DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) — Three local government units (LGUs) here have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with La Liga Policy Institute for the implementation of a two-year project which aims to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in the localities.

La Libertad Mayor Lawrence Limkaichong, together with Mary Magdalene Villegas representing the local government of Dauin and Rosabelle Sanchez of the Sibulan local government unit (LGU) signed the MoU together with La Liga Policy Institute Managing Director Rolando Cabigas late last week at the Silliman University Multimedia Center.

The La Liga Policy Institute is a Diliman, Quezon City-based policy research and social advocacy group founded in 2000 by a group of social reformers from civil society and the public and private sectors.

Said two-year project, named "Cementing Pathways to Financing the MDGs" has a total cost of €282,159 including €239,835 funding support from the European Union. This will be implemented by La Liga Policy Institute and Social Watch Philippines.

Cabigas said the project aims to improve governance towards achieving MDG targets on poverty and hunger, primary education, maternal and reproductive health and environmental sustainability in aforementioned municipalities in the province.

"Under the MOU, we will set up a Technical Working Group (TWG) with representatives from the three towns coming together to participate in a series of workshops or knowledge sharing sessions," explained Cabigas.

The TWGs will be composed of local government officials and local citizens groups to lead the effort in building capacities of local stakeholders in planning programs and budgets for the MDGs as well as monitoring program implementation.

By the end of the project, the LGUs are expected to have incorporated MDG-related programs in their development plans and mobilize resources to finance these plans.

Cabigas also said that the project will bolster the delivery of basic social services to some 1.6 million people inhabiting the project's target sites, especially those in the marginalized sectors comprised of fisherfolks, farmers, women, school children and out-of-school youths.

The three LGUs in the province are three of six beneficiaries of said project. The other three are Alaminos City, Bani and Burgos in Pangasinan.

Speaking about the project, La Libertad Mayor Dodong Limkaichong said that "we will achieve all that's been laid down under the MDGs" and stressed that his LGU will exert its utmost effort in achieving the MDG goals.