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Abstract
The Community-Based Monitoring System (CRMS) is an organized technology-based system of collecting, processing, and validating local-level data based on a census of households in the locality. It was institutionalized by virtue of Republic Act 11315 in April 2019. This paper aims to illustrate how local government units (LGUs) can use the CBMS in their planning process. The study finds that since the CBMS provides disaggregated local-level data, local planners can use it to identify and target vulnerable members of society better. Regular updating of the CBMS would also allow LGUs to generate panel data, which could help monitor the long-term impact of policies and programs on vulnerable households. Moreover, geotagging of households through the CBMS allows local officials to locate those at risk from natural hazards.
Introduction
As decentralization in the country shifted responsibilities from the national government to the local government units (LGUs), the bulk of prioritizing and allocating resources has become the sole responsibility of local officials. Therefore, to perform the duties and functions that were devolved, LGUs should have the capacity to identify the needs of the households in their localities, formulate and implement plans and programs to respond to these concerns, as well as monitor and evaluate the long-term impact of such initiatives. Moreover, LGUs must be able to manage the substantial funds at their disposal effectively toward projects and policies that can deliver the highest impact on their community.
The Philippines officially began its decentralization reform with the passage of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991. The LGC has provided autonomy to LGUs, which were given the necessary resources, authority, and power to aid them in their progress toward self-sufficiency and development.1 Likewise, it has given LGUs the mandate to provide and effectively carry out the delivery of basic services and facilities. These include responsibilities previously assigned to national government agencies (NGAs) that were delegated in the process. Some of the basic services and facilities that were devolved include agricultural support services, health and social welfare services, upkeep of public infrastructure, management of local enterprises, and maintenance of water supply.2 These tasks and assignments were then assigned in varying degrees among the local government levels, namely, barangay, municipality or city, and province.