Philippines – Urban Connect Project

Summary

On October 27, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a new partnership with the Philippine government to help fast-track the economic development of nine cities outside Metro Manila.

The new partnership builds on the gains of USAID’s ongoing Cities Development Initiative (CDI), which has helped introduce key economic reforms and boosted the competitiveness of its pilot cities such as Batangas, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro.

USAID’s Urban Connect Project also aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and supports the U.S. government’s goal to boost the country’s regional competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting inclusive and resilient economic growth.

Details

Aim

USAID’s five-year, Php625-million ($11 million) Urban Connect Project will fund capacity-building initiatives and provide technical assistance that will help build thriving economic hubs in nine partner cities: Batangas, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Zamboanga. Under this program, USAID will work closely with partner cities’ local governments to facilitate enterprise growth, streamline the business permit system, reinforce public financial management, promote e-governance transition, and enhance cooperation between neighboring cities.  In addition to economic advancement, the project will also improve health and education services, promote climate resilience and disaster readiness, and champion gender equality and social inclusion in partner cities.

Outcomes

• Trained over 400 participants in digital governance, city transformation, and cybersecurity.
• Developed eight service improvement plans to modernize online processes including business permitting, licensing, and real property tax payments.
• Assisted four cities with the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) electronic One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) requirement and trained four cities on Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) processes.