PHILIPPINE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT; POTENTIALS AND LIMITATIONS

THESE HAVE POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF: (1)INCREASED PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES; (2)EMERGENT PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP; (3)INABILITY OF NATIONAL AGENCIES TO DELIVER EFFECTIVELY TO RURAL AREAS; AND (4)POWERS WITHIN THE COMMAND OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WHICH RELATE DIRECTLY TO EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION. THESE POWERS CONCERN TAXATION INTERLINKED TO BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT (PDAP) HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED THAT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN THE EXERCISE OF THESE POWERS IS STRONG AND GROWING. PDAP ASSISTS PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP IN SELECTED PROVINCES TO BUILD CAPACITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT. CONSIDERING PDAP'S LIMITED RESOURCES, THE DEGREE OF ITS SUCCESS IS REMARKABLE. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: (1)STRENGTHEN THESE ACTIVITIES BY LOAN, GRANT, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; (2)ENCOURAGE GOP TO GIVE SERIOUS ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIAL OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS BY MAKING COMMITMENTS, PLANNING FOR PROGRAMS AND THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIPS TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, MAKING COST ESTIMATES AND INVESTIGATING SPECIAL METHODS OF FUNDING; AND (3)CONTINUE PDAP.