British Ambassador Stephen Lillie urged local government units to undertake the "hard decisions on economic and social reform" in order to sustain the country's economic recovery.

"There are obviously some encouraging individual indicators, including GDP and remittance figures here in the Philippines," Lillie said of the country's economic recovery from the global crisis. "But as the UK Government has been clear to emphasise there is still good reason for caution, and much to be done to ensure the sustainability of the recovery when it comes."

"It can't just be "business as usual," Lillie said, adding that the results of the World Economic Forum's international competitiveness ratings underlines the importance of continually seeking to reform and improve systems to reduce the government's vulnerability to corruption. "And this is as relevant at local government level as at central, since of course this is where the majority of citizens have the majority of their interactions with government." 

Ambassador Lillie made the call during the recently-concluded conference of the Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) project. The conference was attended by the mayors and other officials of the sixteen cities involved in the project. 

The TAG project provides technical assistance to sixteen pilot cities in implementing reforms to their systems and improving transparency, and helps them develop partnerships with the private sector and civil society. The British Embassy provided funding for the TAG project, which is spearheaded by The Asia Foundation. 

During the conference, Ambassador Lillie also mentioned that the reduction of carbon emissions plays a significant part in the country's economic recovery. "Gains from other economic reforms might be undermined by inaction on climate change. Concerted effort and shared responsibility provides us with a chance to turn such challenges into opportunities," he said. "This means seizing the opportunity to adapt our economies to meet the challenges of climate change, especially in vulnerable island nations like the Philippines.  It also means climate-proofing future development, and shifting our development model onto a low-carbon path."

-END-

Notes for Editors

Photo attached, with the following captions:

• British Ambassador Stephen Lillie congratulates Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra for taking the lead in improving transparency in governance and developing partnerships with the private sector and civil society. Surigao City is one of sixteen pilot LGUs in the Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) project, which is spearheaded by the Asia Foundation. The British Embassy provided funding for the TAG project. Mayor Casurra is also the Executive Vice President of the League of Cities of the Philippines.
  
  
• British Ambassador Stephen Lillie exchanged pleasantries with Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo during the conference for the Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) project held recently at the Mandarin Hotel. Looking on is Programme Manager Joseph Rey Imperial. Roxas City is one of sixteen pilot LGUs in the initiative to improve transparency in governance, which is spearheaded by the Asia Foundation. The British Embassy provided funding for the TAG project.

---

For further information, please contact:

Joseph Rey Imperial [Programme Manager] 858 2208
Lynn Ayers Plata [Press, Visits and Events Officer] 858 2203

Back to newsroom

Back to top