“We cannot give what we do not have.”

This powerful statement has long been used to contextualize Local Government Unit (LGU) Performance and Capacity and was the key takeaway during the conduct of the MIMAROPA Capacity Development Agenda (CDA) Formulation Coaches’ Training on September 17-19, 2025 at the Madison 101 Hotel and Tower, Quezon City.

The activity aimed to capacitate the region’s internal CDA Coaches and the Provincial Government CDA Team on the key concepts, process, and tools of the CDA formulation process. The LGU CDA serves as the official document which contains the LGU’s capacity needs, the interventions in order to address these needs, and the resources needed in order to implement these interventions.

A key highlight was the integration of the MIMAROPA Local Governance Performance Benchmarks and Capacity Inputs in the process. This initiative marked a groundbreaking innovation in the CDA process, making it more responsive to the realities of the local governance landscape of the MIMAROPA region. This was led by the objectives of the MIMAROPA CapDev Analytics process which aims to 1.) Make sense of the data collected from the Capacity Development Agenda; 2.) Inform the stakeholders/  service providers of the emerging CapDev needs of the LGUs; and 3.) Direct the prioritization of CapDev interventions for LGUs.

A major output of the activity was the finalization and co-creation of the MIMAROPA Capacity Development Agenda 2025-2028 Formulation Toolkit. The digital kit which includes the manual, worksheets, and visual deck serves as a detailed guide for LGUs in formulating their Capacity Development Agenda 2025-2028.

DILG MIMAROPA Regional Director Karl Caesar Rimando, CESO III delivered the opening message where he highlighted the importance of the CDA in realizing the LGU’s vision and local development outcomes partnered with the national thrusts. It is also worthy to highlight that the process co-created integrates all the following inputs in the CDA:

1. Local Government Code and Full Devolution Mandates;
2. National Government Agencies’ Mandates for LGUs as indicated in the Seal of Good Local Governance Indicators; and
3. Local Development Thrusts as indicated in the Local Development Plans and Sectoral Plans including but not limited to the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan and Comprehensive Development Plan, Sectoral Plans, Learning and Development or the Human Resource Development Plan; and the Executive-Legislative Agenda.

Additionally, this initiative is also contributory to the goals of the Support to Upscale Organizational Grit of Local Government Units or SULONG LGU in partnership with the Local Government Academy in empowering Provincial Governments to be accountable for their component LGUs through collaboration and linkaging.

In his closing message, Assistant Regional Director Rey S. Maranan, CESO IV, emphasized the importance of capacity in the LGU’s improved service delivery towards excellence in local governance.