CITY OF CALAMBA, LAGUNA—With the aim of developing a strategic plan of action for the effective consolidation of priority policy proposals for the amendment of RA 7160, or the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, the DILG IV-A facilitated a pre-work session with all stakeholders in preparation for the actual consultation, to be conducted across CALABARZON at Hotel Marciano on May 5, 2026.

The LGC Review and Amendment Program (RevAmP) gathered fifty-one (51) participants from the Provincial and selected Field Offices across the region to participate in the preparations for the upcoming regional consultations on the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. The activity also included a consultation with Dr. Guinevere Madlangbayan from the University of the Philippines Los Baños – College of Public Affairs and Development, to align and strengthen collaboration between the government and the academe.

.LGOO II Janina Maye S. Mendoza and LGOO II Edward Biznar Dimaunahan headed the program’s flow, beginning with a message from DILG IV-A Regional Director Ariel O. Iglesia CESO III. He underlined the importance of engagement with the community, active participation in the consultation so that as many areas for improvement in the Local Government Code are addressed and presented. He also emphasized the role of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Presidents and meetings in support of the LGC ReVamP.

OIC-Division Chief of the Local Government Capability Development Division (LGCDD) Jessa Marie S. Mendoza-Ballesteros presented the overview of activities, outlining three major sessions of the program:

• Overview of LGC Initiatives of DILG IV-A;
• Stakeholder Mapping Workshop; and
• Consultation Design Workshop.

During the first session, LGOO II Floyd Reji B. Francisco discussed the DILG IV-A initiatives under the LGC RevAmP, including the roadmap for the review and amendment process and previous activities conducted in support of the program. These included the Local Governance Reform: LGC RevAmP held in Tagaytay City in October 2025, exploratory meetings with development partners and governance advocates, attendance in meetings with local government leagues across CALABARZON, the cascading of memoranda for proposal submissions, and the launching of the CALABARZON LGC RevAmP Portal.

The Stakeholder Mapping Workshop was facilitated by Assistant Division Chief Monette S. Landicho-Palo, who underscored the importance of identifying key stakeholders in the consultation process. Participants were grouped into four thematic clusters: Financial/Fiscal, Service Delivery, Administrative/Operational, and Local Autonomy.

Workshop outputs were subsequently presented by the respkective group representatives. PD Lionel L. Dalope, CESO V highlighted proposed policy flows for the Financial/Fiscal group; PM Jose Maria Niño T. Revadavia discussed thematic priorities under Service Delivery; MLGOO Brian B. Ballon identified governance issues and strategies for the Local Autonomy group; while OIC-PD Robinson G. Maac, CESE presented the Administrative/Operational group’s recommendations.

The Consultation Design Workshop, facilitated by LGOO V Sarah Joy V. Pastores, focused on consultation methodologies, stakeholder analysis, and the core principles of effective consultation design. Participants later presented their consultation frameworks and implementation strategies for each thematic area.

The participants unanimously agreed on the proposed schedule of activities presented during the session, with confirmation that funding support would be provided by DILG IV-A.

Dr. Guinevere Madlangbayan of the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Public Affairs and Development emphasized the significance of the program in addressing policy gaps and inconsistencies within existing governance frameworks. She likewise reaffirmed the institution’s full support for the consultation proceedings.

The summary of agreements was presented by OIC-DC Mendoza-Ballesteros, while the Closing Message was delivered by Assistant Regional Director Darrell I. Dizon CESO IV.

Through the conduct of the preconsultation workshop, DILG CALABARZON reaffirmed its commitment to fostering participatory governance and ensuring that the review and amendment of the Local Government Code remain responsive to the evolving needs of local government units and stakeholders across the region.