Saint Louis University (SLU) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing participatory governance and civic leadership as it participated in the Cordillera CivicAcademy Partners’ Meeting held on 24 July 2026 at the Department of the Interior and Local Government–Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR) Operations Center, Baguio City. SLU’s participation forms part of its institutional partnership with DILG-CAR, established through the support of Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, University President.
The meeting gathered officials and staff of the DILG-CAR, leaders of civil society organizations (CSOs) from Baguio City and Benguet, and higher education institutions (HEIs) involved in the implementation of the Cordillera CivicAcademy. Representing SLU were Stephenie Busbus, PhD, Director of the Office of Global Relations and Alumni Affairs (SLU-OGRAA); Leilani De Guzman. PhD of the School of Advanced Studies (SLU-SAS); and Ms. Julivette P. Milo and Kurt Zeus L. Dizon of the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (SLU-STELA).
The CivicAcademy is a multi-stakeholder learning platform jointly developed by DILG-CAR, CSOs, and HEIs to strengthen the institutional capacities of CSOs as active, competent, and co-equal partners of local government units (LGUs) in promoting inclusive, participatory, accountable, and collaborative governance. Beyond being a training initiative, CivicAcademy serves as a sustainable platform where government, academe, and civil society work collectively to cultivate civic leadership and enhance local governance across the Cordillera region.
Conceived in March 2025, the CivicAcademy underwent a series of curriculum development workshops, module enhancement sessions, and Training of Trainers activities throughout November 2025, culminating in the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement among partner institutions.
The CivicAcademy is structured into three learning components: Leading with Values, Mastering Local Governance, and Strategic Influence. For the Baguio implementation, SLU was entrusted with delivering the first component, Leading with Values, highlighting the University’s expertise in values-based leadership formation and civic education.
Serving as lead trainers for the component were Dr. De Guzman, John Amtalao, PhD, Ms. Milo, Gulliver Roma, PhD, Sally Tabec, PhD, and Kurt Zeus L. Dizon. The sessions, conducted every Saturday beginning in June 2026, brought together approximately 40 leaders and representatives of CSOs from Baguio City. The final session and completion rite for Component 1 were scheduled on 25 July 2026.
A significant portion of the Partners’ Meeting was devoted to institutional sharing and reflection on the initial implementation of the CivicAcademy. On behalf of SLU, Dr. De Guzman presented the experiences from the delivery of Leading with Values, emphasizing the active participation, meaningful engagement, and enthusiasm demonstrated by the CSO participants. She likewise noted the enriching experience of the facilitators, whose interactions with participants fostered dynamic discussions, collaborative learning, and mutual capacity-building throughout the sessions.
Meanwhile, Ms. Milo presented the culminating outputs and reflections produced by the participants, highlighting how the activities enabled CSO leaders to contextualize their learning and articulate meaningful insights relevant to their organizations and communities.
Moreover, Mr. Dizon discussed the strategic role of HEIs in the CivicAcademy, emphasizing that SLU’s engagement extends beyond training delivery. He highlighted the importance of generating and contributing to research-based evidence, documentation, and policy recommendations that can further strengthen, innovate, and sustain future implementations of the CivicAcademy.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for partner institutions to exchange insights and identify opportunities for enhancing succeeding components of the program. DILG-CAR officials and representatives expressed their appreciation for the continued collaboration among DILG, CSOs, and HEIs in making the CivicAcademy a meaningful platform for civic empowerment.
In closing, Atty. Anthony C. Nuyda, CESO III, Regional Director of DILG-CAR; Ruperto B. Maribbay Jr., CESO IV, Assistant Regional Director; Kliene P. Chunanon, Division Chief of the Local Government Capability Development Division; and Richard L. Villacorte, Program Manager II of the Support for Local Governance Program (SLGP), conveyed their gratitude to all partner institutions and organizations for their unwavering support and contributions to the CivicAcademy. They likewise expressed optimism for the successful implementation of the remaining program components and reaffirmed the importance of sustaining the partnership among government, civil society, and academe in promoting good local governance
SLU’s participation in the CivicAcademy directly contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and strengthening the CICM advocacy on Justice and Peace. (Article and Photos by Joselito C. Gutierrez, PhD)
