(Upper left) Ms. Geraldine De La Paz, City Budget Officer of Zamboanga Citypresentedtheir re-entry plan for existing Local Economic Enterprises (Upper right) Representatives from the eight CDI partner cities during the workshop. (Lower left) USAID/SURGE’s Public Financial Management Consultant Dr. Rufo Mendoza explained the importance of local resource mobilization.

CDI Cities Improve Skills in Local Resource Mobilization

On March 18 to 19, 2019, 23 local government representatives from the Cities Development Initiatives (CDI) cities of Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga participated in the Domestic Resource Mobilization Workshop conducted by USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project in Manila. Through the workshop, the participants gained deeper understanding on concepts and tools for effective local resource mobilization for Local Economic Enterprises (LEEs). LEEs are ventures wholly or partially owned by the local government that generate revenue or income through the sale of goods or services to meet a perceived constituency demand. During the workshop, each city assessed their existing and proposed local enterprise ventures, identified the challenges of its establishment and operations, and drafted an operational plan for managing their own LEEs. Participants likewise acknowledged the significance of a well-prepared feasibility study and a detailed business plan for an effective LEE that will contribute to the quality service goals of the local government unit.