Day 1 of the NEO PLUS Training Program opened with a participatory exercise that underscored the mandate of local leaders to align governance with national development priorities. Through the Starboard Activity, participants identified three priority areas from the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023â2028 that they commit to advance during their term of office.
Each participant was provided with color-coded stickers corresponding to the 11 PDP pillarsâfrom promoting human and social development to accelerating climate action and disaster resilience. These were then placed on the Starboard to visually map out the priority concerns of their respective LGUs.
The activity was guided by results of the LGU canvass conducted during the Executive Briefings facilitated by the DILG-NCR Field Offices, ensuring that the choices reflected the voices of local governments and their identified priority concerns.
As the Starboard gradually filled with stickers, a collective picture of development focus emergedâsome pillars drawing strong attention, others highlighting unique local needsâyet all converging toward a shared vision of progress. The exercise symbolized a commitment to participatory and priority-driven leadership, setting the tone for the rest of the course.
This consolidated snapshot of LGU priorities will serve as a compass throughout the training, enriching discussions in breakout sessions and reinforcing the reminder that leadership must always be anchored in community needs and national aspirations.
Complementing the exercise was a booth exhibit featuring resources from the DILG-NCR, Department of Tourism (DOT) – NCR, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) – NCR, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – NCR, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – NCR, the Philippine National Police, and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). The exhibits showcased knowledge products on local governance, as well as products crafted by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), demonstrating the many dimensions of participatory and inclusive governance.
Together, the NEO PLUS Training affirms its goal: to equip local officials not only with knowledge and skills but also with a deep sense of reflectionâthat every decision in governance shapes the future of the communities they serve.