San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

The San Carlos Development Board, Inc. (SCDBI) was first conceptualized during the development of the San Carlos Master Development Plan (MDP). In the process of developing the MDP, a common concern was raised by representatives of various sectors as to the future use and effectivity of the document: “Who would implement the MDP?”; “Who would ensure that its mandates are followed by all?”; “Would the MDP sit on a shelf, forgotten and unutilized?”. This concern was based on the fact that it was a multi-sectoral and all encompassing document that, as a whole, extended beyond the responsibilities of any single institution, even that of the local government. While various sectors of society may implement components of the MDP on their own capacities, it was generally agreed that a coordination body was required to oversee its use and implementation. The roles and responsibilities of the various sectors may be gleaned from each of the components of the MDP, but a responsible entity was required to catalyze their involvement and participation.

This concern led the consultant team to conceptualize the creation of a new multi-sector-represented non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization that would assume the responsibility of leading and coordinating the effort to implement the MDP. The concept was widely accepted and thus was born the San Carlos Development Board. The organization was designed to have effective representation from as large a part of society as was possible under a council of Advisers, and an executive body under its Board of Trustees. This allowed for good representation while maintaining a controlled management board to be effective and avoid unruly disputes. To ensure that the Board of Trustees, with only five members, also had sufficient representation, a diverse group was formed with two representatives from the private sector, one from the NGO community, one from the education community and the Church.

The SCDBI, being a private organization, no government official is made a part of its Board of Trustees. However, a close partnership between the SCDBI and the government was seen as a necessity. Thus, Executive Planning Council would be created as a venue for the representatives from both the SCDBI and the City Government to collaborate.