Filipinas
An experimental phase of ILO's labour-based programme in the Asia and Pacific
region started in the Philippines with the construction of a levee in Pampanga
province in 1971. A series of pilot projects and initial studies showed that
labour-based methods were suitable for Philippine conditions. Since the early
eighties there have been various experiences with full-scale labour-based
demonstration projects. This included the UNDP/ILO labour-based project in the
late eighties.
The ILO started its Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) programme
with Sida/USAID financial support in 1989 in 3 pilot provinces. Since 1992 the
Dutch Government has provided financial assistance to the programme and will
continue doing this until December 2002. The project now covers all the
Provinces in the country and has been incorporated into the local government
planning system. The data from IRAP is being used by several government agencies
and by donor organisations to prioritise investments. It is also being used as
input to the targeting of poverty alleviation programmes. The ILO ASIST-AP
programme will continue to provide technical assistance once the Dutch
assistance phases out.
Further, ASIST-AP is providing (i) support to the national Infrastructure
Committee created under the 1999 executive order, (ii) support to the Department
of Interior and Local Government in developing their labour-based programme, and
(iii) support to the Department of Labour and Employment, the Department of
Public Works and Highways and the Department of Interior and Local Government to
follow-up to a 1999 executive order that presecribes labour based technology as
prefered construction method.
The next step will be for ASIST-AP to assist the Government in developing an
outline for a national programme which identifies the different responsibilities
and tasks of the different Departments involved.
Introduction
Before the Asian Crisis, and before the ASIST-AP programme as the operational
arm of the ILO Employment Intensive Investment Branch had been set-up, the ILO
had already a long standing relation with the Philippines through its
predecessor in the field of labour based technology, starting in the early
seventies.
Experimental studies on Labour Based Methods
The experimental phase of labour based (LB) projects in the Philippines began
between 1971 and 1973. Under advice from the ILO, work was initiated using
simple devices such as carabao scrapers and pull carts, while labour was
provided using the "pakyaw" system. The Project was followed by the 5
kilometer-long Gapas-Botolan Road in Tarlac on which extensive productivity
measurements were taken.
Philippines Rural Infrastructure Projects (PRIP), 1981 to 1985
Under PRIP, 55 kilometers of Barangay roads were constructed by LBES methods
between 1981 and 1985. The project was funded by the World Bank and implemented
by the DPWH with ILO assistance.
Study of labour Based/Equipment supported Road Construction, 1984-85
The ILO, on behalf of USAID, carried out a detailed study of the comparative
cost of labour based equipment supported and equipment based methods for roads
works. The study was based on actual field projects implemented under the USAID
funded Rural Roads Project and showed conclusively that for Barangay roads and
for road maintenance in general LBES methods were more competitive.
Second Rural Roads Improvement Project (SRRIP), 1986-89
SRRIP was a World Bank-funded project that started in 1986. The Land Settlement
Roads component of SRRIP called for the construction of 280 km. of Barangay
roads using LBES techniques. The ILO provided the technical assistance to the
implementation of this work.
Central Labour Based Advisory and Training Team 1988-90
This UNDP-ILO programme was aimed at maximizing the utilization of labour based
equipment supported methods on infrastructure projects as a means of alleviating
severe unemployment problems. More specifically the immediate objectives of the
Project were: a) the establishment of an institutional framework; b) the conduct
of a nationwide training on LBES; and c) the formulation of systems and
procedures and organizational structure in concerned government agencies.
The CLATT had significant outputs in terms of: a) the production of training
manuals b) direct training of 705 site supervisors from various agencies,
including two courses for trainers, c) assistance to DPWH and DILG in the
conduct of echo training for some 340 participants, d) the establishment of a
permanent labour-based unit.CLATT also initiated the issuance of EO 336, which
institutionalized the labour-based approach within the technical departments.
Current Activities
As can be understood from the former paragraphs, due to the considerable and
continuous efforts of many organisations as well as the Philippine government, a
momentum was gained in the long process towards long term sustainable
infrastructure development based on local resources. Two critical developments
were instrumental in this.
In relation to Local Level Planning, the IRAP methodology was developed. This
methodology became extremely usefull when President Aquino approved the Local
Government Code in 1991 and decentralization became law. Local responsibilities
and budgets increased drastically and a real need for local level planning tools
emerged.
The latest policy of the National Government on labour-based projects is
contained in the Philippines Medium Term Development Plan (1998-2004). It
provides that "labour-based technology in infrastructure activities, where
feasible shall be promoted in support of "employment generation
efforts". An executive order (1999) established the policy direction and
institutional framework to implement the labour-based infrastructure programme
Local Level Planning
The ILO started its Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) programme
with Sida/USAID financial support in 1989 in 3 pilot provinces under the
Department of Agriculture. The local responses to this first IRAP application
were generally very positive. Working with the Provincial Planning and
Development Office and the EU supported integrated area development programme
under the Department of Agriculture, the ILO started to initially study rural
household's travel patterns and transport demands. The programme was transferred
to the Department of Interior and Loc al Government to have better access to the
Local Government Units after President Aquino approved the Local Government Code
in 1991 and decentralization became law. Local responsibilities and budgets
increased drastically and a real need for local level planning tools emerged.
Since 1992, the ILO has been implementing a Dutch funded project on local
level infrastructure planning to compensate this void. The main objective of the
project was to provide local planners with the capacity to identify
infrastructure priorities based on the actual access needs of the rural
population.
The Dutch assistance was divided into three phases: 1992-1994 development of
the process; 1995-1999 application in 25 pilot provinces and 2000-2002 nation
wide application and mainstreaming. The main emphasis during the present phase
is on the modification of the process, nation-wide application at LGU level and
institutionalization in DILG. DILG will sustain the programme with national
funding from 2003 onwards. The ILO ASIST-AP programme will continue to provide
technical assistance once the Dutch assistance phases out.
The project now covers all the Provinces in the country and has been
incorporated into the local government planning system. The data from IRAP is
being used by several government agencies and by donor organisations to
prioritise investments. It is also being used as input to the targeting of
poverty alleviation programmes.
Labour Based Technology
ASIST-AP provided support to the national Infrastructure Committee created under
the 1999 executive order. This support consisted of training advice and the
drafting of a programme support proposal.
ASIST AP is presently collaborating with the Department of Agriculture on the
integration of IRAP and Labour Based Equipment Supportde components into an ADB
$150 million rural infrastructure project.
ASIST AP is also working with DOLE in relation to the development of an
employment intensive infrastructure programme. The work is presently focussed on
assessing the capacity of the LGUs to effectively implement such a programme and
defining a training programme for the LGUs.
In addition, ASIST-AP is providing limited support to the Department of
Interior and Local Government in developing their labour-based programme which
include a source book on the technology for local governments (which will be
assisted by AusAID) and the development of a national funded labour-based
programm with the main objective of employment creation.
Finally, ASIST-AP recently drafted a concept note as a follow-up to the 1999
executive order and is discussing this with the Department of Labour and
Employment, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of
Interior and Local Government. The next step will be for ASIST-AP to assist the
Government in developing an outline for a national programme which identifies
the different responsibilities and tasks of the different Departments involved.
EIIP is developing new tools for urban poverty alleviation and employment creation through participatory urban works in Asia. The tools focus on four areas: i. participatory planning of investments; ii. local resource-based technologies; iii. small-scale and community contracting; and iv. operation and maintenance. In the Philippines, activities to test out some of the approaches were carried out in the city of Iloilo, with a particular focus on community contracting. With the help of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Network (ICUPN) a short list of possible projects was prepared, then using selection criteria in consultation with ILO, three projects were chosen. A budget
has been set aside and the projects implemented (including drainage, footpaths, access road and creek clearing works). The results of these activities are now being used to finalise a guide on urban infrastructure and jobs.
Más información
- History
of Labour-based and Labour-based Technology in the Philippines and
Implementation of LBES - PDF 85 Kb
P. A. Leoncio, ILO, September 2000
- Technical
Audit for Labour-based/Equipment Supported Infrastructure Projects in
the Philippines - PDF 364 Kb
P. A. Leoncio, ILO, January 2000
| 
