize and lead the implementation of SURGE Project activities in Legazpi City. The forum, participated in by more than 150 participants from the national agency, local government, academe, business and civil society leaders, focused on addressing the challenges on the city’s economic growth, infrastructure and human capital, environment and resilience, and health. Officials from USAID offices (Economic Growth, Environment, Health and Education) also graced the event. Facilitated the MOU between USAID and the CDI city of Legazpi An MOU signing between the USAID and the City Government of Legazpi was held a day after the Stakeholders’ Forum (Annex 5). This is to formalize the partnership in implementing priority actions for successful SURGE Project activities in the city. USAID Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems signed the MOU on behalf of USAID. Mayor Noel Rosal, on the other hand, represented the city and witnessed by Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara. More than 150 key city officials and representatives from the academe, business and non-government organizations also witnessed the signing ceremony.

2. Gender Integration The SURGE Project continued to integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into all of its activities to enhance the project’s policy initiatives, capacity development, and monitoring and evaluation. GESI integration in major component activities included provision of technical assistance and enhanced activity designs and tools with GESI considerations to improve the performance of the project and respective governance institutions. Consultations with City Program Coordinators and STTAs to make GESI integration work more visible by applying the following essential elements:

• Encourage gender balance and inclusive representations in planning processes;

• Collection and use of sex disaggregated data, gender related findings and evidenced based practices;

• Conduct of gender analysis; and

• Conscious GESI considerations in policy initiatives, project planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of intended outcomes and desired impact.

Although GESI integration remains strong in key component work, the proposed two crosscutting GESI activities, which include (1) capacity building for CDI cities' GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) on promoting broader coverage of gender-responsive budgeting and (2) development of key

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SURGE Project development of GESI integration guides and checklists with the cities and components has been deferred to Year 3. Nonetheless, essential gender equality and female empowerment and social inclusion elements remains important in SURGE Project policy initiatives, capacity development, assessment tools, and M&E. In terms of Project Management, consistent GESI efforts through personnel orientation and demand driven coaching and mentoring for GESI integration work and strategies generated sustained interests and appreciation among key project leaders, staff including STTAs and documenters from CDI cities. As a respond to the funding challenges, the project used digital platform to coach and mentor City Program Coordinators in using gender analysis tools and provide specific orientation for GESI integration in key component activities. Specific orientation among documenters to capture GESI issues and response including relevant individual-level background information. Another significant milestone in the project’s GESI integration work was the selection of the SURGE Project panel during the 2017 Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Learning Forum held in May 23-25 in Bangkok, Thailand. The presentation in the panel, entitled "Bridging Gaps & Challenges in Women's Financial Inclusion - The Philippine Experience, featured learning cases of women entrepreneurs from Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City. The SURGE Project joined participants from 60 countries in discussing critical issues and practices to improve women’s economic participation in market systems, both for the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality. Gender Integration by Components For the third quarter of Year 2, the GESI Senior expert continued to review the GESI inputs or tools developed by the project’s Gender Specialist and convert these into at least easy-to-follow tools such as GESI integration in DRR/CCA, CLUP, in the Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) and water. GESI also remains to be integrated in the three SURGE components as follows: For Component 1. The enhanced Household Water and Sanitation Systems and Practices Data

Sharing Philippine successes in women’s financial inclusion with the world

Woman entrepreneurs play a crucial role in driving local economies in the Philippines. Eighty percent of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country were started by women. A similar trend can be observed in the microfinance sector, with over 80 percent of active borrowers are women who use the capital to grow their businesses. These women entrepreneurs are often resource-poor and struggle in obtaining initial capital investment and accessing institutional financial support. “There is great work to support women empowerment in the Philippines. These inspiring and practical lessons have helped women scale up from the value chain,” says Jonathan Burton, Head of Programs – South East Asia of development organization Cuso International. Burton participated in an interactive peer learning session on Bridging Gaps and Challenges in Women’s Financial Inclusion – The Philippine Experience, during the Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Learning Forum held on May 23 to 25, 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand. Ma. Gichelle Cruz, Gender Specialist of USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, together with a Philippine delegation of gender champions, shared lessons learned from empowering women through entrepreneurship in the Philippines during the learning session. She led the discussion on challenges and good practices in promoting women entrepreneurship as an effective mechanism to address gendered economic inequalities, citing the SURGE Project’s work with women-led MSMEs. Successes from the Philippine experience demonstrate key promising approaches to improving women’s access to financial services. Developing the financial literacy of women entrepreneurs with learning resources and community-based training in regional languages can improve the competitiveness and sustainability of their business. Women at the grassroots gain more access to additional capital through community organizing, savings mobilization schemes and indigenous social protection strategies. In addition to these alternative channels, building social capital and linking women entrepreneurs with financial institutions increases their visibility and bankability with the formal credit market.

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Gathering Tool integrated with GESI-related considerations yielded value added information that emphasize the significance of including women’s perspectives and experiences in planning water projects. Initial survey findings in Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City reflected women as dominant users of water for households. Women also constitute the majority of the respondents as they often carry the burden of water utilization, sanitation and domestic hygiene. In terms of decision-making, most household still considered both spouse as decision makers. As a complimentary activity to mainstreaming socially inclusive and gender responsive DRR-CCA in local development planning, the SURGE Project collaborated with USAID’s ADAPT Project for the capacity building and project development workshop on adaptation and climate finance in Manila in June. The project ensured the importance of GESI integration from the overall context setting to the scaling up sessions and input-discussion to develop a promising project proposal. For Component 2. Visibility and accountability for gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion in land tenure are continuously sustained through the representation of women groups, non-government organization, people’s organization and the academe community as member of the coalition members on sustainable land governance. The City Programs Coordinators (CPCs) from Legaspi City and General Santos City were

coached and mentored on GESI considerations to prepare them as resource persons to the

integrating GESI Perspectives in BPLS Streamlining Workshop. The CPCs were encouraged

to provide localize cases and examples on potential GESI entry points in terms of people,

policies, enabling mechanisms, and activities.

For Component 3. The project assisted Tagbilaran City (April 25-27, 2017) and Puerto Princesa City (May 2-5, 2017) in finalizing and operationalizing its heritage tourism plan and guidelines with key considerations in strengthening the heritage program’s GESI features. The technical inputs on mainstreaming GESI on tourism strategic planning and heritage development fostered dialogues with participants on relevant issues, specifically on increased access to finance and services to women micro entrepreneurs and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in tourism development. Issues were raised on security and safety of tourists in community-based sustainable tourism sites, benefits to the indigenous peoples, and inclusivity of tourism development. The activity provided opportunity to consider a diverse range of perspectives, interests, needs, opportunities, and constraints when planning and implementing tourism development activities. Variety of perspectives included women, men, youth, urban and rural populations, indigenous people, migrants, informal settlers, the LGBT community, PWDs, PLHIVs, indigents, urban poor and rural poor communities. Relevant reading materials on tourism gender responsive toolkit and Harmonized Gender and Development Tourism Checklist were provided as reference materials for utilizing GAD budget. Crosscutting areas. The stakeholder’s forum and action planning workshop in Legaspi City were conducted from May 15-17, 2017. GESI considerations were integrated across project actions to address growth constraints in economic growth and education, environment and energy and health.

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• Present draft output of the GESI Senior Gender Expert on the GESI inputs or tools developed by the Gender Specialist and converting these into at least three easy-to-follow tools (GESI integration in DRR, CLUP and ELA, and water);

• Customize Training Needs Analysis for GESI integration in BPLS in Legaspi City;

• Follow-up results of GESI integration in Strategic Tourism Management Planning;

• Continue GESI Integration in Water Intervention particularly in generating gender data to identify potential constraints and opportunities for increasing access to water by women, men, children and social groups;

• Follow through review and integrate GESI in the CCA-DRR training manual, and analysis of water and sanitation demand (Component 1); capture and utilization of sex-disaggregated BPLS data (Component 2); and gender-responsive value chain analysis, with women economic leadership inputs (Component 3);

• Provide demand driver GESI inputs in selected training or technical assistance activities of components in CDI cities;

• Continue to conduct of GESI-related capacity development in General Santos City (CLUP, Environmental Ordinance and Gender responsive budgeting);

• Facilitate GESI integration in the seaweed network (Component 3);

• Continue to coach and mentor STTA and technical staff;

• Attend gender learning sessions sponsored by USAID; and

• Discuss and finalize Means of Verifications Guides with M&E team to track GESI results.

3. Communication and Information Strategies The SURGE Project’s key accomplishments for the quarter in implementing its communication and information strategies include: (1) publication of monthly Cities Development Initiative (CDI) Newsletters; (2) promotion of the SURGE Project and USAID activities, such as the CDI Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing between USAID and Legazpi City, through news stories and social media posts; (3) production of CDI video; and (4) participation in the observance of Earth Day and Philippine Environment Month. Published CDI Newsletters

The project published the February and March 2017 issues of the CDI Newsletter (see link here http://surge.org.ph/cdi-newsletter). Based on Google Analytics, 512 readers accessed the two CDI Newsletter issues from April to June 2017. These were also accessed 1,492 times based on the server’s statistics. Most of the webpage visits (about 76 percent) were from readers in the Philippines. This was followed by readers in the United States at 16 percent, and visits from readers in the United Kingdom at 1 percent. On the Philippine webpage visits, more than half or 59 percent were from readers in Metro Manila, followed by the readers in Cebu City and Davao City.

http://surge.org.ph/cdi-newsletter

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Among the CDI cities, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro had the most readership, with 4 percent of total webpage visits each (Figure 2).

Promoted SURGE Project activities The SURGE Project maintained a relatively high external reach and news visibility with 51 news stories published by local and national media, and by the city governments that describe project activities and accomplishments (Annex 6). The project submitted a total of 13 bullet stories to USAID which were published in the Manila Environment Weekly Update circulated within the USAID Environment Office. A total of 32 news bits describing project activities in the eight cities were also produced during the period as part of its internal information dissemination to USAID and ICMA. By the end of June 2017, the USAID/SURGE Project Twitter account, @USAID_SURGE, accumulated a total of 226 followers and produced 231 tweets. Similar to the CDI Newsletter readers, most of the Twitter followers are from the Philippines (49 percent), followed by the United States (23 percent) and United Kingdom (5 percent). During this period, the SURGE Project Twitter account earned 94 link clicks, 168 retweets and 203 likes. Most link clicks, retweets and likes were gained from stories about the Legazpi City Stakeholders’ Forum and the CDI MOU signing. On the other hand, the USAID Facebook fan page featured 19 posts or updates on the SURGE Project activities. Communication played a significant role in the preparation and promotion of the following project activities:

• USAID Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems’ visit to Legazpi City on May 17, 2017;

Figure 2. Distribution of CDI Newsletter Readers in the Philippines

27%

21%

8%

8%

6%

4%

4%

4%2%

16%Makati

Quezon City

Davao City

Cebu City

Manila

General Santos City

Cagayan de Oro

Pasig

Iloilo City

Others

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• MOU signing between Tagbilaran City and Maynilad Water Academy on April 27, 2017;

• Legazpi City’s submission of two entries to the Best Climate Practices 2017 international online contest;

• conceptualization of a storyboard in collaboration with Batangas City’s Local Economic and Investment Promotions Office (LEIPO) for the investment promotion video of the city;

• GIS Training on June 5 to 9, 2017; and

• Project Preparation and Finance for Urban Resilience Workshop on June 19 to 23, 2017.

The SURGE Project supported the participation of its Gender Specialist, Ma. Gichelle Cruz, in the international Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Learning Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on May 23 to 25, 2017 wherein she promoted the project’s work with women entrepreneurs. Cruz also chaired the interactive peer learning session on Bridging Gaps and Challenges in Women’s Financial Inclusion – The Philippine Experience in that event.

Supported the CDI MOU singing between USAID and Legazpi City The successful CDI MOU signing between USAID and Legazpi City on May 17, 2017 was one of the project’s major events for the quarter. Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems and Mayor Noel Rosal signed the MOU, which officially made Legazpi City as USAID’s 7th CDI partner city. Prior to the MOU signing, the project organized on May 16 the Legazpi City Stakeholders’ Forum. Both activities yielded 15 media placements in print and online news organizations. After the MOU signing event on May 17, the project conducted a Workshop on Communication with nine city government personnel involved in communication/information and media affairs work. This is to assess the city government’s current capacity in communication and media relations. The half-day workshop identified the city government’s organizational development needs in communication, and recommended the city government to: (1) revive the Public Assistance and Information Division (PAID), with functions similar to a Public Information Office; (2) create a system of information-sharing among the different departments; (3) create an official Facebook account for the city government; and (4) designate a personnel who will regularly update the content of the Legazpi City official website (stories, photos and videos).

Produced CDI video As a work in progress, the SURGE Project created a short version of the CDI video in time for the CDI MOU signing in Legazpi City. The long version, which includes sound bites of selected mayors and beneficiaries from other USAID projects, is being revised with expectations that the completed version will be finalized by the next quarter.

Participated in the local and global campaigns The project participated in two campaigns during the quarter, the international Earth Day (April 22) and the Philippine Environment Month (June) as observed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Participation in these campaigns, through social media, promoted USAID and SURGE Project activities in CDI cities. During Earth Day, the project produced two infographics featuring information on the importance of disaster preparedness and practices on water conservation and proper sanitation. During the

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Philippine Environment Month, the project produced 13 pictograms of individuals from the city government, business community and academe of the CDI cities. These pictograms featured quotes about their favorite nature spot and on ways to conserve natural resources. The project shared the infographics and pictograms to USAID for posting in the agency’s Facebook account.


• Provide communication support to the SURGE Project events and activities;

• Publish news and success stories, bullet stories, news bits and CDI newsletter; and

• Complete production of CDI video.

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III. Major Accomplishments by City

This section summarizes the significant progress in planning and executing project activities in CDI partner cities of Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga. For this quarter, the SURGE Project focused on the deepening of existing on-the-ground activities and actively engaged at the national and local level with key government and non-government stakeholders in CDI partner cities.

1. BATANGAS CITY

Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results

• Supported the city in its regular disaster preparedness activities. While the City has been

conducting regular disaster preparedness, the project’s intervention on Vulnerability

Assessment helped the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO)

address some considerations on gender equality and social inclusion during the evacuation

process. Batangas City was put to test its disaster preparedness when two successive

earthquakes hit the City in April 2017. Elderly, persons with disability and pregnant women were

given priority access to government-provided transportation to evacuation centers. On the other

hand, project activities involving CDRRMO and City Engineering Office were put on hold to give

way for infrastructure audits.

• Continued to support the strengthening of its Local Economic and Investment

Promotions Office (LEIPO). The LEIPO is confronted with budget constraints in delivering its

target of engaging micro, small and medium enterprises through capacity building. The SURGE

Project, however, was able to help mobilize resources from the DTI in the conduct Business

Continuity training where LEIPO was actively involved in selecting sectors and participants. The

selection process involved the use of approved 2017-2019 City Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Plan (CDRRMP) which was refined

by introducing the science based vulnerability

assessment. Targeting key business sectors

needed by the city after a disaster such as

construction materials, food, restaurants, grocery

stores, medicine and financing establishments

were part of the approved CDRRMP. The activity,

costing about PHP68,500, was participated in by

the CDRRMO, LEIPO and 51 micro, small and

medium establishments. The activity intends to

raise awareness on how these businesses can

prepare and continue doing business after a

disaster.

• Facilitated the 2017 mid-year review and 2018 strategic planning activity of LEIPO in

Baguio City. Through this activity, the participants were able to appreciate good practices in

managing office functions and mechanism that helps employees prioritize tasks that will make

them be more productive and efficient in service delivery. These include producing collaterals

for printing next year, networking with other government agencies and company locators that

USAID/SURGE Batangas City Program Coordinator Dondon Almonacid (standing) facilitates the annual planning of the Batangas City Local Economic and Investments Promotion Office (LEIPO).

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can finance strategic LEIPO activities, identify companies that will be invited to invest in

Batangas City and capacity building activities.

Support in the development of audio-visual presentation was provided for the promotion of business opportunities in Batangas City. The storyboard has been developed in collaboration with LEIPO and Public Information Office. The production will be included into the 2018 Annual Investment Plan (AIP)/Budget. As the secretariat of the City on the NCC inputs, review and data gathering were supported to improve submission of quality data. Through the support of SURGE and LEIPO, the Metro Batangas Business Club (MBBC) is now an accredited member of the Provincial Development Council where the Club can push for reforms and development projects both at the Province and City level.

• Continued to assist the city in reviewing and updating its Comprehensive Land Use Plan

(CLUP). As part of the preparatory activities for the CLUP review and updating, the SURGE

Project guided the city in coming up with digitized data, particularly on the city’s building

footprints using the tool, Open Street Map. The output of this activity will be used in the

upcoming activities on GIS.

Moreover, with the city’s plan to make the CLUP activity to be contracted through a firm, the

SURGE Project helped the city in redrafting the terms of reference (TOR) for such undertaking.

The activity of hiring a firm was included in the supplemental AIP and budget for 2017.

• Facilitated the attendance of the City to the SURGE Project trainings on GIS in Iloilo City

and the GIS training with USAID/ ADAPT Project in Pasig City in June. Series of meetings

were conducted with the participants from the city to prepare them to the GIS trainings. They

were given orientation on the flow of the

program, data sets which can be used in

training exercises and the city’s action

plan.

After the training, the GIS participants

provided feedback to the management

and discussed the city-level action plan

on implementing the GIS in 2017 using

existing human and capital resources.

The City Planning and Development

Coordinator’s Office was identified as the

lead office in implementing the activity.

As a result of the USAID/ADAPT

Project’s Workshop on Project

Preparation and Finance for Urban

Resilience, the participants were able to

agree on developing a component

activity of dredging and soil protection

under the Calumpang River Master Plan.

“I now have the skills to develop better project proposals for our climate change adaptation projects to access funds from funding organizations and government agencies, particularly the People's Survival Fund, after attending the USAID/SURGE training.”

What I learned from the USAID/ SURGE GIS Workshop is essential in providing better services and decision-making in times of disaster. Data collection seems daunting at first, but the benefits of using the latest scientific data to help the city plan and take action during disasters

are worth the effort.

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• Assisted in a landmark meeting of the CPDO, City Health Office (CHO) and CEO in June

to discuss all concerns regarding Rural Waterworks Associations (RWSAs). The team

agreed to draft the EO with the support of the SURGE Project to formalize the functions of the

offices concerned. Issues regarding

institutional, technical operation of the

systems, capacity building, water quality

and sanitation were discussed and

action plan was agreed. Batangas City

Water District’s reluctance to disclose

its water and sanitation activities to the

city and the project is an on-going

challenge and affects the city’s overall

strategy on water supply and sanitation.

• Assisted 15 CPDO employees for their review in the Environmental Planner’s

examination. The SURGE Project provided additional review and reading materials to the

examinees. As a result of the examination, Batangas City has now five new successful licensed

environmental planners from the CPDO who will be of great help in the review and updating of

the city’s CLUP.

Synergies with other USAID Projects E-PESO Project – The SURGE Project facilitated the meeting between the City and the E-PESO

Project. Initial gathering of information, meetings with Information Technology Services Division,

BPLS office and discussion on how to move forward with the current issues with the existing

software service provider of the city was conducted. The E-PESO Project wanted to sort out how

they could proceed with electronic payment system while the database is not yet fully handed

over to the City by the software developer.

2. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY


• Facilitated the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city mayor and the

presidents or high-level representatives of six Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to

pursue inclusive and resilient urban development

(Annex 7). The Regional Directors of the Commission

on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of

Science and Technology (DOST) witnessed the

signing of the MOU that would enhance the capacity

of the local government in resolving development

challenges in the city. It would engage faculty and

students in the selection, formulation and

implementation of programs and projects contained in

the Comprehensive Development Plan and the Annual

Investment Plan. The MOU is one of the achievements

of the SURGE Project’s Urban Development Learning

“USAID/SURGE activities in Batangas City helped our local partners recognize the emerging problem of insufficient water supply. Now, local water supply administrators and regulators are more aware of the importance of proper planning and maintenance of water systems.”

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Center concept. The MOU also

adapted learnings from the training

attended by the city’s LEIPO in

Germany last May on Educational

Partnerships for Innovation in

Communities Network (EPIC-N)

framework pioneered by the

University of Oregon and the eighth

Global Forum on Urban Resilience

and Adaptation.

A proposal for funding for the establishment of a “Xavier University Sustainability Institute (XUSI)” was submitted to the Department of Science and Technology’s Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) through the assistance of the SURGE Project. The XUSI will serve as the Regional Center of Northern Mindanao for urban planning, research and development. The program framework under the proposal comprises these projects: SUrTE-Sustainable Urban Transportation Engineering and Planning (SUrTE), Technology Development (TechDev), Urban Regeneration and Settlements (URaS), Urban Resiliency and Risk Reduction (XUR3) and Capability Building and Networking (CaBiN). The XUSI proposal is an output of the Transport Study Experts Team facilitated by the project.

Moreover, the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines submitted a funding proposal for a Design and Engineering Center which is intended to promote small and medium enterprises through innovations in processes and equipment. The Regional Development Council has endorsed both proposals.

The project has also supported the project proposal of the USTsP for the “Design, Development and Implementation of an Integrated ICT-based Platform for SMART Agriculture” to the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage the Philippine Economy (CRADLE) of the DOST. This project includes the traceability system for the vegetable industry of the region represented by the co-operator, the NORMINVEGGIES.

• Facilitated the attendance of CDO city staff in the GIS orientation training and the Project Preparation and Finance Workshop for Climate

Adaptation in Manila in June. Using GIS is important for developing an urban area through the development of land-based information. Besides support in the pre-workshop data requirements and the city presentation, the SURGE Project assisted in the preparation of the GIS re-entry plan, and the enhancement of the 100-day work plan for the proposal to the People’s Survival Fund for submission by September both of which will focus on the Iponan Watershed Management Program.

“Thanks to USAID/SURGE, the cooperation between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and higher educational institutions can be a good conduit for research and development, especially since we are moving toward evidence-based policy development.”

“Local governments often lack the skills to formulate bankable climate adaptation project proposals. The USAID/SURGE workshop equipped us with the necessary tools for the preparation of sound, evidence-based and high-impact proposals that aspire to transform high-risk areas to resilient and livable communities.”

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• Facilitated and assisted the city’s land improvement administration program and the signing of partnership on land titling. The project, facilitated the adoption of a land administration improvement program with the supporting implementation mechanisms through the two executive orders that created the LAMO and the Land Management Council (LMC). The LAMO is the internal action office for land concerns with staff from the City Assessors, General Services, and Legal, Housing and Planning. LMCon the other hand, brings together the DENRRegistry of Deeds, Bureau of Internal RevenueDepartment of Agrarian Reform and the city mayoto decide on policy concerns and oversee the implementation of the land program.

On the other hand, the city mayor and the DENR Regional Director signed a MOPA to address local governments program on housing for informal settlers in waterways and government lands and issuance of land titles to beneficiaries.

• Continued to assist the CDO Trade and investment Promotions Center. The Cagayan de Oro Investment Incentives Code of 2002 has long been overdue for updating. In 2013, the USAID Invest Project produced a template for local government’s incentives ordinance and the CDO Incentives Review Committee then drafted a proposed new incentives ordinance. To finally effect the long delayed revision, the SURGE Project initiated the current review to achieve a balance of these principles: (1) that the investment priority areas will foster long-term economic growth and encourage the development of small and medium enterprises, and, (2) that the effect of the fiscal incentives on the local government’s revenue generation will be neutral. The SURGE Project’s CPC also helped to push for the formulation of Cagayan de Oro City’s official brand as the city takes pride in being people-friendly and business-friendly. The Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investment Promotions Center consequently published the Brand Book which consist of the city’s brand guidelines.

Synergies with other USAID Projects Be Secure Project. The SURGE Project helped the city in the preparation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the CDO Septage Management Ordinance-2015. The project also joined the TWG in the review of the IRR and contributed to its final version. The IRR will be presented to the mayor in July for approval. BE-LEADERS Project. The project had advised the city in the data collection for the community level GHG inventory which was required for the GHG inventory workshop conducted by USAID/BE-LEADERS Project in June. While the city has conducted two workshops to complete

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the entity level GHG inventory, data collection for the community level is currently ongoing. The inventory report is to be submitted in July. Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) Program. As a preparation of project proposal for the Mindanao Youth Development, the project helped MYDev to collaborate with the City Planning Office and the Oro Youth Development Council Office.

3. GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Key Activities and Accomplishments

• Explored long-term partnerships with key National Government Agencies. The SURGE

Project collaborated with the national government agencies such as the DTI, DILG, NEDA and

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to identify areas for project partnerships along the

areas of business permitting and licensing system, comprehensive land use planning,

monitoring and evaluation and urban-rural connectivity.

• Conducted consultations with the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and the Notre Dame Foundation Business. Consultations were conducted with the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Notre Dame Foundation in June as part of understanding the local economic environment of the city and establishing connection with the business sector and academe. The meeting served as a venue to orient them and get commitments regarding the project implementation. The participants to the consultations agreed to revisit the Economic Development Plan in partnership with the business sector and the city government so that this can be utilized as a reference material for the Stakeholder Forum.

• Conducted Orientation for the City Development Council. In its first quarter meeting, of the City Development Council, City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera formally introduced and welcomed the SURGE project. He expressed his gratitude to the SURGE Project for its assistance in the City’s initial Annual Implementation Review and Planning Workshop, the Executive-Legislative Dialogue and the initial review on the draft CLUP of the City. The mayor looks forward to the official partnership of the city and the SURGE Project through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and the conduct of the Stakeholder’s Forum.

During the CDC meeting, the City Program Coordinator held an orientation on the SURGE Project. The CDC is composed of 26 Barangay Captains, Department Heads, Sangguniang Panlungsod, Non-Government Organizations, Business Sector Representatives and

“I enjoyed learning from the experiences shared by the CDI partner cities. The cities face common issues but each city offers a different perspective. USAID/SURGE contextualizes its assistance to what is actually happening in each city.”

“We are privileged to engage with our new partner, USAID/SURGE. The project assisted in initial review of our Comprehensive Land Use Plan. We are looking forward to formalizing the partnership and becoming a CDI partner city.”

R

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Academe. The Council is mandated to formulate long-term, medium term and annual social development plans and policies including the investment plan of the city; and coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of city’s development programs and projects.

• Conducted consultation on Inclusive and Resilient Urban Development. Consultations

were organized with the city government and General Santos City Water District during the early

part of April to identify the priority areas of technical assistance. The General Santos City Water

District, through its Chairperson of the Board, Engr. Manuel Yaphockun expressed the need for

technical assistance on sewerage and study on water surface.

The city government, particularly the CPDO, DRRMO, City ENRO, City Engineering Office and

the Sangguniang Panlungsod identified priority areas of assistance such as updating of CLUP,

formulation of the Environment Code, strengthening of Rural Water Works Associations,

updating of LCAP and GIS. Mayor Rivera also affirmed these priorities during the exist meeting

with him.

• Assisted in the conduct of Annual

Implementation Review and Formulation

of the Annual Investment Plan for 2018.

The SURGE Project facilitated the conduct

of the GSC Annual Implementation Review

as part of the preparatory process in

developing its Annual Investment Plan for

2018. The annual implementation review

focuses in revisiting the level of

implementation of the City’s

Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP)

and Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for 2016

and early part of 2017. The activity resulted

to the identification of outcomes and

impacts along the ten-point agenda of the

city and a more objective and systematic

system of identifying and prioritizing

programs and projects for 2018.

Prior to the actual conduct of

implementation review, the SURGE Project

also facilitated series of cluster level

implementation reviews and identified the

outcomes and impacts of the CDP

implementation.

• Facilitated the Executive-Legislative Dialogue. A dialogue between the Executive and

Legislative bodies of General Santos City was attended by the mayor, vice-mayor, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Department Heads. Part of the discussion during the meeting was on the State of Local Governance of the city and the proposed Annual Investment Plan for 2018 towards achieving a more competitive and climate resilient city.

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The dialogue included a presentation on the strategic development priorities as outlined in the City’s Comprehensive Development Plan. The discussions revolved around the State of Good Local Governance, Public Financial Management, City Competitiveness and the Heath Scorecard. The proposed Annual Investment Plan for 2018 was presented to the legislative members to get their insights on the proposed programs and projects including the legislative measures.

• Provided technical support for USAID’s Municipal Waste Recycling Project (MWRP)

concept note development. Solutions to improve solid waste management in General Santos

City were identified, specifically on eliminating

plastic waste pollution. The project facilitated

the discussion among the representatives

from business sector, civil society

organizations, academe, and city and

barangay local government on scaling-up

existing local solid waste management efforts.

The series of meetings led to the development

of a concept note highlighting activities to

scale-up existing solid waste management

initiatives by integrating participatory action,

public awareness, social entrepreneurship

and innovative technologies.

The GSC SMED Council Inc., submitted the concept note on June 30 to the USAID’s Municipal Waste Recycling Project (MWRP). The MWRP provides grants to local organizations in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam for viable municipal waste management approaches promoting social inclusion, job generation, economic growth and climate resilience. The main project proponent is the GSC Small and Medium Enterprise Council and Inc., in partnership with the KPS Foundation, RD Foundation, Mindanao State University, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges and the City Government of General Santos City.

• Facilitated the participation of city government staff to GIS Training. The City of

Government of General Santos sent nine staff from the CPDO, CITD, City Assessor’s Office,

City Engineering Office and City Agriculture Office for the GIS Training in Iloilo City. The

participants were able to: (1) learn the importance of geo-processing tools and open layer plug

in processing vector layers; (2) enrich their existing GIS data; and (3) acquire skills on geo-

referencing and digitizing. The participants will be able to use these skills in the CLUP updating

and the establishment of the Community-Based Management Information System. The LGU

staff who participated in the training also planned to conduct a re-echo training session for key

offices in August, specifically to the staff involved in mapping.

• Participated in the 4th MSME Congress. The SURGE Project provided technical inputs

towards improving the productivity and the resiliency of local businesses in General Santos City

during the 4th Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Regional Congress on June 8-10,

2017. The congress, organized by the city and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development

Council, Inc., served as a venue to establish linkages between national and local government

agencies and the local entrepreneurs from South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and

Sarangani as well as to the cities of Cotabato and General Santos. Most of the discussions

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focused on the available government MSME development initiatives at the local and national

level, particularly services related to improving productivity and establishing resilient

enterprises. The SURGE Project will be working with General Santos City to develop strategies

to promote resilient and green MSMEs and streamline its business permits and licensing

system.

• Conducted Assessment on the BPLS. The SURGE Project facilitated the conduct of an

assessment as part of the initial process to streamline the city’s BPLS. This includes the

administration of assessment tools, review of the existing studies on BPLS and focus group

discussions with key departments and national government agencies. The assessment results

will be utilized in developing the approach and strategies for streamlined BPLS. The City

Administrator emphasized that the city mayor prioritizes enhancement of the BPLS in time for

the next round of BPLS next year.

• Other Activities: The SURGE Project facilitated

the development of Strategic Plan for the Local

School Board and the Annual Operations

Review of the Bids and Awards Committee. It

also provided mentoring and coaching sessions

for the development of the City’s Monitoring and

Evaluation System. The project also participated

in the city government meeting with the General

Santos City Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Synergies with other USAID Projects

ADAPT Project. In partnership with USAID’s ADAPT Project, the project facilitated the participation of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer and Assistant Budget Officer to a project development workshop on adaptation and climate finance in Manila in June. The participants were able to: (1) learn the components of climate finance and how it can be accessed; (2) enhance understanding on what types of climate information is relevant to their project; (3) determine and describe impacts of projects; and (4) deepen their knowledge in developing projects. Furthermore, the city government submitted a letter of intent for its PHP 300 million project proposal to the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) for the city’s Drainage Flood Diversion Channel. The proposed project aims to address flooding in the city through draining/diverting the runoff water from the hilly areas located north of the city as it reaches the circumferential road, toward Buayan river to the west. It will also construct additional trunk lines to drain runoff from the built up areas below the circumferential road before these water accumulate and reach the national highway in the central business area of the city. PROTECT Project. In view of the potential expansion of the USAID PROTECT project in SOCSSARGEN, an initial assessment with the City Government of General Santos was conducted. During the assessment, SURGE Project staff shared on the on-going project activities in the city as well as the planned activities.

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4. ILOILO CITY

Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results • Conducted series of consultation meetings to forge the partnership on the establishment

of the Urban Development Learning Center (UDLC). To firm up the initial discussion between the University of the Philippines Visayas- College of Management (UPV-CM) and the SURGE Project in March 2017, a series of meetings were conducted. Meetings were conducted with the Dean of the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP), the Dean of the UPV-CM and Iloilo City Mayor. The following actions transpired from the meeting: (1) in principle, agreement on the UDLC partnership concept paper; (2) partnership agreement in the conduct of the CDI GIS Training; and (3) the UPV continuing capacity building support to the SURGE initiatives on the GIS and CLUP-CDP Amendment. Another meeting is scheduled in July to finalize the work plan and draft memorandum of agreement to be signed by September 2017. A Short Course of Urban and Regional Planning (SCURP) will be the first offering of the UDLC in November 2017.

• Facilitated the GIS Training in

partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) College of Management and Iloilo City Government. Prior to the conduct of the SCURP under the UDLC partnership, the SURGE Project forged a partnership agreement with the UPV-CM to conduct of the GIS training for the CDI Cities in Iloilo City. More than 80 participants from the eight CDI cities participated in the first GIS Training held from June 5-9 at the UPV Training Center. The UPV-CM provided two faculty members/facilitators, two OJTs, one IT administrator, and one administrative officer to complement the SURGE consultants, facilitators and support staff. The UPV also provided the venue, computers and other equipment/facilities. The Iloilo City government, on the other hand, provided two administrative support staff and two department heads to provide support when needed. After the training, assessments with UPV-CM and Iloilo City trainees were conducted. The UPV, with its GIS consultant, agreed in principle to provide follow-up coaching and series of trainings on GIS. Moreover, the SURGE Project, the UPV, and Iloilo City government agreed to address the issues on institutional and legal mandate by organizing a project management team (PMT) for the GIS. A workshop and planning meeting will be conducted to craft work plans toward the conduct of the trainings and organization of the PMT.

“GIS can really provide accessible relevant information, and we need to work hard on gathering and updating data. Thanks to USAID/SURGE, the city government now has a deeper understanding of how to maximize this tool.”

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• Continued to support Iloilo City in the review and amendment of the CLUP-CDP. The City

Planning and Development Office planning team worked on the task of completing the Vision

Reality Gap (VRG) analysis assigned to them by the SURGE consultants. The assessment on

the first workshop on CLUP/CDP Updating raised the need for: (1) engagement of UPV-CM

faculty/consultants and an Iloilo-based consultant to help the SURGE Project and the city in the

planning process; (2) technical

assistance to the city’s economic cluster

specifically the conduct of strategic

planning on key offices, the outputs of

which will be used in improving the

CLUP/CDP economic section; and (3)

comparative work plans to decide

whether to pursue amendment or

revision of the CLUP/CDP.

The SURGE Project helped the city LEIPO conceptualize and organize a strategic planning workshop held May 15-16, 2017. The SURGE Project co-funded the activity, which was attended by 50 participants from the private groups, city, provincial and national government. The initial output was the crafting of the LEIPO’s vision and strategies. Follow-through activities have been scheduled for the next quarter to firm up the strategic plan and business plan for MSMEs. In addition, an economic cluster strategic planning led by the CPDO and in partnership with SURGE was also scheduled. The SURGE Project, UPV-CM Faculty and Iloilo City CPDO met at the UPV Training center on June 8, 2017 to identify the technical assistance needed for improving the city’s CLUP-CDP. Two suggestions were drawn from the meeting: to amend or to totally revise it. The SURGE Project agreed to craft the work plan for both suggestions. The next meeting was scheduled on July 17-18 to present the proposals for the mayor’s approval.

• Assisted the city in sharing lessons in enhancing urban resilience in an international conference in Bonn, Germany in May. Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Mary Ann T. Gumban, Dean of the College of Management, University of the Philippines Visayas joined more than 300 leaders and experts in the 8th Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation. Mayor Mabilog shared key outcomes of Iloilo City’s activities on disaster risk reduction and investment gained through the SURGE Project collaboration with the city.

• Assisted in the 2017 BPLS Institutionalization. Iloilo City is eyed by the national government

to be the model LGU in BPLS streamlining in the region. Although the manual BPLS of Iloilo

City is currently compliant to the new JMC, the city government still pursues continuous

improvement especially in electronic BPLS or eBPLS. Toward this end, the BPLO sought the

“There are many ways to get support, not just financial, but through partnerships. USAID/SURGE opened the doors for more collaborative work between CDI cities. It gives us optimism and confidence to be more creative in developing innovative proposals.”

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assistance of the SURGE Project in enhancing the 2017 BPLS. The SURGE Project helped the

BPLO in crafting the city’s 2017-2018 BPLS executive order. The project also assisted the BPLO

in linking up with the DTI and DICT to further enhance the functionalities of the eBPLS.

The BPLO conducted series of consultations with the BPLS-TWG and BPLS Oversight

Committee on the EO. A joint meeting will be scheduled in July for final discussion and approval

of the EO. The eBPLS audit of the UPV will serve as inputs to further improve the city’s electronic

payment system.

• Supported Iloilo City Government in the validation of data for submission to the National

Competitiveness Council (NCC) for the CMCI 2017. The SURGE Project intends to organize

a group within the city to institutionalize the gathering of information needed in measuring its

performance, such as those required by the NCC for the Cities and Municipalities

Competitiveness Index (CMCI). The project met with the CPDO, LEIPO and BPLO initially to

assist in the submission of correct and timely information to the NCC.

• Facilitated marketing linkages consultation. In May 2017, the project facilitated consultations

with milkfish producers, traders, and local and national government agencies to validate the

value chain assessment findings and recommendations conducted in June 2016. One of the

recommendations is for the project to assist local milkfish producers in formulating a business

plan to promote value-added processing of milkfish and other available aquaculture

commodities to diversify existing product lines.

Synergies with other USAID Projects E-PESO Project. A meeting with the city government on electronic payment system with the E-PESO Project was held in April. E-PESO Project’s coordinator and specialist discussed with the SURGE CPC on ways to enhance the electronic payment system in the city. The project’s CPC suggested to revise the E-PESO executive order forming the TWG as there is a need to replace its leader who just retired from the government. Be Secure Project. Participated in the GIS Training organized by the Be Secure Project in April and June participated in by 30 representatives from the city and provincial government, MIWD and the academe. B-LEADERS Project. The project’s CPC was invited by the B-LEADERS Project to attend the PLLENRO forum which was attended by 50 environment and natural resources officers/representatives from Iloilo City, Bacolod City and other cities and provinces in Western Visayas. The activity aims to organize a PLLENRO chapter in the cities/provinces/region. The Green Building Code FGD is the second session conducted by the Iloilo city ENRO in partnership with BLEADERS. This is to obtain inputs toward the crafting of the city's Green Building ordinance.

“The USAID/SURGE workshop was truly helpful because it discussed climate change, its causes and effects, our capacity to act on it by formulating project proposals to address it, and the processes to access funding.”

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USAID’s Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP) in Asia. The project mobilized students from UPV and West Visayas State University to help the city's LEEO craft a project proposal to be submitted to the MWRP. ADAPT Project Asia. The project facilitated the participation of five CPDO staff and four students from UPV and WVSU to attend the ADAPT Project Asia webinar training at the SURGE Iloilo City office. Together with the two officials who attended the Adapt training in Ortigas, the SURGE Project assisted in gathering data needed for the city’s proposed project.

5. LEGAZPI CITY

Key Activities and Accomplishments • Coached and mentored partners for the Stakeholders’ Forum. The SURGE Project

collaborated with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Bicol Regional Office and Legazpi City government in May to formulate their respective presentations for the USAID-supported Legazpi City Stakeholders’ Forum (SF). The project coached and mentored the NEDA in developing the outline of its presentation, which covered highlights of the new Regional Development Plan, and development priorities for Legazpi City.

The project also assisted in the review of the presentations of the Legazpi City government, particularly the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Office for City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), City Health Department (CHD), and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (DRRMD). The NEDA and the city government in May 16 used the finaversion of the presentations, which startediscussions of thematic groups on economigrowth, infrastructure and human capitaenvironment and resilience; and health.

• Organized the USAID-supported Legapi City Stakeholders’ Forum. More than 150

stakeholders participated in the Stakeholders’ Forum held in May 16, 2017 at the Legazpi City Hall compound for the drafting of the city’s action plan to promote sustainable, resilient, and socially inclusive economic growth. The stakeholders were composed of the city government departments and offices, regional line agencies, provincial departments, academe, civil society organizations, and private sector. Mayor Noel Rosal led the opening of the forum and graced by USAID’s Environment Director Jeremy Gustafson and SURGE Project Chief of Party Maris Mikelsons. The participants were able to prioritize key constraints on economic growth, infrastructure and human capital, environment and resilience, and health; determine the key actions and lead offices and officials to overcome the constraints; and identify the timeline to implement the key actions. The success of the Stakeholders’ Forum can be attributed to the SURGE Project’s strategic preparation process as early as March, such as the identification and validation of key constraints, building linkages and networks with stakeholders in the public and private sectors,

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attending to administrative and logistical requirements, and ensuring availability of key officials during the forum. Furthermore, the project led the overall program management and the facilitation of groups during the workshop. This effort led to the drafting of the city action plan which was presented to Dr. Susan Brems, USAID Mission Director, Governor Al Francis Bichara of Albay, and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal before the signing of the USAID Cities Development Initiative (CDI) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in May 17.

• Facilitated the signing of USAID CDI MOU with Legazpi City. The Legazpi City government,

represented by Mayor Noel Rosal and the USAID represented by Dr. Susan Brems inked the CDI-MOU in May 17 witnessed by Governor Al Francis Bichara and 130 officials and representatives of the province, regional line agencies, city government, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector and academe. The SURGE Project supported the preparations in April, in coordination with the USAID and city government. Apart from facilitating logistics, the SURGE Project also assisted the city government in drafting its message for the event, and summarized the Legazpi City’s Action Plan, an output of the Stakeholders’ Forum in May 16. The signing of the MOU officially launched Legazpi City as part of USAID’s CDI partner.

• Processed learnings on business permits and licensing system. On April 19, 2017 a workshop with the Business Permits and Licenses Office (BPLO) of Legazpi City was held to process their learnings from their benchmarking visits to the cities of Batangas, Muntinlupa and Dagupan. The activity identified the medium and long-term direction for BPLS, and challenges of the city government in line with the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, Series 2016 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT).

Through the workshop, the BPLO were able to: (1) conduct an inventory and assessment of their procedures for new applications and renewal of business permits and licenses; (2) identify their strengths and gaps; and (3) reflect and adopt the procedures they found most replicable from the three cities they visited. The BPLO identified some procedures that can be improved in the system such as the adoption of electronic signature, faster issuance of permits and licenses without compromising the integrity of the application process, and improving the operations of the business one-stop shop or BOSS with other city departments/offices and national government agencies. The issues on business permits and licensing system were integrated in the list of issues affecting investment promotion, which were discussed during the Stakeholders’ Forum.

Moreover, the SURGE Project is scheduled to facilitate a four-day coaching and mentoring workshop in August to help guide the city in becoming more efficient and effective in processing new applications and renewal of business permits and licenses.

• Facilitated a Communication Workshop for Legazpi City. The project facilitated the identification of Legazpi City government’s organizational development needs in communication during a communication workshop held on May 17.

“We look forward to promoting a truly business friendly environment by applying the good practices on streamlining BPLS we learned from the learning visit to the cities of Batangas, Muntinlupa, and Dagupan facilitated by USAID/SURGE.”

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The participants identified the need to: (1) strengthening the Public Information Office’s budgetary and organizational and structural needs; (2) create an information system between the city department’s to facilitate up to date information sharing; (3) increase the social media presence by official accounts in different social media handles and updates in the website posts; (4) increase readership by utilizing available and free communication technologies; and (5) revival of the Public Information and Assistance Division with similar functions to the information office. The recommendations raised during the workshop were discussed with Mayor Rosal. The project is working with the city’s Public Information Officer in the revision of the organizational and functional set-up of the public information and assistance division for adoption within the 3rd quarter of the year.

• Coached and mentored the Legazpi City government on Best Climate Practices 2017. The SURGE Project supported the city government of Legazpi to ensure the quality of the two entries submitted to the International Center for Climate Governance’s (ICCG) online international competition, which focused on building local resilience for climate disaster risk. As early as April, the project collaborated with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office regarding the contest.

In May, the SURGE Project guided the city government to develop the city’s entry into the competition. Legazpi City officially submitted the Climate Adaptive and Disaster Resilience Program (CADRe), and the Balangay Legazpi. The CADRe aims to achieve the “zero casualty” goal during natural disasters by mainstreaming climate change adaptation and disaster-risk reduction management in the city in the medium and long term. The Balangay Legazpi, on the other hand, is a cloud-based disaster-preparedness information system. It is a mobile and web application that connects vulnerable people to information that can save their lives before and during the disaster. Of the two entries, the latter was shortlisted in June 28, out of the 188 total entries around the world. The city’s entry is now soliciting support through online voting from July 3 to July 26. Part of the continued assistance of the project is to facilitate the mobilization of city government

“Thanks to USAID/SURGE for organizing a Communications Workshop. We realized the importance of strengthening our communication strategy, which includes the revival of the Public Information and Assistance Division, to promote Legazpi City as a tourism

hub.”

“We thank USAID/SURGE for giving us the opportunity to learn how to prepare evidence-based adaptation project proposals. Enhancing urban resilience is very important for Legazpi City, which is one of the hazard hotspots in the country.”

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network to seek support for the entry. This included the drafting of communications for city departments and offices, private sector, academe, and CSOs; tarpaulin to be posted in conspicuous places; and press release for local media and city’s website. The SURGE Project City Program Coordinator was also one of the resource persons that explained the international online contest to all barangay chairmen in July 5, a gathering convened by Mayor Rosal for the Balangay. The project also mobilized its team in Makati and other CDI cities to call for support to Legazpi City’s entry.

• Completed the set-up of a functional SURGE Project Legazpi Office. In June 2017, the SURGE Project office was completed with six-seater conference room, air-conditioning and internet connection. The 24 square meter office is located at the 3rd Floor of the City Hall Main Building. Considering the shortage of meeting venues at the city hall, meetings are usually costly when conducted in other venues. Thus, the SURGE Project office also served as a meeting space and for coaching and mentoring sessions. For instance, the office was used for a workshop with CPDO staff to review the city government’s vision statement, which is part of the updating activity for the CLUP.

• Facilitated the review of the Legazpi City Vision Statement. The SURGE Project facilitated the review of the city government’s vision statement in June 13, 2017 as part of the process to update the CLUP. The project’s City Program Coordinator led the workshop with eight planning staff of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Assistant City Planning and the Development Coordinator. The workshop focused on the characteristics of a vision statement, its alignment with national, regional, provincial and local priorities and thrusts. It identified seven elements that were used to draft a vision statement, which the project also helped formulate. The draft vision and its definition were presented to the expanded CLUP planning team in June for comments and it will eventually be presented to a wider stakeholders’ consultation in August this year.

• Coached and mentored the Legazpi City CLUP Planning Team in enhancing the

situational analysis. The SURGE Project’s City Program Coordinator had been coaching and mentoring the planning staff of the CPDO since the second week of June to improve the analysis of land use and sectoral concerns, and strengthen the integration of hazard-risk assessment in the planning process. The assistance extended by the project is meant to improve the capacity of the city government on technical matters regarding the CLUP, emphasizing the guidelines of the HLURB, particularly adherence to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and gender equity and social inclusion.

The coaching and mentoring sessions with the CPDO staff started in June 13 led to the refinement and finalization of city issues/concerns affecting land utilization. The CPDO will circulate the draft analysis to concerned regional line agencies and city departments/offices for validation and further enhancement in July. The situational analysis in the CLUP is critical, because this identifies the medium and long-term priorities of the city government until 2028, and their impact to land utilization and management.

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The project is scheduled to coach and mentor the city government in setting goals and objectives once the situational analysis is finalized. It is also scheduled to conduct a technical writing training to guide the CPDO in drafting the CLUP. The CPDO was designated to take the lead in updating the CLUP in collaboration with the HLURB.

Synergies with other USAID Projects Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP) for Asia. In April, the project advocated the MWRP to its partners in Legazpi City to encourage submission of concept notes. Part of its advocacy included the conduct of orientations to local stakeholders such as the academe, local chamber of commerce and industry, non-government organizations and CSOs. Since May, the SURGE Project has been coaching and mentoring the Bicol Consortium for Development Initiatives, Inc. (BCDI) and Socio-economic Development Program Multipurpose Cooperative (SEDP-MPC) in drafting a concept note. The coaching and mentoring focused on the proper analysis of the problem in the use of plastic in Legazpi City, and the inventory of current programs and services. The two organizations agreed to merge their concepts for the establishment of the city’s plastic recycling center and solid waste management knowledge and resource center. Led by the BCDI, the proposal will be presented to Mayor Rosal in July to get the city government’s support in the implementation of the project. The BCDI, in collaboration with the project, is set to submit a proposal to MWRP by August. Visit of USAID officials. The SURGE Project organized the visit of USAID Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems in Albay in May. In particular, project coordinated with national and regional line agencies, and mobilized the city government through the city mayor’s office. Dr. Susan Brems successfully held a roundtable on climate change adaptation and disaster resilience with Mayor Rosal and other city officials along with representatives of the academe and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The director also visited the city’s sanitary landfill with Mayor Rosal and City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Ms. Salve Corral. Dr. Brems was also able to conduct an ocular visit at the new Bicol International Airport to check on the progress of construction work, and discuss updates and challenges with officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and NEDA.

6. PUERTO PRINCESA CITY


• Provided support in developing Puerto Princesa City Septage Management System. The

SURGE Project and the City Septage Management Council and TWG (CSMC-TWG) started

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the Septage Management Household

Water and Sanitation Systems and

Practices study to help design an

appropriate and sustainable water

septage and sewerage system in the

city. The study determines household

water and sanitation systems and

practices and septic tank conditions in

the barangays.

In April, the city government and the Puerto Princesa City Water District Board of Directors

expressed commitment on septage management embodied in the Clean Water Act of 2004 and

city ordinance No. 737, Establishing the Septage Management Program in Puerto Princesa City.

The collaboration enhanced partnership with Palawan State University and have established a

ready pool of researchers on septage in the city.

• Supported the Disaster Risk Management-Climate Change Adaptation in the City. The

project helped in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Orientation on June 3-7, 2017 in

Iloilo City, and on the improvement of the

city’s competency in disaster risks and

hazards management. The GIS team of

Puerto Princesa City presented the

hazard projections from storm surge in

the four barangays of Honda Bay. The

projection scenario identified more than

6,000 households will be affected. The

exercise increased the city’s appreciation

in risk-sensitive land use planning.

Earl Timbancaya, the Puerto Princesa City DRRM head expressed that the skills and tools gained in geo-referencing enabled them to utilize their available datasets (using other platforms) for disaster risk planning and management. Moreover, the city realized the need to collaborate and share data across departments which significantly will reduce level of effort and time spent in completing their work on disaster risk maps and projections by two-thirds. As a result, part of their plan is to propose the formation of a composite TWG on disaster risk hazards and vulnerability mapping. GIS-enabled hazard-risk and vulnerability mapping is an important aspect of disaster planning and management.

“USAID/SURGE enhanced our skills in formulating a project proposal and provided guidance on how to integrate gender and development in

our proposal.”

“The USAID/SURGE workshop on project preparation equipped us with the knowledge on how to access funds to address the impact of climate change. We are now confident to create better proposals for funding of other agencies to augment the city’s limited budget.”

The USAID/SURGE workshop refreshed and updated my basic knowledge on GIS. I look forward to making GIS related data available and downloadable online so our citizens no longer need to go to the city hall just to request for a file.

“We found that the volume of the city’s desludgeable wastes have increased over time. USAID/SURGE is assisting the water district address this issue by helping re-design the city’s septage

system.”

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A proposal on early warning systems to be submitted to the People’s Survival Fund Committee was the result of the city’s participation to the SURGE Project Workshop on Project Preparation and Finance for Urban Resilience held in Manila on June 19-23, 2017.

• Continued to assist the city’s BPLS and BOSS. For the quarter, the streamlined business

permit and licensing system continue to operate in Puerto Princesa City. As an effort to further

enhance the system, the city implemented a new office lay-out for the BPLO and BLP-REM

offices. Moreover, the project assisted the Business Permit and Licensing Regulatory,

Enforcement and Monitoring Joint Inspection Team (BPLREM-JIT) in the city’s education and

information campaign to increase awareness of business establishments on the new BOSS

procedures and the conditions of businesses operating in the city. From April to June, 2017, the

BPLREM JIT was able to inspect 912 business establishments and issued 509 notices of

violations.

• Helped in mobilizing the city’s Local Economic and Investment Promotions (LEIPO). The

project, in collaboration with LEIPO, facilitated the preparation and coordination of Investment

Promotion and Internal Control System benchmarking with the cities of Cebu and Tagbilaran

and provincial governments of Cebu and Bohol. Once implemented in the next quarter, the

intervention will enhance the financial management and investment promotion activities of the

recently established LEIPO. The Province of Palawan expressed interest to join the activity

together with the Local Finance Committee, City Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry

and the Chamber.

Series of meetings were organized to firm up DTI’s pledge to extend assistance to the LEIPO in the formulation of the micro, small and medium enterprise development (SMED) plan. This activity will be implemented in collaboration with the Puerto Princesa City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A draft executive order creating the SMED Council and program for SMED planning were developed. The coordination meetings that the SURGE Project facilitated paved the way for a joint initiative on the City’s Go Negosyo Center. It strengthened LEIPO’s promotion and information activities with the established information booth during the provincial Baragatan Festival in June. The activity is a collaboration among the SURGE Project, DTI, DOLE and the Asian Development Bank-Jobstart Philippines.

• Supported the formation of the Seaweeds Network in Puerto Princesa City to improve productivity and market access. The Seaweed Network was officially formed on May 31, the planned seaweed network forum this August, 2017 will be a venue to present the network plan and announce the formal partnership with the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP).

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The project builds on the gains of USAID/Compete Project on nursery establishment in Quezon, Palawan. Efforts were made to involve the Provincial Agriculture Office and reach out to seaweed growers operating in Palawan. Furthermore, rapid assessments were made on the viability of fish cage culture in Tiniguiban and fish hatchery as alternative livelihood for seaweed farmers.

• Assisted in strengthening the city’s tourism industry through Strategic Tourism Development Planning. During this quarter, the project conducted consultation meetings with the City Tourism Office to define commitments in the finalization of the City’s Tourism Development Plan (TDP). The SURGE Project expressed its commitment in the preparation of their strategic action plan, organization of a tourism summit, and in developing their tourism promotions and communications.

As part of heritage tourism, Architect Honesto B. Teves of the City Engineering office and the Palawan State University Department of Architecture Professors expressed their interest to collaborate in sustaining the architectural documentation of heritage sites. Recommendations include: (1) the development of guidelines for historical architecture documentation as part of the curriculum for Architecture students; (2) the coaches training on restoration; and (3) the organization of heritage symposium to build awareness. The City earmarked PHP 13 million for improvement of heritage sites.

From May 3 to 4, the project facilitated the Organizational Workshop and Joint Planning Session that gathered tourism and tourism-related industry players and stakeholders in Puerto Princesa City. The workshop focused on the tourism data such as visitor market profile and trends in tourist arrivals; the tourism circuits, involvement of the private sector in planning as well as efforts to integrate indigenous people’s concern and gender mainstreaming strategies in the plan. Various stakeholders identified issues on low tourism arrival such as poor product development and services that reduced interests of returning tourists, low capacity and readiness of sites, improvements are needed in infrastructure facilities and utilities, security, expensive tours, unregulated transportation fees, low value for money, and limited trained frontline personnel.

• Coordinated with A Single Drop for Safe Water (ASDSW), a service provider based in

Puerto Princesa City and contracted by USAID’s Be Secure Project on water and

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sanitation in Mindanao. The coordination was followed by a meeting with the presence of

Vice-Mayor Nancy Socrates and Dr. Ric Panganiban of the City Health.

ASDSW works in areas not covered by PPCWD in terms of improving level 1 and 2 water

access. It also plans to cover all barangays of the City in support to the Zero Open Defecation

program focused on community-based sanitation options and advocacy. ASDSW is one of the

TWG of the City’s Septage Management Council advocating behavior change and demand

driven approach to water, sanitation and health.

• Provided technical assistance to the city’s solid waste management plan. Through the

SURGE Project’s water and sanitation specialist Engr. Evelyn Sagun, the project provided

technical assistance on the city’s solid waste management plan, particularly the analysis and

consolidation of waste characterization results for residential and non-residential

establishments. The city’s draft solid

waste management plan was also

reviewed with recommendations to

complete the inventory for non-residential

establishments, coordinate with the

business permit and licensing office to

determine the number of establishments in

every barangay, finalize the survey report,

develop the monitoring as well as budget

requirements in the plan, and for the LGU

to revisit the function of the SWM office.

• Organized the Executive Forum for Internal Control and Internal Audit in collaboration

with the City Budget Office to improve business process. The forum, participated in by

Vice-Mayor Nancy Socrates and the Council Members, increased the realization of the city

officials on the importance of business documentation, recognizing risks by instituting controls

to address these risks that hinder financial and operational, efficiency of programs, safeguarding

of assets and compliance to policies and procedures. They also recognized the importance of

creating an internal audit office focused on controls. This initiative is seen to support business

promotions procedures, streamline systems and operations through addressing risks, instituting

internal controls and monitoring. Currently, the city is discussing the creation of internal audit

focals in every department and equipping them with risk assessment and management skills.

• Other activities of the SURGE Project in Puerto Princesa City during the reporting period

were the following:

• Organized exploratory meetings with the DTI and Go Negosyo in support to the 2017 LEIPO

planned Business and Investment Forum;

• Provided technical advice and encouraged participation of the LEIPO in the Business

Planning Seminar organized by the DILG.

• Facilitated the strategic planning workshop for the pearls and souvenir association in

collaboration with the City Tourism Office.

• Participated in the Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) Forum on May 15, 2017 organized by the

Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in partnership with the

Provincial Tourism Office.

“Through our partnership with USAID/SURGE, we were able to materialize our longtime dream to implement a sanitation program in Puerto Princesa City. We know how important it is especially that our city is one of the best tourist destinations in the country.”

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• Participated in the PhilEXIM (Philipine Export and Import Credit Agency) Briefing with the

Puerto Princesa City Chamber of Commerce Officers, City Tourism Office and Department of

Labor-Jobstart.

• Collaborated with the city government for the benchmarking activities in Malay, Aklan on June

20-23, 2017 and the investment promotion and internal control benchmarking preparations in

the cities and provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

• SURGE Project and Puerto Princesa Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducted series

of meetings to plan and explore about investment promotions in the city.

Synergies with other USAID Projects E-PESO Project. The SURGE Project monitored and coordinated the partnership between the City Government, Land Bank of the Philippines and RAMESES on Cash Card and e-payment facilities by the USAID E-PESO Project. Rameses started testing the integration of the system in June. LGU members were invited to participate on-line and to assist in the setting up of the online payment module as well as address issues related to online transaction performance and recovery. COMPETE Project. Follow-through activities were held to build on the gains of the USAID/COMPETE Project. For the quarter, the project conducted separate consultation meetings leading towards a strategy to sustain architectural documentation with the City Planning, City Engineering and Professors of the Palawan State University College of Architecture. The City Government earmarked PHP 15 million for infrastructure and landscaping of the core heritage sites. The formulation of the heritage guidelines for the Council, architectural documentation of the heritage houses, promotions of the heritage district and the formulation of an executive order organizing the City Urban Heritage Council and TWG will be included as part of the projects and activities under the Tourism Development Plan which will be launched in September 2017. Municipal Waste Recycling Program in Asia. MWRP application submitted from Coast Guard Auxiliary Services headed by Commodore Rosalyn Jasper and expression of interest from Prof. Eva Ponce De Leon of Palawan State University. Information on the program was also shared and discussed with the Palawan Provincial Government representatives, City Government, enterprise groups and organizations such as Javenri Harvest Farms and IamFilipina. Protect Wildlife Project. Met with Ms. Jeanne Tabangay on the programs of Protect Wildlife in Palawan and in Puerto Princesa for Year 3 Implementation. US Forestry Service I-Tree. USFS supported the participation of City ENRO, Atty. Carlo Benitez Gomez to the International seminar on Urban Forestry held the whole month of June, 2017. They also provided the system to facilitate tree inventory and wildlife in Anipahan Watershed area.

7. TAGBILARAN CITY

Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results • Assisted in the monitoring of project implementation of the Tagbilaran City Waterworks

System (TCWS). The SURGE Project helped the city to monitor the water system projects,

specifically at the pilot area in Taloto water district, that resulted in the preparation and ongoing

implementation of a one-year Action Plan. The plan is envisioned to reduce non-revenue water

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and improve water service efficiency of the

pilot area. From April 24-26, 2017, the

project helped in the conduct of the joint

Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and

Tagbilaran City Waterworks System

Assessment Workshop.

The project also witnessed the signing of

MOU between the City Government of

Tagbilaran, represented by Mayor John

Geesnell L. Yap II, and the Maynilad Water Services, Inc., represented by Maynilad Water

Academy Executive Director Rodora N. Gamboa on April 27, 2017. On June 9, the project also

assisted in the Operations Planning Workshop with the staff and employees of the TCWS to

assess progress of plan implementation.

• Helped the city in the household survey and assessment of water and sanitation systems

and practices. This activity led to the preparation of a one-year Septage Management Plan

which shall serve as basis for the development of a policy for water and septage management

and for the preparation of a feasibility study on the establishment of a septage treatment facility.

The following activities were conducted:

- Water and Sanitation Data-Gathering

Training of about 40 city participants,

to include Tagbilaran City Septage

Management TWG and Barangay

Enumerators, for the assessment of

household water and sanitation

systems and practices in May;

- Field Work and Assessment Survey

of household water and sanitation systems and Practices in May by 29 barangay-based

enumerators, 86 percent of which are women. The survey covered 471 respondents from

the 15 barangays of Tagbilaran City, representing 21.5 percent of the total household

population (NSO 2015) of 21,886;

- Data Encoding and Processing of completed assessment survey forms done by six data

encoders-students from Bohol Island State University (BISU) in May; and

- Presentation of study results of water systems ring–fencing and water and sanitation

systems and practices assessment to the City Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Sangguniang

Panlungsod, City Department Head and Officials and Septage Management TWG in June.

It was agreed that Tagbilaran City will conduct a benchmarking activity in July with the

Septage Treatment Facility of Baliwag Water District, in Baliwag, Bulacan.

“The twinning arrangement with Maynilad provides us with the technology and expertise we did not have before. We now use a systematic approach in assessing the real status of our city waterworks. “

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• Assisted in the preparation and validation of the Tagbilaran City’s Tourism Development

Plan on Heritage Conservation and Creative Industries. The project facilitated the Tourism

Development Strategic Action Planning Workshop in April participated un by 50 public and

private tourism stakeholders. A round table discussion was also held in May with 40 private

sector tourism stakeholders on the Tagbilaran City’s Heritage Tourism and Creative Industry

Development. The project helped in the Creative Hubs Training of Tagbilaran City culture/arts

and tourism offices for the establishment and design of creative hubs in Tagbilaran City.

• Provided technical assistance in the review of 2017 Annual Investment Program (AIP),

formulation of the 2018 AIP and updating of the CDP and six-year local development

investment plan (LDIP). This is to ensure that plans and budgets are resilient and inclusive as

well as compliant with urban land uses and zoning, with mainstreamed gender and social

inclusion. This is also to ensure that the SURGE Project objectives and ongoing implementation

activities are considered in the plans. The project also helped in the CDP and LDIP Formulation

Workshop and in the CDP consolidation write shop in May. The draft CDP was presented to the

City Development Council on May 26. Furthermore, the SURGE Project assisted the city in the

2017 AIP Review and Formulation of the 2018 AIP in June.

• Provided technical orientation and preparation of city participants for their attendance

and participation in the following SURGE-sponsored capacity building and training

activities:

- Briefing and Orientation of GIS Participants on May 15, 2017 and Briefing with ADAPT

Participants on May 22, 2017.

- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Training at Central Philippine University (CPU), in

Iloilo City, June 5-9, 2017, where Tagbilaran City sent six participants who agreed to conduct

an “echo training” with identified and

potential GIS staff per relevant office

to form the City GIS Team;

- Project Preparation and Finance

for Urban Resilience Workshop, June

19-23, 2017, participated in by 3 city

participants who identified initial

climate change mitigation projects to

access resources from the Philippine

Government’s PSF.

• Assisted the city in the completion

and compliance of required

documentation for the Seal of Good

Local Governance (SGLG) Audit.

For the first time, the City Government

of Tagbilaran was able to successfully

hurdle the provincial assessment

conducted by the Provincial Office of

the DILG on June 1, 2017.

“I am grateful that Tagbilaran is a partner of USAID/SURGE, because as early as now we can already feel positive changes in our city. I am optimistic that we can find more ways to improve our public services for inclusive, resilient and low-emission

“With the support of USAID/SURGE, Tagbilaran City was able to sustain our growth and progress. While much has yet to be done to meet the needs of our constituents and provide public services, we welcome the assistance of USAID/SURGE in achieving our goals.”

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• Helped the city in the Rapid Economic Appraisal (REA). The assessment was conducted

on June 14, 2017, involving resource persons from local government units, national government

agencies, chambers and trade associations as well as with 30 individual business owners. The

assessment results of which will serve as basis for the crafting of the City of Tagbilaran

Economic Growth Action Plan and Local Investment and Incentive Code (LIIC). Funds are

provided by the Department of Trade and Industry, Bohol Province, under the Bottom-Up

Budgeting (BUB).

• Assisted in the preparation of a Concept Note to be submitted to the USAID’s Municipal

Waste Recycling Project (MWRP). The SURGE Project helped in the coordination of series

of meetings, from April to June, of the city with the Participatory Research, Organization of

Communities and Education towards Struggle for Self-reliance (PROCESS)-Bohol, Inc., a non-

profit organization that empowers fishing and farming communities in the upland and coastal

areas of Bohol.

Synergies with other USAID Projects E-PESO Project. The SURGE Project coordinated with the E-PESO Project for forum on electronic payments or ePayments in Tagbilaran City. The forum gathered 40 participants from local government units, academic institutions, micro-finance institutions, public utilities, members of the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR), Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and non-government organizations. Service providers, including the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) introduced their products for online and electronic payments. The project also coordinated with City Government of Tagbilaran’s TWG, private sector and public utilities regarding the orientation on ePayments in April.

8. ZAMBOANGA CITY Key Activities, Accomplishments and Results • Completed the 2016 Green House Gas

(GHG) Inventory and GHG Management

Planning - entity level. The city has completed

its 2016 GHG Inventory Report on May 12,

2017 and the data was used for the GHG

Management Planning-entity level held on May

24-25, 2017. The individual Departments’ GHG

Management Plans are expected to be

completed by July this year.

As a result of this activity, the city has

successfully qualified to join the 2017-2018

edition of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s

(WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC).

The city was recognized as among the 10 cities that developed infrastructure, housing,

transport, mobility solutions to power the global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient

future.

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• Conducted community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training. Three

hundred fifty (350) participants from 98 barangays that are members of the Barangay Disaster

Risk Reduction Committee (BDRRC) and city DRRMC were trained as part of the city’s initiative

to build greater awareness on climate

change and disaster risk reduction and

management. The barangays are

expected to improve and strengthen

existing BRRMC plans and structures.

Three members of the DRRMO, who

benefited from the SURGE Project

initiated training, served as facilitators

of the community-based DRRM

training.

• Assisted in the Environmental

Planning (EnP) licensure review

sessions wherein eight out of 14

employees from the LGU passed the

examination. At least 57 percent of the

first batch of the Zamboanga City-LGU

examiners passed the Environmental

Planning licensure examination held on

June 7-8, 2017. The SURGE Project

Field Office facilitated and led the

conduct of the group/self- review

sessions. The continued technical

assistance and support of the project

were instrumental in the increased level

of competencies and confidence of the

staff to do their work better. The oath taking and organization of ZAM-BASULTA Philippine

Institute of Environmental Planner (PIEP) Chapter will be in July 2017 through the initiative of

the Zamboanga City-EnPs.

• Facilitated the attendance of the GIS

team of the city government to the

GIS workshop. The LGU-GIS team,

composed of 10 personnel from the city

who attended the GIS training of the

SURGE Project last June 5-9, 2017 will

conduct a re-echo training in July 2017.

The team will also produce digitized

maps and accurate geographic

information by September 2017. GIS

participants were able to use the

equipment provided by the city worth PHP1.1 million such as six i7desktops, two units of GPS

and an A3 printer, which were delivered in June 2017. Additional two sets of the equipment will

“Participating in the USAID/SURGE GIS workshop helped me appreciate the importance of GIS in my daily operations. I am now equipped with the skills to create maps and digitize the building footprints of Zamboanga City.”

“I learned how greenhouse gas affects not just the environment but individuals during the USAID/SURGE workshop. Energy saving solutions will reduce carbon emissions and monthly operation expenses.”

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be delivered in July 2017. GIS technology could provide the framework for a shared spatial data

infrastructure within and among government offices and their stakeholders due to its capability

to integrate data and information needed to perform day-today functions of city departments.

• Facilitated the participation of four LGU staff to the USAID/ADAPT Project Training. The

project assisted four staff from the CPDO, CENRO, and two from the DRRMO to participate to

the USAID/ADAPT Project Training from June 19 to 23. They are expected to develop a project

proposal on adaptation for possible funding by September 2017.

• Developed draft Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP). The city’s draft ISSP was

developed through facilitation and mentoring, and cluster meetings. The draft was submitted to

the SURGE Project Head Office in Makati and to the DICT for review. The ISSP provides a

comprehensive framework within the LGU which links the city’s objectives on information

technology.

• Started preparatory activities for the full automation of the BPLS. With the successful

streamlining of BPLS in January 2017, the LGU is preparing for the full automation of the system

for the business registration in 2018. Through the facilitation of SURGE Project, the LGU

attended the first batch of the DICT roll-out of its e-BPLS program. The full automation is part

of the continuing process to improve the business environment in the city and to make it easier

for the people to transact with the government. The SURGE Project has been instrumental for

the city to adopt the BOSS system for business registration and renewal last January.

• Assisted in the exploratory and learning

exchange visit on Enhanced Tax

Revenue Assessment and Collection

System (eTRACS). Seven government staff

from Zamboanga City participated in the

exploratory and learning exchange visit on

e-TRACS of Tagbilaran City Government

and Bohol Provincial Government on June

27 and 28, 2017.

Their participation and experiences in the

activity would further strengthen and

promote sustainability, transparency and

advancement in local government programs

as they pursue implementing the ETRACS.

The SURGE Project will provide technical

assistance and guidance in the

documentary requirements as the city

upgrades the tax revenue collections and

other business transactions for more

effective and transparent government.

“After participating in the eTRACS study tour organized by USAID/SURGE, I am more convinced that the latest version of eTRACS should be used by the local government. Using the system is cost-effective and we can make it work.”

“Learning about the assessment and collection system and hearing firsthand the positive feedback on the newly implemented eTRACS in Tagbilaran City helped us decide to adopt the system in Zamboanga City.”

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• Developed preferred investment areas or activities in line with the proposed growth

centers of Zamboanga City. As a complementary activity to the CLUP, the SURGE Project

facilitated and mentored city staff on the development of the preferred investment areas in line

with the proposed growth centers. The document will serve as the Economic Growth Plan of

the city.

• With the SURGE Project’s continued assistance in helping cassava farmers access more

stable markets, the San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SMFI) assembler purchased an initial 3 metric

tons of dried cassava chips from the Lubigan farmers. The project and the city government

are also looking into ways of increasing the quality of the cassava product and its marketing

sustainability with more SMFI assemblers. A meeting was held in June 27, 2017 to link the

farmers with another SMFI assembler.

• Assisted the city in preparing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Transportation and

Traffic Management Study. The Traffic Advisory Board (TAB) met to discuss the challenges

and problems on the city’s transportation and traffic management. An amount of PHP5 million

was allotted for this study. The SURGE Project will be requested to do the third party desk

review.

• Conducted a Third Party Desk Review of the TOR for the Tourism Master Plan of

Zamboanga City. The SURGE Project-STTA on Tourism conducted the review. The city has

allocated PHP3 million for the Tourism Master Plan. The plan aims to formulate a Tourism

Comprehensive Development Plan that is technically, economically feasible and socially and

environmentally sustainable aligned with the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and

Zoning Ordinance (2016-2025) and the National Tourism Development Plan (2016-2022).

• Mainstreaming Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in the CLUP. Select Gender

and Development (GAD) Focal Point System and secretariat succeeded in mainstreaming GESI

in the CLUP. Activities under this include consultations with various Departments in the previous

quarter.

• Continued with various institutional mechanisms towards sustainability. In addition to the

SURGE-TWG, several institutional mechanisms towards sustainability of SURGE Project-

initiated activities have been implemented. These are: BPLS-TWG and Committee, ISSP-TWG

and Committee, GAD Focal Point System, Enhanced LCCAP Committee with GHG

Component, and the Environmental Code-TWG. The secretariats come from the lead

departments/units under the Office of the City Mayor.

• Counterpart funding. While the SURGE Project has been providing technical assistance in the

city, the local government spent more than PHP 10 million for the development of three planning

documents: CLUP, ZO and the CDP since the activity started in December 2015. For this

quarter, the city government provided the total amount of PHP 18.6 million. Equipment costs

PHP 1.1 million in support of the GIS related activities.

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Synergies with other USAID Projects PROTECT WILDLIFE Project. In partnership with PROTECT WILDLIFE Project, there were series of orientations with the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) and the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology on the Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP). These Universities committed to submit concept papers on Municipal Waste Recycling whose objective is to improve solid waste management and recycling, thereby contributing to the reduction of discarded plastics entering the oceans, before the end of September 2017. USAID/LOGISTICS. This partner continues to provide security advisories to the SURGE Project Field Office in the city on a regular basis. Such security advisories serve as guide to field staff.

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IV. Correlation to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan

In view of the revision of the Year 2 Work Plan, the SURGE Project submitted a revised Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan to USAID. The M&E plan compares project performance with the targets set for the year. Table 6 shows the project’s performance in terms of key indicators, in relation to the Year 2 targets:

Table 6. Report on Performance Indicators

Performance Indicators Year 2

Targets CDI

cities

Accomplishments (Cumulative)

Remarks Plans for Next Quarter

(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

0.1 IMPACT INDICATOR: CDI Cities' Wealth of Cities Index

TBD n/a n/a Continuing development of the Wealth of Cities Index (WCI). Datasets were collected from reports of National Government Agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Department of Health (DOH) as well as other datasets such as the LGPMS of DILG and the CMCI of NCC. Using these national datasets for the WCI will be provide a comparative performance not just among the eight CDI cities but to the other Philippine cities as well.

Continue the formulation of the Wealth of Cities Index, collect the necessary data, and establish the baselines for all of the 8 CDI cities.

1.1.1 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of CDI Cities with risk-sensitive, socially inclusive, and gender-responsive land use plans

3 2 2 Continued provision of assistance to the CDI cities:

• Continue assistance provided to the CDI cities (Tagbilaran, Iloilo, and Batangas) in the updating of their Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP).

• Planning for the provision of technical assistance to Gen Santos City for the review, enhancement and finalization of its CLUP

Conduct review of CLUP and IZO of General Santos City and Iloilo

1.1.2 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of people supported by the USG to adapt to the effects of climate change

200,000 503

(228 male, 275 female)

118, 287

Conducted the following activities during the third quarter:

• Vulnerability Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Planning Workshop for 3 cities (Puerto Princesa City, Tagbilaran City and Batangas City)

• Conduct Environmental Code workshop in General Santos City

• Conduct meetings with UP Visayas regarding the

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Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

• Vulnerability Assessment and LCCAP Workshop for Tagbilaran City

• Geographic Information System Workshop for Iloilo City Accomplishment for Q3 Includes 96,637 exposed population in selected barangays in Puerto Princesa

establishment of UDLC in Iloilo City

1.1.3 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of people using climate information or implementing risk-reducing actions to improve resilience to climate change as supported by USG assistance

955 0 684

137 Male, 91 Female

from Q3

Conducted the following activities during the third quarter:

• Vulnerability Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Planning Workshop for 3 cities (Puerto Princesa City, Tagbilaran City and Batangas City)

• Vulnerability Assessment and LCCAP Workshop for Tagbilaran City

• Geographic Information System Workshop for Iloilo City

1.1.4 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of people trained in clean energy supported by USG assistance

200 0 50

25 Male, 25 Female

Conducted the GHG Management Planning Workshop in Zamboanga City

1.1.5 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Amount of investment mobilized (in USD) for climate change adaptation as supported by USG assistance

$300,000.00

$ 0.00 $ 8,151

• Conducted a Project preparation and Finance for Urban Resilience workshop and proposal writing to access People’s Survival Fund (PSF) together with Adapt Asia-Pacific. (no data on actual counterpart yet)

• Tagbilaran LGU have spent Php 129,738 (or USD 2883) for climate-related activities in this year, particularly in the formulation of the LCCAP.

• Puerto Princesa City spent a total of Php 237, 047.08 (or USD 5,268) for climate change adaptation and mitigation priorities.

• Assist Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga in GHG Management Planning.

• Conduct low emission, clean energy traffic and transport management for Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga.

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Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

• Provide Technical assistance to Legazpi in the conduct of GHG inventory and accounting.

• Conduct of GHG Orientation for the City Development Council of General Santos City

1.1.6 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, estimated in metric tons of CO2e, reduced, sequestered, or avoided through clean energy activities supported by USG assistance

0 0 5,044

2,532 Male, 2511

Female

Tagbilaran City issued EO No. 32 Series 2016, dated 16 December 2016, entitled “Providing for the Creation of Water and Sanitation Overall Management Committee; Water Systems Improvement Task Force; Ring-Fencing Technical Working Group and a Septage Management Team to improve water and sanitation services in Tagbilaran City and providing for duties therefor”

• Facilitate twinning arrangements between CDI cities (Puetro Princesa, Tagbilaran and Batangas) and water service providers (Baliwag Water District and Maynilad)

• Conduct water supply operations, NRW, and use of EPANET training for Tagbilaran City and Batangas City

• Conduct water safety workshop and plan formulation f or Batangas City

1.1.7 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of people receiving improved service quality from an existing basic or safely managed drinking water service as a result of USG assistance

200,000 0 0 Continue provision of Technical assistance to CDI cities on the conduct of sanitation-related improvement programs such as septage management program that will cover a septage management facility, and improvement of the design, construction and retrofitting of septic tanks. The non-Be Secure cities already have TWGs. Issuance of the implementing rules and regulations of the Cagayan de Oro Septage Management Ordinance.

• Facilitate the preparation/ updating of the feasibility study, program of work and TOR for the proposed septage management facility in Puerto Princesa City and Tagbilaran City

• Conduct preparation of IEE for Tagbilaran and Puerto Princesa Water District septage treatment facilities

• Conduct water and sanitation data gathering collection and report writing in General Santos

1.1.8 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of people gaining access to a basic sanitation

290,000 n/a n/a Continuing development of the Wealth of Cities Index (WCI). Datasets were collected from reports of National Government Agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and

Continue the formulation of the Wealth of Cities Index, collect the necessary data,

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Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

service as a result of USG assistance

Department of Health (DOH) as well as other datasets such as the LGPMS of DILG and the CMCI of NCC. Using these national datasets for the WCI will be provide a comparative performance not just among the eight CDI cities but to the other Philippine cities as well.

and establish the baselines for all of the 8 CDI cities.

2.1.1 OUTCOME INDICATOR: CDI Cities' Cities and Municipalities' Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Improved

<40 CMCI ranking 2016 (excluding NCR,

Cebu, and Davao)

CMCI ranking

2017 (excluding

NCR, Cebu, and

Davao)

Continue providing assistance to the CDI cities in ensuring that data submitted for CMCI 2017 are complete and correct.

BAT 15 (improved; from rank 24)

n/a

CDO 1 (retained) n/a

ILO 6 (from rank 2) n/a

TAG 43 (improved; from rank 46)

n/a

PPS 30 (improved from

rank 49) n/a

ZAM 40 (from rank 5) n/a

GES 2 (improved from

rank 7) n/a

LEG 3 (improved; from

rank 17) n/a

2.1.2 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of newly registered businesses

12,500 Jan-March 2016 – 3,207 for the 6 CDI cities

*Data not yet available for the entire year. *Source of data for this is the CMCI historical data.

Jan-March 2017- 5,656 (for the 6 CDI cities) from Q3 Note: 76.4% increase compared to the same period in 2016

• The cities of of Zamboanga, Puerto Princesa, and Tagbilaran were able to set up business permits and licensing systems that achieved results that were improvements over their 2016 BPLS processes in terms of the reduction of steps, documentary requirements and processing time;

• Continue support to the CDI cities in their streamlining and automation efforts particularly evaluated the reforms in the 2017 BPLS of the 3 cities during the renewal period

• Continue support to initial activities of Batangas in the streamlining of construction-related permits.

• Conduct of BPLS Streamlining Workshop in new CDI cities of Legaspi and General Santos for self-assessment of city officials of their BPLS and identify reform areas in streamlining their business permitting and licensing systems

• Conduct of Investment Promotion Workshop to expand identified economic sectors, design strategic potential

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Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

*Data not yet available for the entire year. *Source of data for this is the CMCI historical data.

• Planning for the Technical Assistance for BPLS Streamlining in General Santos City and Legaspi City

• Planning for the Technical Assistance in strengthening local business development of Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran

interventions to accelerate trade and investment acquisition, strengthen One Stop Shops for investors, among others.

2.1.3 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Percentage increase in locally sourced or municipal (city) revenue

15% Jan-March 2016 – Php1,426,767,914 for the 6 CDI cities *Data for whole year not yet available. Awaiting BLGF SRE report for all cities.

Jan-March 2017- Php1,674,907,845 (for the 6 CDI cities) from Q3 Note: 17.4% increase compared to the same period in 2016 Not yet applicable. Annually reported to BLGF.

Continue efforts in the establishment of the Unified Land Information System (ULIS), Digital Cadastral Database (DCDB), and Asset Management.

• Follow up with the CDO Government and concerned agencies the submission of the survey plan for the 48 lots.

• Preparation for the conduct of the training of the CDO LGU Systematic Adjudication Team (SAT) to assist DENR in the titling process of the remaining 150 lots in Brgy. Tumpagon in Cagayan de Oro City.

2.1.4 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of parcels with relevant parcel information corrected or

2,000 0 0 • Follow through on the proposed Land Governance reforms through the Sustainable Land Coalition on land policy development and advocacy activities.

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Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

incorporated into an official land administration system as a result of USG assistance

• The Project will also continue with the technical assistance in land tenure improvement through training, benchmarking, mentoring, and coordination with land agencies.

• Issuance of 2 Executive Orders: creating the Land Management Council of Cagayan de Oro and Land and Asset Management Office

2.1.5 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of firms receiving USG-funded technical assistance for improving business performance

64,000 0 226

The Project will continue on working on facilitating market linkages between producers and processors for the following:

• Cassava – Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga

• Seaweed – Puerto Princesa

• Processed Milkfish – Iloilo

• Tourism Planning (Puerto & Tagbilaran)

• The project will finalize supply agreements/linkages and partnerships with relevant industry associations including tourism development plans:

Cassava – delivery of cassava chips by Zamboanga producers to SMFI

Seaweed – Partnership between seaweed network and key private groups (SIAP)

• Tourism Development Plan for Puerto Princesa & Tagbilaran

3.1.1 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Time and Cost of transporting goods between CDI city and peri-urban areas reduced

TBD 0 n/a Dialogue between local stakeholders and DOTr on status of Laguindingan Airport Expansion implementation

TBD

3.1.2 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of municipal (city) regulations and administrative procedures that have

6 4 13

4 (from Year 1) +

Continue providing technical assistance to the CDI cities to simplify regulations and procedures in their offices.

Closely monitor and assist Batangas City on the drafted EO on the amended Building Permit and Occupancy Permit One-Stop-Shop (BPOSS) s. of 2017,

83



Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

been simplified as a result of USG assistance

54 (Year 2 Quarter 1) + 4 (Year 2 Quarter

2)

containing the streamlined construction permitting processes

3.1.3 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Number of beneficiaries receiving improved transport services due to USG assistance

600,000 0 0 • Work on the advocacy for timely implementation of Laguindingan Airport Expansion Project and facilitation of expanded international air access for Laguindingan and Puerto Princesa airports

• Training Workshop on Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Traffic Management Planning for 6 CDI Cities (Batangas, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga)

• Technical assistance for Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga in the development of the Transport and Traffic Management Plans

No activity planned based on revised work plan

3.1.4 OUTCOME INDICATOR: Private investment in CDI cities and adjacent peri-urban areas increased

85% • Continue efforts in improving the business permits and licensing systems of the CDI cities.

• Continue facilitation of market linkages on the following: Cassava – Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga Seaweed – Puerto Princesa Processed Milkfish - Iloilo Tourism – Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran

Finalize market linkages leading to supply agreements or actual deliveries of products (cassava in Zamboanga); partnership schemes between local producers (seaweed in Puerto Princesa) and industry players and tourism development plans (Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran)

4.2.1 OUTPUT INDICATOR: Number of laws, policies, or procedures drafted, proposed or adopted to

10 0 1 adopted policy (from

Quarter 1);

For Zamboanga City:

• The Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) which

was held last January 2017, provided a

special desk for pregnant women, persons

• Presentation of draft output of the GESI Senior Gender Expert of the GESI inputs or tools developed by the Gender Specialist and

4 In Year 2’s first Quarterly Progress Report, only three issuances were reflected in the narrative. There is a fourth issuance which is Tagbilaran’s Executive Order No. 32 Series of 2016 titled: Providing for the Creation of Water and Sanitation Overall Management Committee; Water Systems Improvement Task Force; Ring-Fencing Technical Working Group and Septage Management Team to improve water and sanitation services in Tagbilaran City and providing duties thereof”.

84



Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

promote gender equality at the regional, national or local level

2 adopted procedure

s; 1 drafted

policy; 1

proposed policy; and

11 proposed procedures (Q2) +

2 adopted policy, 2 adopted

procedures, 3

drafted procedure,

5 proposed

procedure, from Q3

with disability and senior citizens to easily

respond to their special needs;

• Business Permits and Licensing System

(BPLS) Database includes sex

disaggregation and classified as to male and

female entrepreneurs; use of the data sets

can be analyzed for possible interventions;

• Office of the City Environment and Natural

Resources (OCENR) is currently considering

a special chapter on a Culture Fair Human

Settlements in the proposed Environment

Code. This will also consider Gender Quality

and Social Inclusion (GESI); and

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Office (DRRMO) is now considering GESI

and its disaster risk reduction and

management programs that will provide

inputs on how to handle pregnant women,

person with disability and senior citizen

during evacuation and emergency disasters.

• The Restructuring of the GAD Focal Point

System following the Executive Legislative

Agenda priority areas with specific provision

for GAD M & E team

• Completed mainstreaming of GESI in CLUP.

• Ongoing mainstreaming GESI in CDP, and

ELA

• Completed: EO on GAD Focal

Point/including monitoring (Follow up with

GAD)

For Tagbilaran City:

• EO on the Reconstitution and strengthening

of the Tagbilaran City GFPS following the

priority areas in their Executive Legislative

Agenda (including the GAD M & E team

being expanded to include Civil Society

representative for each cluster)

converting these into at least three easy-to-follow tools (GESI integration in DRR, CLUP and ELA, and water);

• GESI integration in BPLS – Legaspi and General Santos

• Follow through results of GESI integration in Strategic Tourism Management Planning in Tagbilaran and Puerto Princesa

• Continuous GESI Integration in Water Intervention particularly in generating gender data to identify potential constraints and opportunities for increasing access to water by women, men, children and social groups;

• Follow through review and integrate GESI integration in the CCA-DRR training manual, and analysis of water and sanitation demand

• Conduct of GESI related capacity development in General Santos City (CLUP, Environmental Ordinance and Gender responsive budgeting)

• GESI integration in the seaweed network (Component 3)

85



Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

• Technical Assistance to the City’s GAD Plan

& Budget through direct GAD cost or

attribution using the Harmonized Gender

and Development Guidelines (drafted GAD

Plan)

• Integrating GESI in LCCAP and DRRM

• Integrating GESI perspective in Tourism

Development Plan

For Iloilo:

• Mainstreaming GESI in the ongoing

updating of CLUP, CDP, Ecological Profile

and ELA

For Batangas City:

• The City DRRMO mainstreaming of gender

equality and social inclusion in CCA/DRR

For Puerto Princesa City:

• Adopted GAD Plan and Budget for 2017

following the GAD technical assistance in

2016

• Integrating GESI perspective in Tourism

Development Plan

(Site assessment report in tourism included

GESI perspective)

• Workshop on proposed Seaweed strategic

action plan consider the roles of women in

value chain – (MOV – strat action planning

documentation report)

Follow through activities for the following: Tagbilaran City:

• The issuance of Executive Order on the reconstitution of the GAD Focal Point System including the M & E team.

• Meeting of Clusters for GAD Planning and Budgeting in the month of April and May.

• Programmatic GAD Capacity Building.

86



Targets CDI

cities



(Quarter 4) Year 1

Year 2 (Q3)

• Establishment of GAD Database. Zamboanga City:

• Finalization of the Executive Order “An Act creating the Composition of Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point and Technical Working Group of the City Government of Zamboanga”.

• Set up of the GAD Database and the Monitoring and Evaluation Group based on the Executive Order.

87


V. Management and Administration

This reporting period is highlighted by the hiring of Administrative Staff for the Field Offices, procurement of goods and services to support project activities and major event scheduled for the period, receipt of assets from USAID’s BeSecure Project and implemented programs for staff care and development. Compliance to the requirements for an USAID financial review was also completed during the reporting period. Hired Administrative Staff and Consultants As of June 30, 2017, the project has 57 long-term technical assistants (LTTA) staff from 59 of previous quarter. Four (4) staff were contracted during the third quarter, and they were deployed in the SURGE Project Field Offices (Table 7). Table 7. List of SURGE Project LTTA staff hired (April to June 2017)

Position Name Date Employed

Administrative Staff

Series of orientation and induction workshops were conducted via Skype call for new staff deployed in the Field Offices. The new LTTAs were given brief introduction about the SURGE Project, orientation on the ICMA’s Code of Conduct and information on the project’s Human Resource, Procurement, Logistics, Finance and Operations. Succeeding topics for the Induction Series for all staff will include orientation on records management for both soft and hard copy files of Operations and Technical Teams. The SURGE Project also contracted two (2) short-term technical assistants (STTA) during this reporting period to provide various technical services (Table 8). Table 8. List of SURGE STTA Personnel hired (April to June 2017)

Position Name Date Approved by

USAID

Component 1

Provided Logistics Support and Procurement of Equipment and Services The SURGE Project Management and Administration provided support to the following main activities: (1) Tagbilaran City Waterworks System Joint Maynilad-Tagbilaran Assessment WOP/Twinning in Tagbilaran City; (2) Signing of the MOU and the holding of the Stakeholder’s

88


Forum in Legazpi City; (3) Orientation and Workshop on GIS in Iloilo City; and (4) USAID/ADAPT Training in Manila. Received Assets from USAID/ Be Secure Project During the reporting period, three (3) vehicles from the Be Secure Project were transferred to the SURGE Project. The vehicles were deployed in the Field Offices for the CDI partner cities in Mindanao. Cagayan de Oro City and General Santos City received their vehicles during this reporting period, while Zamboanga City in July. This is to ensure the efficient movement of SURGE Project staff in the Field Offices and the timely implementation of project activities. The vehicles, office furniture and equipment received were inventoried and recorded. Facilitated Staff Care and Development Facilitated the training of the SURGE Project Emergency Response Team (ERT) on Basic Life Support and First Aid. The project’s ERT, composed of 17 staff from the Makati office, participated in a two-day in-house training at the Makati office with the Philippine Red Cross on occupational first aid (OFA) and basic life support (BLS), cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of the automated external defibrillator (AED).

The project also implemented the Annual Physical Examination for staff under the improved health insurance program negotiated with a new service provider early this year.

Complied to the Requirements for Financial Review and Audit of Financial Records

89


VI. Financial Performance Report

90


Quarterly Financial Report

91


92


Annexes

Annex 1. Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) In implementing land-use and infrastructure planning activities, the SURGE Project has taken various sets of measures on gender equality and social inclusion to manage potential adverse impacts to the environment. On May 15-16, 2017, the project assisted Iloilo City in the review and updating the economic and development and investment promotion component of its Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). The activity aims to discuss key strategies for enhancing partnerships among private sectors and implementing investment promotion programs. The SURGE Project accounted 19 female participants and 11 male participants on the first day, and 16 female participants and 14 male participants on the second day. Other than a gender balanced representation, the project ensured that there will be a multi-sectoral representation in the activity to cater for the needs and concerns of different people regardless of status, age or disability. The activity integrated gender concerns during the discussions.

93


Annex 2. Creating the Land and Asset Management Office of the City Government of Cagayan de Oro

94


95


96


Annex 3. Memorandum of Partnership Between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 10

97


98


Annex 4. Provincial Ordinance No. 2016-015, Creating the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC)

99


100


Annex 5. Memorandum of Understanding Between USAID and Legazpi City

101


102


Annex 6. Media Placement

No. Date Media Company Media Type

Title Author URL

1 06-Apr-17 City Government of Tagbilaran

online news Mayor Yap supports USAID-SURGE projects to enhance water service delivery

Tagbilaran City Media Bureau

http://www.tagbilaran.gov.ph/news/mayor-yap-supports-usaid-surge-projects-to-enhance-water-service-delivery/

2 20-Apr-17 Cagayan de Oro Info Net

Facebook Post

Earth Day Infographic Cagayan de Oro Info Net

https://www.facebook.com/CDOinfonet/posts/1566404490057884

3 21-Apr-17 Palakat Batangas City

Facebook Post

Earth Day Infographic Palakat Batangas City

https://www.facebook.com/palakat.batangascity/posts/1923859394517328

4 21-Apr-17 Beng Climaco Facebook Page

Facebook Post

Earth Day Infographic Beng Climaco Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/bengclimaco/posts/10154576600888014

5 21-Apr-17 Zamboanga City Government

image Earth Day Infographic Zamboanga City Government

http://www.zamboangacity.gov.ph/

6 21-Apr-17 Legazpi City Government Website

online news Earth Day Infographic Legazpi City Government Website

http://legazpi.gov.ph/the-city-government-of-legazpi-joins-the-commemoration-of-earth-day-april-22-2017/

7 21-Apr-17 Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

Facebook Post

Tomorrow, April 22, join us in celebrating Earth Day!

Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

https://www.facebook.com/CdrrmoTagbilaranCity/photos/pcb.1349748348425656/1349745921759232/?type=3&theater

8 23-Apr-17 City Government of Puerto Princesa

Facebook Post

Meeting with Puerto Princesa City Government, Business Leaders and Tourism Council

City Government of Puerto Princesa

https://www.facebook.com/City.Government.of.Puerto.Princesa/posts/1306399866114952

9 28-Apr-17 The Manila Times online news USAID helps upgrade water, sanitation in Tagbilaran

Leander C. Domingo

http://www.manilatimes.net/usaid-helps-upgrade-water-sanitation-tagbilaran/324572/

10 1-May-17 City Government of Tagbilaran

Facebook Post

Mayor Yap partners with MAYNILAD to improve water services in the City


https://www.facebook.com/citymediabureau/photos/a.650409628351732.1073741827.650405008352194/1418635691529118/?type=3

11 2-May-17 City Information Department of Puerto Princesa City

Facebook Post

Tourism Planning Cy Negosa https://www.facebook.com/cy.negosa/posts/10211468028550863


Facebook Post

Caving will be Tagbilaran City's new past time


https://www.facebook.com/citymediabureau/posts/1420864851306202

13 4-May-17 Beng Climaco Facebook Page

Facebook Post

City Government officials meet with USAID-SURGE Technical persons regarding water issues in the city.

Beng Climaco Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/bengclimaco/posts/10154612391368014

14 7-May-17 The Manila Times online news USAid to upgrade water and sanitation services in Tagbilaran

The Manila Times

http://www.manilatimes.net/usaid-upgrade-water-sanitation-services-tagbilaran/325941/

103



Title Author URL

15 8-May-17 Panay News online news Iloilo experience in resilience shared in Germany forum

Panay News http://www.panaynews.net/iloilo-experience-in-resilience-shared-in-germany-forum/


online news Mayor Yap partners with MAYNILAD to improve water services in the City


http://www.tagbilaran.gov.ph/news/mayor-yap-partners-with-maynilad-to-improve-water-services-in-the-city/


online news City Government advocates geo-tourism


http://www.tagbilaran.gov.ph/news/city-government-advocates-geo-tourism/

18 16-May-17 Philippine News Agency

online news USAID project includes Legazpi City

Philippine News Agency

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/988285

19 17-May-17 Bicol Standard online news USAID project includes Legazpi City

Bicol Standard http://www.bicolstandard.com/2017/05/usaid-project-includes-legazpi-city.html

20 17-May-17 Legazpi City Albay Facebook

Facebook Post

MOU signing Legazpi City Albay

https://www.facebook.com/510888042351492/photos/a.553160814790881.1073741972.510888042351492/1344357519004536/?type=3&theater

21 17-May-17 Philippine News Agency

online news Legazpi City signs MOU as partner city of USAID's projects

Philippine News Agency

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/988711

22 17-May-17 Legazpi City Government Website

online news Legazpi entered into MOU with USAID

Philippine Information Agency

http://legazpi.gov.ph/legazpi-entered-into-mou-with-usaid/

23 18-May-17 Bicol Mail online news Legazpi gets USAID nod for Cities Dev’t Initiative (CDI)

Mar S. Arguelles https://www.bicolmail.net/single-post/2017/05/18/Legazpi-gets-USAID-nod-for-Cities-Dev%E2%80%99t-Initiative-CDI

24 18-May-17 USAID Urbanlinks online blog USAID Leads Conference on Sustainable Land Governance

USAID Urbanlinks

https://urban-links.org/sustainable-urban-land-coalition-advocates-reforms-government-supports-move/

25 18-May-17 USAID Urbanlinks online blog Business Owners Enjoy Faster Business Registration as Cities Become More Competitive

USAID Urbanlinks

https://urban-links.org/business-owners-enjoy-faster-business-registration-cities-become-competitive/

26 18-May-17 USAID Urbanlinks online blog Urban Development Media Scan – 18 May 2017

USAID Urbanlinks

https://urban-links.org/urban-development-media-scan-18-may-2017/

27 19-May-17 U.S. Embassy Manila

online news U.S. Government and Legazpi City Enter into Partnership to Promote Inclusive and Resilient Urban Growth

https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-government-legazpi-city-enter-partnership-promote-inclusive-resilient-urban-growth/#

28 19-May-17 Politiko Bicol online news Right up Bichara’s alley: Albay capital strengthens ties with USAID

Politiko Bicol http://bicol.politics.com.ph/2017/05/19/right-bicharas-alley-albay-capital-strengthens-ties-usaid/

29 19-May-17 The Manila Times online news US, Legazpi to promote inclusive, resilient urban development

The Manila Times

http://www.manilatimes.net/us-legazpi-promote-inclusive-resilient-urban-development/328120/

30 22-May-17 USAID Landlinks online blog USAID Leads Conference on Sustainable Land Governance

USAID Landlinks https://www.land-links.org/2017/05/usaid-leads-conference-sustainable-land-governance/

104



Title Author URL

31 22-May-17 The Bicol Regional Weekly Digest

print news USAID, LGU Legazpi partner in promoting inclusive and resilient urban growth

The Bicol Regional Weekly Digest

p.1 & p. 5

32 30-May-17 Cagayan de Oro Info Net

Facebook Post

Land Management Program Cagayan de Oro Info Net

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1599585493406450.1073743679.209573565740990&type=3

33 23-May-17 National Economic and Development Authority

online news NEDA Regional Director presents the Bicol Regional Development Plan (RDP) at the USAID – Cities Development Initiative Forum

National Economic and Development Authority

http://nro5.neda.gov.ph/2017/05/23/neda-regional-director-presents-the-bicol-regional-development-plan-rdp-at-the-usaid-cities-development-initiative-forum/

34 24-May-17 Philippine Information Agency

online news Legazpi City partners with USAID for SURGE Project

Julius B. Embile http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/3301495503181

35 24-May-17 Philippine Information Agency

online news NEDA underscores Bicol’s role in national development for year 2017-2022

Sally Atento-Altea

http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/2571495445194

36 24-May-17 National Economic and Development Authority

online news RD Espinas presents Bicol RDP at Legazpi City Stakeholder’s Forum

National Economic and Development Authority

http://2040.neda.gov.ph/2017/05/24/rd-espinas-presents-bicol-rdp-at-legazpi-city-stakeholders-forum/

37 24-May-17 Bicol University online news USAID’s SURGE Project to further lift Legazpi City’s economy

Bicol University http://www.bicol-u.edu.ph/index.php?p=news-2139

38 25-May-17 USAID Urbanlinks online blog USAID Urban Champion: Jeremy Gustafson

USAID Urbanlinks

https://urban-links.org/usaid-urban-champion-jeremy-gustafson/

39 25-May-17 The Mayon Times print news USAID, City Gov't enter urban growth partnership

The Mayon Times

p. 1


Facebook Post

Tagbilaran City's Solid Waste Management Plan is now ready


https://www.facebook.com/citymediabureau/photos/a.650409628351732.1073741827.650405008352194/1441679822558038/?type=3&theater

41 30-May-17 Cagayan de Oro Info Net

Facebook Post

Systematic Adjudication Team Training

Cagayan de Oro Info Net

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1606107909420875.1073743688.209573565740990&type=3

42 2-Jun-17 Iloilo City Government

Facebook Post

USAID helps cities improve public services delivery using GIS

Iloilo City Government

https://www.facebook.com/iloilocitygov/photos/a.228331990531691.61910.138571859507705/1540360325995511/?type=3&theater

43 5-Jun-17 The Daily Guardian

online news USAID helps cities improve public services delivery using GIS

https://thedailyguardian.net/community-news/usaid-helps-cities-improve-public-services-delivery-using-gis/

44 5-Jun-17 City Government of Tagbilaran

online news Mayor Yap optimistic with Tagbilaran City’s Solid Waste Management Plan


http://www.tagbilaran.gov.ph/news/mayor-yap-optimistic-with-tagbilaran-citys-solid-waste-management-plan/

105



Title Author URL

45 7-Jun-17 Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

Facebook Post

GIS Training Rosalinda Paredes

https://www.facebook.com/rosalinda.paredes2/poss/10213958882431149

46 9-Jun-17 Iloilo City Planning and Development Office

Facebook Post

Geographic Information System (GIS) training

Iloilo City Planning and Development Office

https://www.facebook.com/IloiloCPDO/posts/1322045794580517

47 9-Jun-17 Jed Patrick E. Mabilog

Facebook Post

USAID SURGE Chief of Party Visit

JR Delfin https://www.facebook.com/george.karkan/posts/1526608444078352


Facebook Post

Tagbilaran City enhances its business competitiveness



49 21-Jun-17 City Information Department of Puerto Princesa City

Facebook shared link

Seaweed producer Pictogram City Information Department of Puerto Princesa City

https://www.facebook.com/cio.puertoprincesa/posts/1574166582617043


Facebook Post

Zamboanga learns from Tagbilaran's streamlined business permitting systems




Facebook Post

Tagbilaran City prepares for climate change resiliency projects



106


Annex 7. Memorandum of Understanding Between Cagayan de Oro City and the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

107


108


quarterly progress reportpdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pa00n58q.pdflist of surge project ltta staff hired...

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