Some 39 local government executives representing three provinces, 12 cities, and 25 municipalities presented their innovation project proposals during the culminating activity of Course 5 under the Local Government Executives and Managers Class (LGEMC) of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).
Implemented through the Center for Governance, the LGEMC aims to equip local leaders with the knowledge, tools, and frameworks to develop innovative and citizen-responsive solutions to governance challenges.
Held on October 21-31, 2025, Course 5 provided intensive training on design thinking, systems analysis, and community engagement. These trainings guided scholars in identifying critical local issues within and crafting responsive, inclusive, and sustainable interventions.
Local Government Executive and Managers Class Batch 18 “Hirang” with DAP officers and subjects matter experts at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City.
For their project proposals, the Batch Hirang scholars tackled a wide range of development priorities across sectors such as learning and education, health, food and agribusiness, finance, manufacturing and trade, transportation and logistics, public administration, energy, the blue economy, water resource management, and solid waste management. The diversity of these proposals reflects the scholars’ shared commitment to advance transformative governance and deliver high-impact public service in their communities.
DAP-CFG Project Officers Lester John A. Villar and Majella M. Delfin deliver sessions on contextualizing problems and ideating solutions.
The proposals were presented to a panel of experts composed of Galing Pook Foundation Chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento, Zuellig Family Foundation President Austere Panadero, Corus International Country Representative and Director for Technical Services for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Jansen M. Mayor, and DAP officers–Vice President Imelda C. Caluen, Director and Faculty-in-Charge Jannis T. Montañez, LGEMC Program Manager Michelle N. Belga.
CFG officers, Director Ma. Rosario A. Ablan–Technical Secretariat Head of the Harmonization of the National Government Performance Monitoring, Information, and Reporting System–and Director Gilbert E. Lumantao of the Policy Research Office likewise joined the session to provide insights during the concept design and logistical framework phases.
CFG Vice President Imelda C. Caluen provides Batch 18 scholars with a comprehensive discussion on logframe development, followed by Faculty-in-Charge Director Jannis T. Montañez’ insights on effectively packaging and presenting IPC projects. The session strengthens the scholar’s competencies in designing impactful and well-structured development initiatives.
Course 5 further featured a series of sessions on Project Implementation, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Risk Management, and Packaging and Presenting of the Innovation project Concept, designed to help scholars refine their ideas into actionable and results-driven project concepts.
The scholars’s Innovation Project Concepts will be presented to a panel of experts later this November. Since its inception, the LGEMC has generated 397 innovation projects that have been piloted or implemented nationwide, demonstrating DAP’s continuing commitment to fostering a more responsive, resilient, and citizen-centered local governance landscape.
For more information about the PMDP-LGEMC, visit: https://pmdp.dap.edu.ph/local-government-executives-and-managers-class-lgemc/
Photos courtesy of Jaice Ann C. Morada of CFG-LGDO