METRO NAGA DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

    The Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC) is composed of 15 local government units that bonded together primarily to share and lighten the 'burden' of local governance as envisioned under the 1991 Local Government Code of the Philippines.

    The MNDC revolves around the following development concepts:

• working to be better and endure the test of time,
• an initiative to concretize a dream beyond the influences of traditional politics, forging a new vision of hope for increased local autonomy founded on partnerships, and
• sharing experiences, resources, and risks between stronger and weaker members in providing solutions to various but common concerns.

     The MNDC pools the efforts and resources of 15 local government units (LGUs), the private sector and national government agencies in Camarines Sur, focusing them on projects and activities which address the immediate needs of the Metro Naga constituency and lay the groundwork for the long-term growth of the area.

     On one hand, the MNDC is a planning and coordinating body which defines the role of each LGU in relation to the whole Metro Naga and identifies corresponding priority investment projects. On the other, it is a mechanism to channel resources—whether from other LGUs, the national government or the private sector, local or foreign—towards immediate priority projects and activities. The former is the long-term thrust of the MNDC, the latter its short-term concern.

Objectives

    The Metro Naga program generally seeks to bring about accelerated, equitable and sustainable growth and development within the program area.

Specifically, it  seeks to attain the following objectives:

• Attain complementation of functions through coordinative planning and role definition based on the comparative advantages of each member LGU;

• Improve LGU capability to deliver basic social services through resource pooling; and

• Improve household income by promoting (a) crop diversification and integration of farm operations, and (b) generating off-farm employment through the promotion of agri-based processing concerns.

Beneficiaries

   The MNDC has two levels of beneficiaries.  The first are the local governments, the second, their respective constituencies.

    There are 15 local governments belonging to the MNDC:

Their combined population is placed at 614,929 as of 2001.  Their coming together was based on the realization that they could better secure their future if they could get their acts together. 

    The final configuration of the MNDC lends itself to balanced and sustainable growth. It has 2 fishing grounds: Ragay Gulf (which has a potential for oil) and San Miguel Bay; it is accessible by road, rail, sea and air; it has a strong trading and services sector plus the site for the province's proposed industrial park; and of course, it has Naga City, the region's premier urban center.

Implementation and Partnerships

     The MNDC, as originally constituted, was composed Naga City and 12 surrounding municipalities. The towns of Bula and Ocampo joined later on. However, Executive Order No. 102 added representatives from line agencies with offices in Camarines Sur and pegged at 25% (one-fourth) the representation of the private sector. 

The 12 line agencies are:

• Department of Education (DedEd)

• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

• Department of Tourism (DOT)

• Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

• Department of Health (DOH)

• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

• Department of Agriculture (DA)

• Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

     The following offices, while not ordinarily members of development councils, were included as their participation is critical to the success of the various projects and activities of the MNDC. 

• Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

• Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

• Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)

• National Irrigation Administration (NIA)

• Metro Naga Water District

      Finally, the 1994 General Appropriations Act (GAA) placed the MNDC under the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). A high degree of autonomy is nevertheless enjoyed by the MNDC. NEDA Region V limits itself to oversight functions.

     Program funding comes from the GAA and members' contributions to a common fund. MNDC members contribute 2% of their city/municipality's Local Development Fund (LDF) to the common fund. Members' contributions vary since the LDF comes from an LGU's Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) which is, in turn, directly dependent on the population and land area of a local government unit. However, the MNDC ensures that all the 15 members get their equal share of whatever type of assistance is obtained. It also maintains a Project Assistance Fund which is used for the special projects of each member. This fund is equitably distributed among members, with each LGU being allocated an equal amount regardless of its contribution to the common fund.

     The program is managed by an Executive Committee composed of the mayors of the member-municipalities. A a Project Development Unit (PDU) which serves as the operations and coordinating body.

Milestones

    As a planning and coordinating body, the Council continues to work on surveys and plans involving connecting roads among member LGUs. It is currently working on a Metro Naga Physical Framework Plan. This will be used as the basis for the Metro Naga Strategic Plan for the next 10 years. The MNDC is providing assistance to members in the completion of their Comprehensive Land Use Plans. It has also provided capability-building measures essential in coming up with local development plans. It has been able to access technical and equipment assistance for these from various funding agencies.

     As part of its Service Capability Enhancing Projects, member LGUs have been able to share and pool their resources for the following, among others:

• Metro Naga Equipment Pool
• Metro Naga Senior Citizens Program
• Metro Naga Emergency Rescue Service
• Metro Naga Medical, Surgical and Dental Missions
• Metro Naga Civic Action
• Metro Naga Water Supply Enhancement/Improvement Project

Innovative Features

    The MNDC is a pioneering exercise of the expanded powers and prerogatives of LGUs under the 1991 Local Government Code, an initiative affirmed by former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos through Executive Order No. 102. Compared to previous metropolitan areas, its formation is unique because it was initiated by local officials rather than imposed from above.

    Motivating the LGUs was their recognition that by pooling their efforts and resources, they can surpass what each can individually attain. This synergy works to the advantage not only of poor members but also of the relatively well‑endowed LGUs as this broadens their choice of resources. This has also institutionalized the "Big Brother Concept" in local government relations where better-off LGUs directly assist their poorer neighbors.

    MNDC is known to many (some raise their eyebrows because its present systems and procedures are not very formal or based on what should be the practice of government) as an innovative and dynamic partnership that is forever ready to adapt to whatever changes are needed to make the covenant work; to achieve the common good for the majority if not for all; to meet new challenges and take on more opportunities that are beneficial to secure MNDC's survival as an initiative of local government units that are determined to work together to assist one another and reap the fruits derived from it.