Similar to the challenges being faced by local governments all over the Philippines, the City of Balanga faces habitat degradation, solid wastes and sewage concerns, significant settlements along the boundary of the wetlands, low or few stakeholder engagement, and insufficient information on wetland biodiversity. While facing and managing these challenges, the City sees the need for more focused and intensive capacity building including on how to formulate and update its integrated management plans.

Mr. Hans van Rjin and Mr. Roger Shotton gave an overview of macroeconomic and public administration, features of decentralizing governance in Mongolia. They also discussed the sub-national government's role in service delivery, local development, and sustainable development goals through local public spending and regulatory and convening powers.

Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities, a program of the Government of the Philippines, provides a "catch-up mechanism" to assist municipal governments in increasing citizens' access to basic facilities and ensures participation of civil society organizations in local governance. Implementation of locally-funded projects contribute to the promotion of participatory governance.