Republic of the Philippines

APAYAO STATE COLLEGE

North Apayao Campus
San Isidro, Luna, Apayao

TRAVEL REPORT

Title of Activity: Philippine Society for Public Administration

International Conference
Dates: November 26-28
Venue: Cebu Normal University, Cebu City,
Philippines
I. ACTIVITIES

The International Conference on Decentralization and Democracy for Development

or the 3-D Project was held on November 26-28, 2015 at the Cebu Normal University
in Cebu City through the Philippine Society for Public Administration (PSPA) in
cooperation with its partner institutions, the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), the Cebu Normal University, the National College of Public
Administration and Governance (NCPAG), the Center for local and Regional
Governance of NCPAG and other partner institutions.

A joint initiative of the PSPA, the UNDP, the Commission on Human Rights and other
partner institutions such as the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA),
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of
Budget and Management of the Republic of the Philippines, the 3-D Project is
conceived as a Policy Forum which seeks, among others, to undertake a rapid
assessment of the state of decentralization and democracy in the Philippines and in
other countries, and how these have supported or are supporting the ends of
development.

The Project engenders the sponsorship and holding of a series of geographical and
sectoral consultations, meetings and focused group discussions designed, among
others, to:

1) review and enhance decentralization and democratization policies and

implementation for improved service access and delivery, and citizens rights and
participation; and

2) revisit institutional roles, relationships, capacities and accountabilities in

promoting local democracy and good governance of national agencies and
oversight bodies, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, academic
institutions, local government units and local communities, as well as political
parties.

The 2015 PSPA International Conference on Decentralization and Democracy for

Development was intended to kick off series of discussions with the local experts
and specialists from the academe including ASC, civil society organizations, national
and local government policy-makers and officials to share their experiences and
insights on the state of decentralization and democracy in Philippine communities
and how they have contributed to the engineering and pursuit of development goals
whether at the national or the local levels.

The Conference also assessed the poverty incidence and inequalities in the different
regions of the country, especially as to how decentralization and democratization
policies have facilitated or inhibited opportunities of marginalized communities.
The Conference also identified potential academic institutions to serve as
governance hubs to promote the means and ends of decentralization and
democracy at the regional levels through continuing research, monitoring and
evaluation, and consolidation and integration of initiatives towards strengthening
decentralization and democracy in their respective regions and communities.

As part of these exchanges, international experts and speakers were also invited to
share their respective experiences in decentralization and democratic governance in
pursuit of development goals. In particular, emphasis and focus was provided on
decentralization and its impact on local autonomy, local governance and delivery of
social services; democratization as it empowers people and communities, especially
substantive citizens participations in policy-making and management of community
affairs; and development in relation to the global sustainable development goals
and the promotion of inclusive growth. Along these lines, the Conference seeks to
review exiting decentralization and democratization policies towards improving
service delivery and strengthening citizens rights and participation.

II. Accomplishment as Participant

Mr. Jaylord A. Agpuldo and Mr. Reynaldo P. Gayo participated in the preparation of
the paper presented by the CARASUC Chairperson and ASC President, Dr. Nieves A.
Dacyon.

Secondary data were studied and were used in the development of the paper which
are briefly summarized in the following:

Title: LGU-Academe Partnership on Forest Conservation: The Case of Calanasan

Biodiversity & Integrated Research and Development Center (C-BIRD-C)

The paper is a result of a review and secondary data analysis of the lapat inspired Forest Land
Use Plan (FLUP)of Calanasan Apayao and the Calanasan Biodiversity and Integrated Research
and Development (CBIRD) program of Apayao State College.

The review focused on the revisit of the processes and institutional roles, relationships,
capacities and accountabilities of the parties involved in the collaborative project like the LGU
of Calanasan, council of elders of Calanasan, local communities of the same municipality, the
peoples organizations, the NGOs, DENR, and the academe, ASC in particular. (MOA as
reference and davids statements Dr. Tuscanos Govs of Cong)

The same paper highlights the unique insights from the magical contributions of the indigenous
resource management culture and governance of Calanasan and this fast yet highly democratic,
decentralized and participatory planning and decision making processes which undoubtedly
brought the FLUP of this remote Calanasan community to the fore as the the 1 st FLUP in the
country.

The paper provides discussions on the following:

a) exciting decentralization and democratization policies towards improving service delivery and
strengthening citizens rights and participation.
b) the experiences, insights, results of the LGU-Academe partnership and the Apayao collaborative
programs to the following:

1. Poverty alleviation and malnutrition reduction programs of the government,

decentralization and democratization policies that facilitate opportunities of the
marginalized communities;
 2.R&D plans and on-going Programs ,Projects and Activities (PPAs) of Apayao State
College and their initial contributions on the promotion of the ends and means of
decentralization and democracy at the local level through continuing research, monitoring
and evaluation.

3. Observations on the ELA as avenue and venue for integrating initiatives and
collaborating for convergence PPAs towards decentralization and democratic governance
in pursuit of the development goals of both and all entities and the effects of these to
decentralization, local governance and delivery of social services; people empowerment
especially substantive citizens participations in policy-making and management of
community affairs; and development in relation to sustainable development goals and the
promotion of inclusive growth.

Finally this paper intends to pose in this 2015 PSPA conference and to all PSPA networks the
challenges that are yet to be dealt with, with respect to the promotion and incentivization of
indigenous resource management practices and models in the PSPAs advocacy for
decentralization and democracy for development (3-D) in the soon to be conducted RA7160
review and convention.

III. Recommendations:

As an employee of ASC who support the colleges advocacy on

biodiversity conservation as its vision, the participant encourages researchers
and academic praticioners to:

1. Engage in biodiversity-related studies;

2. Extend knowledge and technologies in biodiversity conservation
through instruction and community extension;
3. Advocate biodiversity conservation through various media.

These recommendations are believed to be strong contributors not

only to the development of the college across its mandates but also to the
province as a whole.

Prepared by: Noted:

JAYLORD A. AGPULDO REYNALDO P. GAYO JR.

Web Content Writer Immediate Supervisor