Assessment Report on Reducing Policy and Regulatory Barriers to Productive Rural-Urban Linkages

The project focused on transportation, logistics, communications, agriculture, and mariculture sectors. Transportation, logistics, and communication sectors were assessed to identify policy barriers. In air transportation, local policy barriers were identified in cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga, including inadequate maintenance, poor facilities, and delayed privatization of airport operations. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) was recommended to accelerate the implementation of stalled public-private partnership projects to privatize airport operations. In sea transportation, local policy barriers were identified in cities such as Batangas, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa, including inadequate port facilities, lack of coordination among government agencies, and inadequate investment in port infrastructure. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) was recommended to improve port facilities and invest in infrastructure development. In land transportation, local policy barriers were identified in cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, and Zamboanga, including inadequate public transportation systems, lack of coordination among government agencies, and inadequate investment in road infrastructure. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was recommended to improve public transportation systems and invest in road infrastructure development. In communications, local policy barriers were identified in cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, and Zamboanga, including inadequate internet connectivity, lack of coordination among government agencies, and inadequate investment in communication infrastructure. The Department of Information, Communication, and Technology (DICT) was recommended to improve internet connectivity and invest in communication infrastructure development. The SURGE Project also assessed policy barriers in the agriculture and mariculture sectors. Local policy barriers were identified in cities such as Batangas, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa, including inadequate support for small-scale farmers, lack of coordination among government agencies, and inadequate investment in agricultural infrastructure. The Department of Agriculture (DA) was recommended to improve support for small-scale farmers and invest in agricultural infrastructure development. The report identified cross-cutting policy proposals that are best addressed at the national level. Potential national level policies that were identified per sector relevant to most CDI partner cities include: * Improving airport facilities and investing in airport infrastructure development * Improving port facilities and investing in port infrastructure development * Improving public transportation systems and investing in road infrastructure development * Improving internet connectivity and investing in communication infrastructure development * Improving support for small-scale farmers and investing in agricultural infrastructure development The SURGE Project's recommendations aim to address policy and regulatory barriers hindering productive rural-urban linkages in the Philippines, ultimately contributing to the country's economic growth and development.