Philippines : Study on Local Service Delivery

Abstract

This policy note analyzes the composition of public expenditures that support devolved services (including the resource allocation decisions that support these expenditures), an assessment of the quality of local service delivery based on available local data, and an evaluation of the interactions between various public entities that finance and provide local services. The report includes reviews of local capital investments, local road sector, and the local health sector. The findings from the case studies suggest the need for the rationalization, harmonization, and simplification of local planning and budgeting requirements prescribed by national government oversight agencies. There is also strong need for the national government to clarify the assignment of administrative responsibility for local roads in order to improve the planning and coordination of investments. Finally, the Department of Health should continue to build on its comprehensive reform agenda, which is focused on creating incentives for the local government unit's health sector performance and strengthening systems of local accountability for the province-wide health system.