The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the Local Government Academy (LGA), paid tribute to its partners in governance as it conferred recognitions to civil society organizations, government institutions, and members of the academe during the CapDev Accelerator Awards 2025.

The Capacity Development Accelerator Awards recognize partners and stakeholders whose sustained collaboration has strengthened the capacity of local governments and accelerated the DILG’s mission of excellence in local governance. The awards underscore the value of partnership as a core driver of effective service delivery at the grassroots level.

The DILG emphasized that these collaborations directly respond to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for meaningful and sustained partnerships across sectors to ensure that government programs reach communities where they matter most.

“Your enduring dedication shows us that the most bountiful harvest comes from relationships that stand through time, storms, and even shifting landscapes. By giving your all, you deserve to be heralded as our bayani,” DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan said during the ceremony, held under the theme Taon ng Ani, Taon ng BayAni.

Leading this year’s honorees were the University of the Cordilleras from the Cordillera Administrative Region as the Most Distinguished Kinang Partner, and Mahintana Foundation Incorporated as the Most Distinguished Alab Partner.

Kinang Awardees, recognized for one to three years of contribution to the DILG’s organizational outcomes, included the Department of Science and Technology Region 2; University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Human Ecology in Region 4A; Iloilo University of Science and Technology in Region 6; Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in Region 7; Department of Education Schools Division of Southern Leyte in Region 8; STI West Negros University in the Negros Island Region; Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Region 9; Central Mindanao University in Region 10; and the Green Reconciliation Action Education Youth Organization in Region 12.

Alab Awardees, honored for more than three years of partnership contributing to the DILG’s societal outcomes, were the Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values Inc. in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Isabela State University Cagayan Valley Program on Environment and Development in Region 2; Bulacan State University in Region 3; De La Salle Dasmariñas in Region 4A; Office of Civil Defense in Region 5; Philippine Councilors’ League; Philippine Institute for Development Studies; United Nations Development Programme Philippines; Holy Name University in Region 7; Samar State University in Region 8; Bukidnon State University in Region 10; Philippine Information Agency Western Mindanao; and Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation in CARAGA.

Meanwhile, the Kislap Award, given to partners with less than a year of collaboration who have already demonstrated strong foundations for future engagement, was conferred on Kaabag sa Sugbo Foundation Inc. in Region 7; Southern Leyte Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers’ Organization Inc. in Region 8; Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. in Region 9; University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Region 10; and CSO Academy Banaybanay of Davao Oriental State University Banaybanay Campus in Region 11.

Also present during the ceremony were DILG Assistant Secretary Francisco Cruz, LGA Executive Director Thelma Vecina, LGA Assistant Director Esmeralda Daphne Purnell, and other officials of the DILG and LGA.

The DILG reaffirmed that strong partnerships remain central to building capable local governments, translating national vision into action, and delivering results that improve the daily lives of Filipinos across communities.