Underscoring that governance is not a monopoly of government, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Tuesday recognized DILG’s 16 outstanding development partners and collaborators for their invaluable contribution to advancing local governance capacity development.

In his speech during the Capacity Development (CapDev) Accelerator Awards 2023 Gabi ng Pasasalamat, Abalos pointed out that building the nation is a whole-of-society effort with partners that serve as force multipliers and co-implementers.

The DILG Chief added the DILG is fortunate to have numerous partners from diverse sectors to contribute, collaborate, and help in the attainment of its goals.

“Our efforts are not ours alone, it belongs to the community and to our partners – be it in beating illegal drugs, keeping our communities safe from crime and insurgency, helping promote a healthier community or enabling exemplar governance,” he said during the awards night held at the Manila Hotel.

Abalos added: “We are proud to say that for the DILG, there is strength in numbers beyond our own.”

In many cases, he explained, partners serve as experts that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of DILG efforts and help capacitate local government units to deliver their mandates.

He also said they help the Department monitor and evaluate LGU performance and help in knowledge management efforts.

“Truly, partners are integral to all the aspects of capacity development and services delivery of the Department,” he said.

Among this year’s big winners are the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology for the CapDev Accelerator in Local Governance Award; and West Visayas State University for the CapDev Game Changer Award.

Meanwhile, 14 development partners were also honored for the NextGen CapDev Accelerator Awards category, among them is the Advocacies in Praxis for Leadership and Community Development.

To become a CapDev Accelerator Awardee, a development partner must have a documented written agreement with any DILG operating unit or office and has at least two complete engagements with the Department that contributed to one or more of the DILG outcome areas.

Organized by the DILG’s training arm, Local Government Academy (LGA), the CapDev Accelerator Awards 2023 recognizes the dynamic multi-stakeholder involvement and substantial contributions of development partners in three categories, namely: NextGen CapDev Accelerator, the CapDev Game Changer Award, and the Accelerator Award in Local Governance.

Original Article at: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-hails-16-CapDev-awardees/NC-2023-1289