Challenge
Inadequate transportation infrastructure in the Philippines is the result of low investment, weak government capacity and poor governance. To increase the ability of local governments to develop and maintain their provincial road networks, there is a need to increase local revenue and to develop capacity in project management, project design, procurement, internal control systems, human resource systems, planning and budgeting, and expenditure management.
Solution
The Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) engaged WSP to implement the Provincial Road Management Facility program, a roads management reform program focused on building the capacity of the Philippines Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and ten provincial local government units. The program is promoting economic growth and improving community access to provincial public and private services in the Southern Philippines by:
- Helping to improve local roads management and provincial roads systems.
- Developing a national incentives program on local roads management for provinces to better maintain roads.
- Rehabilitating and expanding maintenance of the core road networks in partner provinces.
Improved planning, design, procurement, and works execution are resulting in budgets that stretch further and a substantial increase in the quantity and quality of the road networks in the ten partner provinces. These improved road networks are increasing economic opportunity and strengthening access to services generally. The program also has brought greater provincial government transparency and accountability into the management of local roads, allowing citizens a greater voice in the process.
