More strategic and participatory planning is desirable. LGU chief executive officers (CEOs) often selected subprojects and made investment decisions on their own rather than on the basis of strategic local development plans. Although the project assisted some LGUs in formulating comprehensive land use plans, it did not succeed in ensuring that such plans are standard tools for investment planning despite an LBP requirement mandating that LGUs possess annual development plans to qualify for loan approval. The absence of participatory strategic development plans could result in future LGU administrations backtracking on established development priorities and arbitrarily choosing new priorities. Allowing CEOs to choose subprojects creates a risk that cost recovery mechanisms will not be implemented, as political expedience may lead future CEOs to provide services at below-cost levels.
Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector Project