Local government officials convene in 3LPHED summit on inclusive growth

July 6, 2015

The Local Legislators’ League on Population, Health, Environment and Development (3LPHED) gathered local government officials from all over the country in the 1st National Population, Health and Environment (PHE) Summit in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, on June 24-25, 2015.

Themed “Mainstreaming PHE in Sustainable Local Economic Development towards Inclusive Growth,” the conference aimed to promote more efficient strategies in PHE programming to local government units. The local legislators’ group sees the summit as its contribution to the to the country’s development agenda of accelerating and sustaining inclusive growth using integrated PHE programs and strategies that can be implemented by local government units in responding to the climate change challenges.

Experts and advocates were invited to speak on the following topics: Integrating PHE in Poverty Reduction Approaches; Addressing PHE issues through Local Economic Development; and, PHE in Climate Change Adaptation and DRR. Local executives and Sanggunian members discussed issues surrounding these topics

The conference was also graced by Palawan Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez, who gave the Welcome Address, and Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere M. Panadero, who both keynoted the Opening Program.

A total of 139 participants from at least 19 provinces, 3 cities, and 15 municipalities attended the event. Participants included: the vice governors of Aklan, Aurora, Leyte, Masbate, and Surigao Del Sur; two mayors; six vice mayors; 23 provincial board members; 16 city councilors; 58 municipal councilors; four barangay chairs; and 21 legislative staff.

Organized by PLCPD in 2005, 3LPHED is an independent issue-based and people-centered organization of local legislators that seeks to raise population, health, environment, education and other basic social issues as priorities of local governments. It is currently headed by Masbate Governor Vicente Homer Revil, who was represented in the summit by Vice Gov. Jo Christine Revil. The PHE summit was co-sponsored by Foundation for a Sustainable Society (FSSI) and PATH Foundation.