LANDBANK kicks off series of LGU forums nationwide

LANDBANK kicked off a series of LGU forums for 4th to 6th class municipalities in various provinces nationwide last Oct. 12. The first was held in Baguio City and was attended by more than 100 local officials from three regions in Northern Luzon.

Aiming to further expand its reach and strengthen its partnership with its allies in countryside development, LANDBANK gathered local officials from 34 municipalities in Region 1, Region 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The LANDBANK LGU forum is designed to guide and assist LGUs in optimizing their resources and exploring new avenues that could fuel growth in their local economy.

LANDBANK also introduced its programs available for LGUs that can help finance their development projects. One of these is the LANDBANK Omnibus Term Loan Facility, designed to finance local infrastructure and other socio-economic development projects — ranging from hospitals and schools, to flood, sanitation, and waste management programs.

Showcased during the forum was the best practices of an LGU assisted by LANDBANK in crafting their comprehensive development framework, which they used as guide in implementing their development programs.

LANDBANK also invited resource speakers from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

NEDA-CAR Director Milagros Rimando discussed the country’s Medium Term Development Plan and the important role of LGUs in promoting economic development and nation-building.

Florinda Garcia of DILG-CAR, meanwhile, talked about the Seal of Good Local Governance — a coveted recognition for LGUs with exemplary performance in financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection, business-friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order, and environmental management.

Attendees of the first LANDBANK LGU forum came from 12 provinces in the North. They represented Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mt. Province in CAR; Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan in Region 1; and Cagayan, Isabela, and Batanes in Region 2.

LANDBANK is also set to conduct two more legs of the LGU Forum before the year ends — one in Leyte (November) and one in Palawan (December).