The DILG Sorsogon Provincial Management Team composed of Cluster Head – LGOO VII Rico E. Gaurino, LGOO III Evette E. Lique – OIC-Program Manager, LGOO VI Mabel E. Morano -NEO Focal Person and LGOO II Jerus G. Merenciano – Alternate Focal Person, under the lead of Provincial Director Julius Rodel L. Cal-Ortiz, CESE, spearheaded the conduct of the Mentoring of Trainers – (the 15 C/MLGOOs of the Province), on the Updating/Enhancement of Capacity Development Agenda for Newly Elected Officials and local functionaries on August 6, 2020 at Una Pizzeria Café, Bgy. Bitan-o, Sorsogon City. The face-to-face mentoring was employed but compliance with minimum health standards is strictly observed. As local trainers, the C/MLGOOs will facilitate the conduct of the same in their LGUs, to limit the exposure and interaction among participants. Meanwhile, the Provincial Team will monitor the conduct of the learning event per LGU.

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is committed to perform its steadfast mandate to strengthen local government capability towards the effective delivery of basic services to the citizenry. Retrospectively, the Local Government Academy (LGA) developed the Newly Elected Officials (NEO) Program for the elective officials to mold strategic leaders out of newly elected officials who would lead their local governments in becoming competitive, efficient and responsive agents of change and development, with the support of local functionaries. In his message, PD Julius Rodel L. Cal-Ortiz, emphasized the need for an updated/enhanced CapDev Agenda of the LGUs to mirror the efforts of the national government to the local government units and ensure the complementation of endeavors, especially in these trying times whilst ensuring that LGU’s capacity pillars are still relevant. He also commended the resolute dedication of the C/MLGOOs in performing their pivotal role. The Capacity Development Agenda Formulation is a significant milestone in the third component of the NEO Program – Creating the Roadmap for LGU development.  However, the threat of COVID-19 has brought about enormous change and challenges to local officials and in all LGU operations. The LGU needs to improve capacity adaptation to and mitigation of risks brought about by the pressing global pandemic, the disaster and climate change to name a few. As we transition to the new normal, LGOO VI Mabel E. Morano – Provincial Focal Person, highlighted in her discussion the need for LGUs to redirect their lens on Rehabilitation and Recovery measures, if LGUs are to recover from this pandemic. The flexibility and feasibility of capacity development interventions is but an edge in the new normal. Operational resilience is a key to recovery, hence LGUs must re-align their capacities towards this end.

Further, the learning event is hoped to update/enhance the Capacity Development Agenda of the LGUs, to be of relevance to the present situation and in so doing, their needed capacity development interventions be addressed with the use of the Online Capacity Development Market System, a one-stop website showcasing the demand and supply sides of the capacity development; where the LGU’s Updated/Enhanced CapDev Agenda will be uploaded.

Contributor: LGOO II Jerus G. Merenciano, DILG Sorsogon – LGCD Unit Head