At the forefront of cultivating participatory and collaborative governance, the Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) conducted the Capacity Development (CapDev) Program for CSOs in Local Special Bodies (LSBs): Regional Training of Trainers (TOT) in July 2022 via Zoom Teleconference.

This Regional TOT is in preparation for the nationwide rollout of the CapDev Program for CSOs in LSBs which will now be implemented by the respective LGUs in coordination with DILG Field Offices. It aims to gather a pool of trainers that would deliver the modules and keep all participants and stakeholders on the same track.

Speaking before the local planning and city social welfare officers, schools division superintendents, city health officers, and CSO representatives, RD Agustin stressed the relevance and necessity of the Regional TOT.

“DILG-NCR believes that by providing innovative and pioneering solutions and capacity development for CSOs, we provide them with an avenue to directly participate in local governance. Together with our expert Resource Persons (RPs), this activity will equip and ensure our RPs-in-training to be sufficiently capacitated in delivering the modules for the Local Development Council (LDC), Local School Board (LScB), and Local Health Board (LHB),” RD Agustin said.

The Regional TOT on LDC Modules marked the beginning of the series of training to capacitate LGU trainers. Independent Consultants Rogelio Diaz and Jose Nomer Macalalad were the invited Resource Persons to facilitate and discuss the LDC modules.

Diaz discussed the key dimensions of development as well as the local development council operations – from the planning up to the monitoring and evaluation of LGU programs, projects, and activities. He also elaborated on how the Philippines has performed in the past years in relation to the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On the other hand, Macalalad focused on developing the communication and negotiation skills of the trainers. Further, he also discussed the dynamics of the LGU’s existing executive and legislative powers.

In the Regional TOT on LScB Modules, Synergeia Foundation Mentor and former Vice-Mayor of Silay City, Negros Occidental, Francis Joseph Jalandoni presented the state of education in the country and how LScB could be reimagined to increase their functions and be a catalyst for education reforms. He also discussed the best practices implemented in the LScB of Valenzuela City.

Political Scientist and Consultant Juan Paulo Rodriguez discussed the role of CSOs in the LScB and the nitty gritty of integration and action planning.

On the third and final TOT, Professor and Chairman of College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Dr. Ernesto Gregorio, Jr. discussed the LHB Modules. He underscored the significance of taking a holistic approach to health governance and how it can be utilized as a platform for participatory governance.

In closing, Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn Baltazar-Cortez, expressed her sincerest gratitude to the LGU trainers for their active participation and continuous support in the Department initiatives to enhance the capacities of CSOs and ensure their participation in local governance.

“Through this Regional Training of Trainers, I hope our trainers present here today are equipped and ready to be Resource Persons in the coming nationwide rollout of the Capacity Development Program for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Local Special Bodies (LSBs) in the 4th Quarter of this year.” ARD Cortez said.