Transition to a unitary decentralized government structure in order to address tensions in the
central-local government relations system. This can be most simply achieved by rolling back the
deconcentrated arms of the central government at the provincial level and linking LAOs directly
with line and sector agencies-for example, the Ministry of Finance and Bureau of the Budget on
budgeting issues, and sector ministries on service delivery issues. The role of the Department of
Local Administration at the Ministry of the Interior should transition from command and control
to facilitation and coordination. The pace of the roll-back should be calibrated with measures
aimed at strengthening capacity of LAOs and could first be piloted for municipalities