On 24-26 November 2025, Saint Louis University (SLU) took an active role by participating in the “Strengthening CSO Engagement through the CivicAdemy Program: Training of Trainers and Official Launch,” hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR). Held at Plaza Lodge Hotel, Baguio City, the initiative underlined SLU’s commitment to community engagement and sustainable development.
Aligned with the sixth Philippine Open Government Partnership’s National Action Plan, the event aimed to empower Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as crucial partners in local governance. It also focused on implementing a Training of Trainers (TOT) to further expand experts on the program’s core modules as a comprehensive approach to ensure that curriculum expertise is effectively transferred to implementers, fostering a collective sense of ownership while bridging existing capacity gaps in the Cordilleras.
According to the DILG-CAR, “Through co-developed modules on leadership, local planning, legislation, fiscal management, project management, strategic communication, and citizen engagement, the (CivicAdemy) program promotes accountability, collaboration, and responsive local governance.”
With SLU’s commitment to capacity building, the six representatives from SLU comprised four faculty members from the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) and two from the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS). Among them were Mr. John Amtalao, Mr. Kurt Zeus L. Dizon, Ms. Juliette P. Milo, and Ms. Sally P. Tabec from STELA. Additionally, Gulliver Maxi R. Roma, PhD and Leilani I. de Guzman, PhD joined the team.
Looking ahead, SLU’s participation in the CivicAdemy Program was not just a testament to its dedication to education but also a proactive step toward championing sustainable community development. As the faculty learns to respond effectively to local governance challenges, they embody the spirit of civic engagement that is essential for the nation’s progress.
The involvement of SLU faculty aligns directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals. (Article and Photos by Sally Tabec and Leilani de Guzman)
