The Center for Research and Communication (CRC) is hosting the inaugural Forum on Local Governance and Development tomorrow, October 22, from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

Bringing together around 200 participants from national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), the academe, civil society, and the private sector, the forum serves as a collaborative space for dialogue on the dynamic landscape of decentralization and local governance in the Philippines.

The central focus of this year’s forum is the continuing implementation of the landmark 2018 Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court ruling, which significantly increased the share of national tax revenues allocated to LGUs. Experts and practitioners will examine the policy’s impact on local development, especially in terms of how LGUs are adapting to their expanded mandates and resources.

Among the high-level attendees are senior government officials, including a Cabinet Secretary, several Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, and nine city and municipal mayors, who will contribute their insights and experiences to the discussion.

The event also marks the official launch of the Institute for Local Development, a new initiative of CRC. The institute aims to continue CRC’s tradition of evidence-based, action-oriented research and advocacy, with a specific focus on empowering local governments as drivers of inclusive and sustainable progress.

True to CRC’s mission of promoting the common good through research and dialogue, the Forum on Local Governance and Development is envisioned to be a regular platform for critical reflection, knowledge exchange, and the co-creation of solutions to the complex challenges faced by local communities across the country.