What is CBMS?

The Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) is an organized

process of data collection and processing at the local level and of

integration of data in local planning, program implementation and impact

monitoring. It is a system that promotes evidence-based policymaking

and program implementation while empowering communities to

participate in the process. It was developed in the early 1990s under

the Micro Impacts of Macroeconomic Adjustment Policies (MIMAP)

Project-Philippines to provide policymakers and program implementers

with a good information base for tracking the impacts of macroeconomic

reforms and various policy shocks. Further development of the CBMS

methodology, instruments and training modules is being spearheaded

or implemented by the CBMS International Network Coordinating

Team (INCT).

What is the rationale for CBMS?

Standard poverty monitoring systems in the Philippines generally rely

on surveys such as income-expenditure surveys, health surveys, censuses,

etc. However these national 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 different socio-demographicgroups of interest at a specific point in time; and

• Have sampling designs that do not usually correspond to thegeographical disaggregation needed by local governments.

In addition, the implementation of decentralization policy, which devolves

the delivery of basic services to local governments, creates greater

demand for data at the local level.

CBMS seeks to address the existing data gaps at the local level for

diagnosing extent of poverty at the local level in determining the causes

of poverty, formulating appropriate policies and program, identifying

eligible beneficiaries and assessing impact of policies and programs. It

also supports the decentralization process by capacitating LGUs to

collect, analyze and use data in local planning and program

implementation.

What are the key features of CBMS?

The CBMS has several features that enhance the capacity of local

governments in detecting and reducing poverty: (a) LGU-based while

promoting community participation; (b) taps existing LGU personnel

and community volunteers as monitors; (c) has a core set of indicators;

(d) involves complete enumeration of all households; and (e) establish

databanks at all geopolitical levels.

How is CBMS being implemented?

Depending on the CBMS track that the local government unit will choose,

a number of activities (as seen in the charts below) need to be carried

out. The CBMS instruments and modules on data collection, data

processing for generation of standard indicators, tables and digitized

poverty maps, and use of CBMS data for preparation of socioeconomic

profiles and development plans are being provided for free by the CBMS

INCT. Technical assistance on the implementation and use of these

CBMS tools are also being provided for free to LGUs by trained CBMS

accredited trainers from the Department of the Interior and Local

Government (DILG) and the CBMS INCT.

Computerized processing system software, such as the CBMS Scan,

CBMS Encoding System, StatSim and CBMS-QGIS, are also being

provided for free to partner LGUs.

“The DILG provides policy andtechnical support for localgovernments through the CBMSwhich enable them to generatereliable information to diagnosepoverty and shape appropriateinterventions for targetbeneficiaries at the grassrootslevel.”

MAR ROXASSecretaryDepartment of the Interior andLocal Government

• • • • • •

“Local government units are atthe forefront of planning,resource allocation, andimplementation of policies andprograms to reduce poverty.Therefore, evidence-basedpolicy formulation and budgetallocation through generation ofCBMS data is essential foreffective implementation of anti-poverty efforts at thegrassroots level.”

ARSENIO M. BALISACANSecretary of Socioeconomic Planningand Director GeneralNational Economic and Development Authority

• • • • • •

“NAPC’s special attention toCBMS is not just based on itsusefulness in poverty reductionplanning and monitoring butmore so on the mechanisms itprovides to directly involvecitizens and basic sectororganizations in the collectionand validation of data pertainingto their own communities. In away, CBMS should be thebooming voice of the real “boss”– the Filipino people.”

JOSE ELISEO ROCAMORASecretary & Lead ConvenorNational Anti-Poverty Commission

• • • • • •

“Based on our experience in theprovince of Oriental Mindoro,the key in addressing the “lastmile” is to collect and useevidence in decision-making andstrategic implementation of ourinterventions. The CBMS worksas an effective tool for thispurpose.”

ALFONSO V. UMALIGovernor, Province of Oriental MindoroPresident, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines

Who are the PEP-CBMS Network’s partners in scaling up and

institutionalizing CBMS in the country?

The CBMS International Network Coordinating Team has partnered with a number

of agencies to scale up the implementation of the CBMS.

• Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – leadagency in providing capacity building support to LGUs on the implementationand use of CBMS for various thematic concerns e.g., grassroots participatorybudgeting, comprehensive development planning, disaster risk reduction andmanagement and climate change adaptation, gender and development, etc. TheDILG, together with the CBMS Network and National Anti-Poverty Commission,maintains the national repository of CBMS data which is used for policymakingand program implementation.

• National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – lead advocatefor evidence-based policy formulation and budget allocation through generationof CBMS data. With NEDA and the United Nations Development Programme’s(UNDP) support, the CBMS International Network Coordinating Team incollaboration with selected local government units, was able to formulate localstatus reports on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) using CBMS data.

• National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) – spearheads the use ofCBMS data in the preparation of local poverty reduction action plans (LPRAP).It has also been using the national repository of CBMS data in its oversightfunction over poverty reduction programs by national and local governments.

• Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) – advocate for using the CBMSin improving migration policies and linking them to local development. The CFO’sLingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino Program uses the CBMS in guiding overseas donororganizations and individuals in targeting their donations for greater impact.

• Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines/League of Provinces ofthe Philippines/League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) –lead advocates of the CBMS in the provinces, cities and municipalities.

• Academe – the De La Salle Philippines is using CBMS for its GIS learning andcommunity mission programs. Meanwhile, the Xavier University collaboratedwith selected local government units in Misamis Oriental in the implementationof CBMS.

• Development Partners – IDRC-Canada and UK DFID have been supportingthe development and enhancement of the CBMS. Other developmentorganizations such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM, GIZ, AECID, and WorldBank, have supported the implementation of CBMS.

How can LGUs get technical assistance on the

implementation of CBMS?

The CBMS International Network Coordinating Team and its partners provide free

technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines in the

implementation and full-scale institutionalization of CBMS.

For more information, interested local government units and other organizations

may contact the CBMS INCT at the following address:

CBMS International Network Coordinating TeamAngelo 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) 5262067Email: celia.reyes@benilde.edu.ph; cbms.network@gmail.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/CBMSPhilippinesWebsite: www.pep-net.org/about-cbms

LGUs may also get direct technical assistance from the Bureau of Local

Government Development (BLGD) or the regional offices of the DILG:

Bureau of Local Government DevelopmentDepartment of the Interior and Local GovernmentDILG-NAPOLCOM Center, EDSA, corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

Tel: 929-9235; 920-3513

Telefax: 927-7852

Email: afbonagua@dilg.gov.ph

Website: www.dilg.gov.ph

CBMS

PAPER Track

Step 1

Advocacy / Organization

Step 2

Data Collection

and Field Editing(Training Module 1)

Step 4

Processing and

Mapping(Training Module 3)

Step 5

Data validation

And Community

Consultation

Step 7

Plan Formulation(Training Module 4)

Step 8

Dissemination/ImplementationAnd Monitoring

Step 3

Data Encoding

and Map Digitizing(Training Module 2)

Step 6

Knowledge

(Database) Management

CBMS

APP Track

Step 1

Advocacy / Organization

Step 2

Data Collection,

GPS Reading

andData Transmission(Integrated Training

Modules 1 and 2)

Step 3

Processing and

Mapping(Training

Module 3)

Step 4

Data validation

And Community

Consultation

Step 6

Plan Formulation(Training Module 4)

Step 7

Dissemination/ImplementationAnd Monitoring

Step 5

Knowledge

(Database)

Management

CBMS APP track

CBMS PAPER track

How many LGUs in the country are currently

implementing CBMS?

As of October 8, 2014, 73 provinces, 32 of which are province-wide,

862 municipalities and 69 cities, covering a total of 23,276 barangays

have already adopted the CBMS and are at varying stages in implementing

the system. A total of 115 cities and municipalities are currently

implementing the CBMS APP. The costs of implementation have been

borne largely by the local government units, indicating that they see the

usefulness of the system. This bodes well for the sustainability of the

system. In some cases, NGOs, donor agencies and other stakeholders

have contributed to the implementation.

CBMS Philippines Coverage as of October 2014

What is CBMS APP?

The CBMS Accelerated Poverty Profiling (APP) entails the organized,

systematic and efficient combined use of latest information and

communication technology tools and the standard CBMS instruments

for data collection (CBMS Scan and CBMS Portal), processing (StatSim),

poverty mapping (QGIS) and data management instruments.

It was built to fast-track the generation of CBMS results in order to

serve as timely inputs in local development planning and budgeting. It

uses both web technology and mobile devices to collect household

and community data. The collected data are then transmitted to the

CBMS web portal that serves both as the data repository and as a

hub for managing user accounts and workgroups. By integrating

household and global positioning system (GPS) data capture and data

entry, the CBMS APP is expected to enhance data collection procedure

and data quality.

What kind of statistics/data can the CBMS

generate?

Although the CBMS can generate a wide range of LGU-specific indicators,

at the very minimum there are 14 core indicators that are being

measured to determine the welfare status of the population. These

indicators capture the multidimensional aspects of poverty and have

been confined to output and outcome indicators.

The CBMS Core Indicators

BASIC NEEDS CORE INDICATORS

A. Health Proportion of children under5 years old who died

Proportion of women who dieddue to pregnancy-related causes

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

C. Housing Proportion of households living inmakeshift housing

Proportion of households who areinformal settlers

D. Water and Sanitation Proportion of households withoutaccess to safe water supply

Proportion of households withoutaccess to sanitary toilet facilities

E. Education Proportion of children aged 6-11 yearsold who are not attending elementaryschool

Proportion of children aged 12-15 yearsold who are not attending secondaryschool

Proportion of children aged 6-15 yearsold who are not attendingschool

F. Income Proportion of households with incomebelow the poverty threshold

Proportion of households with incomebelow the food (subsistence) threshold

Proportion of households whoexperienced hunger due to foodshortage

G. Employment Proportion of persons in the labor forcewho are unemployed

H. Peace and Order Proportion of persons who are victims of

crimes

Other information that can also be generated from the CBMS are

the following: migration, overseas remittances, community/political

participation, access to programs, MDG indicators, and vulnerability

indicators of impacts of climate change and disaster risks, among

others.

All household level data from the CBMS can be disaggregated by

population subgroups (e.g., ethnicity, income class, etc.) and by

geopolitical level (e.g., purok, barangay, municipality/city, province).

Moreover, all individual level data can be disaggregated by sex.

What are the uses of CBMS data?

While CBMS was initially designed for poverty monitoring, its use

has expanded particularly in areas of improving local governance,

program design and implementation, and impact-monitoring.

Specifically, CBMS can:

• Build the capacities of LGUs and communities

CBMS can be used to further nourish if not build the capacitiesof local government units as well as members of communities inaddressing the needs of their respective localities by maximizingthe use of their existing resources.

• Facilitate resource allocation

One the most common dilemmas among local chief executivesis how to efficiently and effectively use and manage the meagerfinancial resources of the local government unit given the manycompeting projects and programs that need to be delivered intheir localities. CBMS tries to address this issue by providing thenecessary information that would reveal to decisionmakers anup-to-date development situation of communities in terms ofcore areas of welfare.

• Enrich existing databases

CBMS can complement existing databases by providing aregular source of information on socioeconomic attributesof communities to further enrich the contents and usefulnessof existing databases. A number of local government unitswere able to get funding support from internationalorganizations in the past for setting up databanks containinginformation on children, environment and the like. CBMS canhelp enrich these databases by providing a complete set ofhousehold, barangay, municipal/city and provincial levelinformation.

• Serve as inputs for preparation of development profiles

CBMS data also provide vital baseline information for thepreparation of barangay, municipal/city, and provincialsocioeconomic profiles, annual investment plans, local disasterrisk reduction and management and climate change adaptationplans, land use plans, infrastructure project proposals, and otherrelated development reports.

• Aid the design, targeting and impact monitoring of socialservices and development programs

CBMS provides disaggregated information that reveal thecommunity’s needs based on the CBMS household census andcorresponding explanations for such deficiencies as gatheredduring the validation forum and supplemented by informationgathered from the barangay profile questionnaire.

• Serve as inputs in poverty mapping

CBMS, through poverty and hazard mapping, aids in identifyingthe location of municipalities, cities, barangays and evenhouseholds which are in dire need of basic services. It has alsobeen found that the local policymakers and the communities’understanding of the poverty situation in their localities wasgreatly facilitated by the use of maps.

• Can be used as a tool in localizing the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs)CBMS can be used as a tool in monitoring the MDGs at the locallevel. Through CBMS, indicators of the MDGs can be generatedproviding LGUs with critical information needed in the attainmentof the MDGs.

• DILG Memorandum Circular 2004-152

Issued in November 2004, the circular encourages LGUs tointensify efforts in implementing programs, projects and activitiestowards the achievement of the MDGs.

• National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)Resolution No. 6, Series of 2005

Issued 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 resolvedfurther that the NSCB Technical Staff should initiate andcoordinate an advocacy program for the adoption of the CBMSby the LGUs, through the RSCCs, the technical arm of the NSCBExecutive Board in the regions.

• League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)Memorandum Circular 027-2006-B

Issued in July 2006, the circular enjoins municipalities to adopt/sustain the adoption of CBMS as tool for local poverty diagnosisand institutionalize it as part of the system of local governance.

• Social Development Committee (SDC) Resolution No.3, Series of 2006

Issued on July 19, 2006, the resolution recognizes the CBMS as aviable and cost efficient system that can be used to generate theCore Local Poverty Indicators (CLPIs) and ensure uniformityand standardization of CLPI databases of all LGUs. It furtherenjoined the NAPC, DILG, other government agencies and LGUsto coordinate with the CBMS International NetworkCoordinating Team towards the fast-tracking and fullimplementation of the CBMS.

• DBM-DILG-DSWD-NAPC Joint Memorandum CircularNo. 1, Series of 2012

Issued on March 8, 2012, the joint memorandum circular identifiesthe collection of relevant economic and social data, such as thosethat can be obtained from CBMS, as one of the main componentsin empowering poor LGUs and in the bottom-up planning andbudgeting approach.

• DILG Memorandum Circular 2012-73

Issued on April 17, 2012, the circular provides that the LocalDisaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund can be utilizedfor disaster prevention and mitigation projects including theimplementation of a CBMS with CCA/DRRM indicators.

• DILG Memorandum Circular 2012-142

Issued on August 10, 2012, the circular enjoins all local chiefexecutives to utilize the CBMS in planning and projectdevelopment. It also recommends for the adoption of CBMS tocoincide with the synchronized local planning and budgetingcalendar and with the bottom up planning and budgetingpreparation calendar.

• DBM-DILG-DSWD-NAPC Joint Memorandum CircularNo. 5, Series of 2014Issued on October 1, 2014, the circular reiterates that one ofthe key roles that the local chief executive plays in the grassrootsparticipatory budgeting process is making available informationand data sets, such as those that can be generated from theCBMS, for poverty situation analysis.

What is the National Repository of CBMS Data?

The National Data Repository houses all the CBMS data collected by

local government units. Intended to be used for policymaking and

program implementation, the repository is being maintained by the

CBMS International Network Coordinating Team, the DILG and the

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

What is the level of government support for CBMS?

Memorandum circulars and policy issuances have been prepared by key

national government agencies supporting the use of CBMS:

• DILG Memorandum Circular 2001-105

Issued in August 2001, the circular enjoins all local chief executivesto undertake local programs on poverty reduction and economictransformation and emphasized the need to designate LocalPoverty Reduction Action Officers (LPRAOs) and to formulate aLocal Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP).

• NAPC En Banc Resolution No. 7

Issued in March 2003, the resolution directs LGUs to adopt the13 core local poverty indicators as the minimum set of community-based information for poverty diagnosis and planning at the locallevels and integrate such information in their local povertymonitoring system and local level action plans and program.

• DILG Memorandum Circular 2003-92

Issued in April 2003, it provides policy guidelines for the adoptionof the 13 core local poverty indicators for planning. The guidelinesshall aid the LGUs in assessing and understanding poverty andits dimensions at the barangays, municipalities, cities and provinceswith the end view of formulating an LPRAP and implementingthe plans and programs to reduce poverty.