Chapter 2 - Methodology

Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY THE methodology used in collecting and analyzing data for this report is pretty straightforward. Figure 1 describes it graphically.

REGIONAL DATA ON MDGS

DATA ANALYSIS Panel, Cross-Sectional

LOCAL (NAGA) DATA ON MDGS

FINDINGS Progress, Gaps

RECOMMENDATIONS

Fig. 1. Conceptual Framework

Sources Data will come from two sources: (1) regionally collected time-series data on indicators for the eight MDG benchmarks, which came from regional units of the national government agencies concerned; and (2) corresponding local data, both panel and cross-sectional, from the Naga city government, which will be used as comparator for the regional data. These mainly secondary information will be supplemented by primary data generated in the course of sectoral planning workshops facilitated by the author from July-September 2006, which paralleled the preparation of this report. Analysis Analysis focuses on two aspects: (1) Progress of local poverty reduction effort in Bicol, indicated by the pace of attaining the eight MDG targets by 2015. This is also quite straightforward, requiring only a comparison of where the LGUs currently are vis-à-vis their ideal position as of 2005 or the appropriate year, using the regional benchmark for

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Bicol as target. Annex “A” describes the progress assessment methodology in detail; and (2) Data gaps in the MDG indicators at the local level, which include discrepancies that might arise between locally generated and regionally collected datasets. Here, the local data from Naga City will be used as a comparator, owing to the lack of material time to individually visit the eight other LGUs for crossreferencing across the board. Structure For ease of use, this report is structured as follows: Chapter 3 reviews the Millennium Development Goals, the performance measures used to operationalize them in the Philippine setting, and why these are essential elements in policymaking and program/project development at the local level. Chapter 4 surveys the performance of Bicol LGUs, particularly at the provincial and city levels, in each of the eight MDG goals. Building on the previous chapters, Chapter 5 summarizes the observations, conclusions and recommendations as to how the MDGs can further be advanced and institutionalized at the local level.

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