What is CBMS?

The Community-Based Monitoring System(CBMS) is an organized process of datacollection and processing at the local leveland of integration of data in local planning,program implementation and impact-monitoring. It is a system that promotesevidence-based policymaking and programimplementation while empoweringcommunities to participate in the process.It was developed in the early 1990s underthe Micro Impacts of MacroeconomicAdjustment Policies (MIMAP) Project-Philippines to provide policymakers andprogram implementers with a goodinformation base for tracking the impacts ofmacroeconomic reforms and various policyshocks. Currently, coordination on CBMSwork is being handled by the PEP-CBMSNetwork based at the Angelo King Institutefor Economic and Business Studies in De LaSalle University-Manila.

What is the rationale for CBMS?

Standard poverty monitoring systems (PMS)in the Philippines generally rely on surveys such as Income-Expenditure surveys, Health surveys, Censuses, etc. However thesenational censuses and representative surveys:

• Are too costly to be replicated frequently;• Are conducted at different time periods making it

impossible to get a comprehensive profile of the differentsocio-demographic groups of interest at a specific pointin time; and

• Have sampling designs that do not usually correspond tothe geographical disaggregation needed by localgovernments.

In addition, the implementation of decentralization policy, whichdevolves the delivery of basic services to local governments, createsgreater demand for data at the local level.

CBMS seeks to address the existing data gaps at the local level fordiagnosing extent of poverty at the local level in determining thecauses of poverty, formulating appropriate policies and program,identifying eligible beneficiaries and assessing impact of policiesand programs. It also supports the decentralization process bycapacitating LGUs to collect, analyze and use data in local planningand program implementation.

What are the key features of CBMS?

The CBMS has several features that enhance the capacity of localgovernments in detecting and reducing poverty: (a) LGU-basedwhile promoting community participation; (b) taps existing LGUpersonnel and community volunteers as monitors; (c) has a core setof indicators; (d) involves complete enumeration of all households;and (e) establish databanks at all geopolitical levels.

How is CBMS being implemented?

Once a local government unit decides to adopt the CBMS, a numberof activities (as seen in Figure 1) are needed to be carried out.Technical assistance is being provided for free by the CBMS Teamand its partner agencies. These include provision of technicalsupport in the conduct of training workshops on data collection,computerized data processing, data validation and preparation ofsocioeconomic profiles and development plans using CBMS data.

Computerized processing system software, such as the CBMSEncoding System, StatSim and the CBMS-NRDB, are also beingprovided for free to partner LGUs.

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What kind of statistics/data can the CBMS generate?

Although the CBMS can generate a wide range of LGU-specificindicators, at the very minimum there are 14 core indicators (Table 1)that are being measured to determine the welfare status of thepopulation. These indicators capture the multidimensional aspects ofpoverty and have been confined to output and impact indicators.

Other information that can also be generated from the CBMS includesthe following: migration, overseas remittances, community/politicalparticipation, access to programs, MDG indicators, and vulnerabilityindicators of impacts of climate change and disaster risks, amongothers.

All household level data from the CBMS can be disaggregated by purok,barangay, municipality/city and higher geopolitical levels while allindividual level data can be disaggregated by sex.

What are the uses of CBMS data?

CBMS has a number of potential concrete uses particularly in the areasof local governance and poverty monitoring. Specifically, data gatheredfrom CBMS can:

Build the capacities of LGUs and communitiesCBMS can be used to further nourish if not build the capacities of localgovernment units as well as members of communities in addressing theneeds of their respective localities by maximizing the use of theirexisting resources.

Facilitate resource allocationOne the most common dilemmas among local chief executives is how toefficiently and effectively use and manage the meager financial

project proposals, and other related development reports.

Aid the design, targeting and impact monitoring of social services anddevelopment programsCBMS provides disaggregated information that reveal the community’sneeds based on the CBMS household survey and correspondingexplanations for such deficiencies as gathered during the validationforum and supplemented by information gathered from the barangayprofile questionnaire.

Serve as inputs in poverty mappingCBMS, through poverty mapping, aids in identifying the location ofmunicipalities, cities, barangays and even households which are in direneed of basic services. It has also been found that the localpolicymakers and the communities’ understanding of the povertysituation in their localities was greatly facilitated by the use of maps.

Can be used as a tool in localizing the MDGsCBMS can be used as a tool in monitoring the Millennium DevelopmentGoals (MDGs) at the local level. Through CBMS, indicators of the MDGscan be generated providing LGUs with critical information needed inthe attainment of the MDGs.

How many LGUs in the country are currently implementing CBMS?

As of March 15, 2014, 70 provinces, 32 of which are province-wide, 801municipalities and 63 cities, covering a total of 21,582 barangays(Figure 3) have already adopted the CBMS and are at varying stages inimplementing the system. The costs of implementation have beenborne largely by the local government units, indicating that they seethe usefulness of the system. This bodes well for the sustainability ofthe system. In some cases, NGOs, donor agencies and otherstakeholders have contributed to the implementation.

resources of the local government unit given themany competing projects and programs that need tobe delivered in their localities. CBMS tries to addressthis issue by providing the necessary informationthat would reveal to decisionmakers an up-to-datedevelopment situation of communities in terms ofcore areas of welfare.

Enrich existing databasesCBMS can complement existing databases byproviding a regular source of information onsocioeconomic attributes of communities to furtherenrich the contents and usefulness of existingdatabases. A number of local government units wereable to get funding support from internationalorganizations in the past for setting up databankscontaining information on children, environmentand the like. CBMS can help enrich these databasesby providing a complete set of household, barangay,municipal/city and provincial level information.

Serve as inputs for preparation of developmentprofilesCBMS data also provide vital baseline information forthe preparation of barangay, municipal/city, andprovincial socioeconomic profiles, annualinvestment plans, land use plans, infrastructure

Table 1. The CBMS Core Indicators

BASIC NEEDS

A. Health

B. Nutrition

C. Housing

D. Water and Sanitation

E. Education

F. Income

G. Employment

H. Peace and Order

CORE INDICATORS

Proportion of children under 5 years old who diedProportion of women who died due to pregnancy relatedcauses

Proportion of children aged 0-5 years old who are malnourished

Proportion of households living in makeshift housingProportion of households who are informal settlers

Proportion of households without access to improved watersourceProportion of households without access to sanitary toiletfacilities

Proportion of children aged 6-12 years old who are notattending elementary schoolProportion of children aged 13-16 years old who are notattending secondary schoolProportion of children aged 6-16 years old who are notattending school

Proportion of households with income below the povertythresholdProportion of households with income below the food(subsistence) thresholdProportion of households who experienced food shortage

Proportion of persons in the labor force who are unemployed

Proportion of persons who are victims of crimes

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What is the level ofgovernment support for CBMS?

Memorandum circulars andpolicy issuances have beenprepared by key nationalgovernment agenciessupporting the use of CBMS:

DILG Memorandum Circular2001-105Issued in August 2001, thecircular enjoins all local chiefexecutives to undertake localprograms on poverty reductionand economic transformationand emphasized the need todesignate Local PovertyReduction Action Officers(LPRAOs) and to formulate aLocal Poverty Reduction ActionPlan (LPRAP).

NAPC En Banc Resolution No. 7Issued in March 2003, theresolution directs LGUs to adoptthe 13 core local povertyindicators as the minimum setof community-basedinformation for povertydiagnosis and planning at the local levels and integrate suchinformation in their local poverty monitoring system and local levelaction plans and program.

DILG Memorandum Circular 2003-92Issued in April 2003, it provides policy guidelines for the adoption ofthe 13 core local poverty indicators for planning. The guidelines shallaid the LGUs in assessing and understanding poverty and its dimensionsat the barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces with the end viewof formulating an LPRAP and implementing the plans and programs toreduce poverty.

DILG Memorandum Circular 2004-152Issued in November 2004, the circular encourages LGUs to intensifyefforts in implementing programs, projects and activities towards theachievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs).

NSCB Resolution No. 6, Series of 2005Issued in January 24, 2005, the resolution recognizes and enjoinssupport to the community-based monitoring system as a tool tostrengthen the statistical system at the local level. It resolved furtherthat the NSCB Technical Staff should initiate and coordinate anadvocacy program for the adoption of the CBMS by the LGUs, throughthe RSCCs, the technical arm of the NSCB Executive Board in theregions.

League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) MemorandumCircular 027-2006Issued in June 2006, enjoining all CBMS-implementing municipalitiesto adopt/sustain the adoption of the CBMS as a tool for local povertydiagnosis and ensure the incorporation of the MDG targets andutilization of CBMS data in the formulation of local development plans.

SDC Resolution No. 3, Series of 2006Issued on July 19, 2006, the resolution adopts the CBMS as theprescribed monitoring tool for the generation of the Core Local PovertyIndicator Database. It further enjoined the NAPC, DILG, othergovernment agencies and LGUs to coordinate with the CBMS NetworkCoordinating Team towards the fast-tracking and full implementationof the CBMS.

PhilHealth Board Resolution No. 982, S.2007In March 2007, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation(PhilHealth) adopted the CBMS as the principal source of data inidentifying indigent families to be enrolled under the sponsorshipprogram1 of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

The Program is implemented in partnership with the local governmentunits (LGUs) and PhilHealth. The LGU and the National Governmentthrough PhilHealth share the annual premium payment of P1,200 perindigent household to get enrolled.

League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) Resolution No. 2011-01Issued in January 28, 2011, urging the Department of Social and WelfareDevelopment (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) to adoptthe CBMS and other locally-developed poverty monitoring systems asits targeting system in identifying beneficiaries to the PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Philhealth Indigent SponsoredProgram

DILG Memorandum Circular 2012-142Issued in August 10, 2012, enjoining all local chief executives to utilizethe community-based monitoring system (CBMS) in planning and projectdevelopment. Furthermore, it recommends for the adoption of CBMS tocoincide with the synchronized local planning and budgeting calendarand with the bottom up planning and budgeting preparation calendar.It suggested that CBMS implementation starts in January of election

Figure 1. CBMS Philippines Coverage as of March 15, 2014

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year at the latest so that by May local governments would have comeup with concrete information that can be used as basis for preparationof the Comprehensive Development Plan, and subsequently, the AnnualInvestment Plan.

Who are the PEP-CBMS Network’s partners in scaling up andinstitutionalizing CBMS in the country?

The CBMS Network Coordinating Team has partnered with a number ofagencies to scale up the implementation of the CBMS.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – lead agencyin providing capacity building to local government units and othergovernment agencies. Trainings on the CBMS Modules have beenprovided to selected staff of Bureau of Local Government Developmentand to some of their regional offices.National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) – has been active inadvocating CBMS especially in Mindanao. Selected staff have also beentrained on the CBMS Modules.League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – lead advocates ofthe CBMS in the municipalities.National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – in particularRegions IVA and IVB, have collaborated with the CBMS Team for theimplementation of CBMS in sites in the CALABARZON and MIMAROPA.Statistical Research and Training Center – SRTC considers CBMS as aviable approach in generating subregional data that are vital to localplanning and decisionmaking. Starting 2010, SRTC made the four CBMSmodules as part of its regular course offerings.Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) – the Philippine RrualReconstruction Moverment (PRRM), Social Watch, The Dawn Foundationand Kagabay are also actively advocating for the implementation ofCBMS in their sites. On the other hand, Peace and Equity Foundation(PEF) has been providing resources to finance poverty interventionsidentified through the CBMS.Donor agencies – Development partners, e.g., UNDP, World Bank,UNFPA and UNIFEM, have also been actively supporting theimplementation of CBMS. The Spanish Agency for International

Development Cooperation also supports the CBMS implementation inspecific sites in Region V.

How can LGUs and other organizations get technical assistancefrom the PEP-CBMS Network Office?

The PEP-CBMS Network Office and its partners provide free technicalassistance to local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines in theimplementation and full-scale institutionalization of CBMS.

Interested local government units and other organizations may contactthe PEP-CBMS Network Office at the following address:

PEP-CBMS Network OfficeAngelo King Institute for Economic and Business StudiesDe La Salle University - Manila10th Flr. Angelo King International CenterEstrada Cor. Arellano Ave., Malate, ManilaTel: (632) 5262067; (632) 2305100 local 2461Fax: (632) 5262067E-mail: celia.reyes@benilde.edu.ph; cbms.network@gmail.comFacebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CBMSPhilippinesWeb-site: www.pep-net.org

LGUs may also get direct technical assistance from the Bureau ofLocal Government Development (BLGD) or the regional offices of theDILG:

Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua, CSEEOIC-DirectorBureau of Local Government DevelopmentDepartment of the Interior and Local GovernmentA. Francisco Gold Condominium IIEDSA cor. Mapagmahal St, Diliman, Quezon CityTel: (632) 9299235; (632) 9203513Fax: (632) 9277852Email: afbonagua@dilg.gov.ph

“New times call for new ideas and fresh approaches. Andamong the new technologies available to governmenttoday, CBMS is among the most promising. It is promisingbecause it is in keeping with the principles ofdecentralization - allowing local governments the meansto gather information vital to the improvement of socialconditions in their communities at any given time.”

“Because of these gains, the NAPC, with the guidance of ourpartners particularly the CBMS Network, has spearheadedthe development of Rapid CBMS which will utilize eithercell phones or android tablets in data gathering. This willreduce the cost of, and the time for, implementation assome steps like data encoding will be automated.”

“As CBMS requires the coordination and participationof different levels of governments, the processfacilitates the partnership and sharing ofresponsibilities and resources among different levelsof local governments.”

Jesse M. RobredoFormer SecretaryDepartment of the Interior and Local Government

“We view the CBMS as an instrument for LGUs to embark onan evidence-based bottom-up budgeting. Likewise, werecognize its potential to provide barangay and householdlevel data to help formulate evidence-based BarangayDevelopment Plans, Comprehensive Development Plans,Annual Investment Plans, Local Poverty Reduction ActionPlans, and other sectoral development plans.”

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Domingo F. PanganibanFormer Secretary and Lead ConvenorNational Anti-Poverty Commission

Jose Eliseo RocamoraSecretary and Lead ConvenorNational Anti-Poverty CommissionArsenio M. Balisacan

Secretary and Director GeneralSocio Economic Planning and National Economic and Development Authority

“In light of Palawan’s experience, the CBMS is a tried and testedtool for local governance. It has become an indespensableinstrument in providing the benchmark for development and indetermining the socio-economic conditions in all levels ofgovernment. Likewise it also serves a gauge in analyzing theresponsiveness of interventions to target communities towardthe improvement of the welfare conditions of our people.”

Abraham Kahlil B. MitraGovernorProvince of Palawan

“The CBMS highlighted the 14 core indicators thatrepresent the different facets of poverty. The surveyresults also revealed the ranking of each municipalitybased on computed composite index. With maps andgraphical features, they provided an overall picture ofpoverty among municipalities and pointed out whichmunicipalities have the most challenging situation.”

Paul R. DazaGovernorProvince of Northern Samar