Cebu City's inclusion in World Bank program pushed

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Planning and Development Officer Nigel Paul Villarete is asking the City Council to allow the city to be part of the World Bank’s City Development Strategy, a program to guide local government units and stakeholders in formulating comprehensive and integrated multi-sectoral actions plans.

In a Memorandum sent to Councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the council committee on urban planning and development, Villarete asked that the City Council pass a resolution to authorize Vice Mayor Michael Rama to apply and negotiate for the city’s inclusion to the CDS program in the Philippines.

Villarete said the city needs to negotiate with the Cities Alliance and the League of Cities in the Philippines.

The CDS program, Villarete said, promotes participatory governance and partnerships among the various stakeholders to jointly analyze growth issues such as development strategies, prioritization of projects and mobilization of resources.

CDS was started 10 years ago when development planners saw the need to simplify what was traditionally done before as comprehensive master plans.

“In the ‘80s, what was commonly done for cities was the development of master plans which were too long, too comprehensive, to all-encompassing, not to mention expensive, and which do not really reflect what can be done in cities considering meager resources,” Villarete said.

This reportedly prompted the World Bank to establish CDS, which points at specific focus on what cities can do in short and medium terms and formulate action plans for projects, programs, and activities.

“The keywords there are doable and focused, not something which covers all areas and all sectors but which can't be done in the long run,” Villarete said.

Villarete said that once included, the city will be under Phase 4 of the WB funded project. – Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)