Can Government Scale Up Your Reform?

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Four years ago we started helping about 15 Provincial Governments to build road network maps for evidence-based road investment planning. We engaged Governors and Provincial Planning Officers, who led the training and coaching of City and Municipal personnel. They mapped the centerlines of all roads within the Province, encoded road names, surface type and road condition. 

Technology was not the biggest constraint in this effort, as local partners used available GPS units and GIS software. The political work of engaging Mayors, Planning Officer and Engineers, and technical staff, was more challenging.

The challenge to the reform team was, how could the all other Provinces in the country produce their own road network maps? Mentor Jaime Faustino advised us that there are only two standing armies that can sustain and scale up reform - the market, or Government. 

In another project, the team had discovered that using orthophotos took less time, effort and expense, and produced a more complete road network map. So we looked for a source of orthophotos, found some commercial providers, considered the cost. Given that most local government leaders are not familiar with satellite imagery, the team though it would be unlikely for them to spend considerable funds to purchase satellite imagery.

The Team also found NAMRIA’s Unified Mapping Project. NAMRIA is a government agency attached to DENR. UMP includes orthophotos and vector data from High Resolution Satellite Imagery. Fortunately, NAMRIA was willing to share their data with local governments. 

On the other hand, DILG’s Office of Project Development Studies also wants to help Provincial Government update their road investment plans for KALSADA funding. 

The reform team discerned the opportunity for both agencies to help each other - and in the process, scale up roads mapping nationwide. 

Last week both agencies formally agreed to do just that. With NAMRIA providing the technical resource, and DILG OPDS the political incentive, it looks like the reforms that started with 15 Provinces could be scaled up to the rest of the country. In this case, it's Government that's scaling up the reform.



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