Twenty students in the second batch of the CSO Academy South Cotabato finished Component II: Local Governance (Part 2) on February 10-14, 2025. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Dose helped them with this.

This phase of the training focused on capacity building in Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) formulation and the critical roles of CSOs in the local planning process. The scholars took part in all parts of the CDP process through a series of hands-on workshops. They did everything from looking at the ecological profile to deciding which Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) to include in their Local Government Units’ (LGUs’) Local Development Investment Program (LDIP) and Annual Investment Program (AIP).

The CSO Development Agenda, an initiative of DILG Dose designed to identify and address the needs and priorities of CSOs across the region, was also presented.

In her message, Atty. Rochelle D. Mahinay-Sero, CESE, DILG Dose Regional Director, emphasized the invaluable role of CSOs in the CDP process, stating, “By bringing grassroots perspectives into planning processes, CSOs help LGUs design programs that are equitable, sustainable, and aligned with the actual needs of their constituents.”

As a pioneering initiative, the CSO Academy SOCCSKSARGEN aims to empower more CSOs in the region, strengthen their representation, and advance excellence in local governance.