Koronadal City, South Cotabato — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region XII and Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) signed two Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their partnership for the proposed research on the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) and capacity development collaboration last November 15, 2024
This collaboration aims to explore how the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) contributes to the improvement of the local governance among the identified Local Government Units awardees of Region 12, while the MOU on the Collaborative Engagement in Research, Capability Building, and Community Development seeks to foster collaboration between parties in the following areas: Utilization of Master of Public Administration (MPA) Action Research outputs; Provision of capacity-building programs; and Participation in barangay planning.
The event, held at Wagi Room B, DILG XII, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, was graced by distinguished representatives from NDMU, including Prof. Juvy Reyes, Dean of the Graduate School, and Prof. Sheila Bayog-Roma, Director of the Research and Publication Center, both representing University President Bro. Paterno Corpus, alongside DILG XII officials led by Regional Director Atty. Rochelle D. Mahinay-Sero, CESE.
In her message, Director Sero underscored the importance of the partnership, stating:
"Today marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to empowering local government units in SOCCSKSARGEN. The resources, expertise, and innovation that NDMU brings to this partnership will be invaluable as we equip our local government units with the knowledge and tools needed to achieve sustainable development and inclusive governance. We deeply appreciate NDMU’s dedication to this endeavor, bridging the gap between theory and practice for the benefit of our communities."
Both Professors Reyes and Roma expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the shared commitment to advancing governance and education. They noted that the collaboration would open doors for meaningful engagement between academic institutions and LGUs, ensuring research findings are translated into impactful governance practices.
The ceremony concluded with a message of gratitude from the Local Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC) Coordinator and Local Government Capability Development Division (LGCDD) Chief, Maria Theresa D. Bautista, emphasizing the shared responsibility of both institutions in driving transformative change in the region.
“Through this collaboration, we will drive meaningful advancements in governance, empowering our communities and creating a legacy of accountability, innovation, and resilience,” Bautista said.
These SGLG Research and collaboration on Capacity Development is part of the Department’s partnership initiatives with its Local Governance Consortium in SOCCSKSARGEN established through its LGRRC in 2021.
At present, DILG XII is supporting three other researches of the Consortium in areas related to disaster preparedness, human resource management, and identification of IPMR capacity needs.
