MANDALUYONG CITY – The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Central Office represented by Atty. Mikka J. Cruz, Acting Chief – Legal Division, Ms Melcy M. Baluyan, Chief – Administrative Division, and Ms Anabelle C. Garrido, Chief – Project Execution and Management Division, in coordination with the Department of Finance (DOF), participated in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Safeguard Policy Architecture and Policy Directions: In-Country Consultation with Government Departments, Executing, and Implementing Agencies, on 15 to 16 November 2022, at the ADB Headquarters, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

In the said meeting, the three (3) previous safeguard policies on Involuntary Resettlement (1995), Indigenous Peoples (1998), and Environment (2002) were consolidated into a single comprehensive framework as an update to the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), with the goal of addressing the existing policy gaps and emerging risks and issues on labor and working conditions, sexual exploitation, climate change, among others and bridge the gaps for funding of ADB-assisted projects.

The BLGF implements the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP), a four-year loan granted by the ADB which targets improving the state of local governance in the country through strengthened local government revenue mobilization.