The Local Development Councils (LDCs) feature a significant participatory governance function in local policy development, as local government units (LGUs) are mandated to constitute LDCs with members from civil society organizations (CSOs). While the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) monitors the status of LDC functionality following the Local Government Code's operational guidelines through the Seal of Good Local Governance, LDC effectiveness - particularly the quality and substantiveness of CSO participation - has not been reviewed. For this purpose, the DILG developed the Participatory Governance Metrics-LDC (PGM-LDC) tool to diagnose different dimensions and variables of participatory governance (PG). This research provides a comprehensive assessment of the baseline participation status in LDCs using the PGM-LDC tool. Through a rigorous mixed-methods approach, the analysis unpacks LDC participation from the perspectives of LGUs and CSOs across LGU types and LDC functionality ratings (high/low) nationwide. The baseline analysis consists of three parts. First, it establishes the context of PG in LDCs by analyzing different LDC mechanisms, practices, and adherence to national participation policies (e.g., perceptions of LDC composition and frequency of participation, status and level of participation in LDC functions and committees, mandated representation of women and indigenous peoples, et al.). Second, it analyzes the PGM-LDC variable statements corresponding to the three PG dimensions (space, engagement, results), including qualitative explanations and correlations of perceptions with LGU type, LDC functionality, and respondent group. Third, additional analytical explorations are provided to test for inter-variable interactions (among the PGM statements and dimensions) following PG logics of the PGM-LDC tool design. Recommendations are provided in each section to enhance existing/planned policies and capacity development initiatives of DILG to enhance participation in LDCs. Operational recommendations are also included for the future deployment of the PGM-LDC survey. Finally, the report regroups with assessing the baseline status of participation in LGUs. The analysis highlights that when viewed through the lens of mandated mechanisms and practices, the state of participation in LDCs paints a picture of the active involvement of CSOs but is limited within 'invited' parameters. Furthermore, when viewed through the lens of the PGM-LDC framework, agreeable ratings throughout the variable statements characterize the state of participation in LDCs, but with the more substantive PG principles, such as CSO influence and autonomy, ranking lower among the 14 variables. Aside from granular recommendations in every variable-indicator discussion, the study also urges the elevation of national policy prescriptions and support for quality participation and the further appreciation of CSO satisfaction contributors, particularly those informing CSOs' underrating of their participation and referencing potential (not necessarily actual) benefits of participation for their satisfaction.
