BATANGAS CITY, BATANGAS – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) IV-A Local Governance Resource Center-Multi-Sectoral Advisory Committee (LGRC-MSAC) successfully concluded its second-quarter meeting for FY 2025 at the Batangas State University–Pablo Borbon Campus. The meeting also witnessed an expansion of the LGRC-MSAC’s collaborative network with the addition of three new key partners: the Department of Health (DOH) National Volunteer Program Blood Service, the Philippine Red Cross, and Save the Children.

DILG IV-A Assistant Regional Director Darrell I. Dizon, CESO V, opened the meeting by expressing gratitude to Batangas State University for graciously hosting the event. He underscored the critical role of open communication in building effective partnerships, encouraging all participants to voice concerns and suggestions freely.

Engr. Albertson D. Amante, Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension Services at Batangas State University, extended a warm welcome to the attendees. He emphasized the university’s continuous commitment to providing quality education that opens diverse opportunities for its students.

Following a photo opportunity, a Memorandum of Agreement was officially signed, solidifying the partnership between the DOH, Philippine Red Cross, and Save the Children as official LGRC-MSAC members. The agreement was signed by ARD Dizon and representatives from each of the new partner organizations.

During the meeting, the DOH presented its commendable success in blood collection over recent years, expressing appreciation for DILG IV-A’s proactive approach to promoting healthy blood donations. Save the Children shared their vital mission to advocate for stronger laws, policies, and funding for children at both local and national levels. They highlighted their commitment to ensuring children’s meaningful and ethical involvement in decisions affecting them, and their collaborative efforts with government, civil society organizations, and the private sector to advance children’s rights through co-designing initiatives with children, communities, and partners. The Philippine Red Cross underscored their crucial blood services, emphasizing the provision of safe and cost-effective blood products, and their advocacy for volunteerism. They also expressed their eagerness to broaden their outreach through this new partnership.

LGOO IV and LGRC focal Kitch Gogolin provided an update on the progress of the LGRC-MSAC’s initiatives to date. She also discussed the Refresher Course for Re-elected Officials, a three (3)-day training for Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) that aims to reinforce participants’ knowledge, and equip them with the skills and attitudes that enable them to build sustainable strategies that impact their communities positively.

LGOO V and Creatives Head Shazer Leo Ambas discussed the current status and ongoing initiatives of the DILG IV-A Creatives Unit, showcasing the positive social media impact achieved thus far. He also encouraged LGRC-MSAC partners to participate in the new social media program, the “#4ABetterGovernance” podcast, as a platform to counter misinformation and amplify their advocacies.

Further enriching the discussions, UP Manila–School of Health Sciences Tarlac promoted their unique step-ladder curriculum in medicine, designed to enhance the development of human resources for community health. Additionally, the Non-Government Organization “MapaKalamidad.ph” endorsed their free, crowd-based social media platform, which effectively collects and disseminates disaster-related information directly from on-the-ground sources and volunteers.

The meeting concluded with a powerful closing message from OIC Provincial Director of DILG Batangas Robinson G. Maac, CESE. He commended the dedication of the LGRC-MSAC and its partners, highlighting the clear trend of solidarity and shared goals toward a more transparent and accountable local governance. “Kitang-kita po natin yung dedication ng ating mga kasamahan…at dahil po diyan, confident ang DILG CALABARZON na dahil sa inyong commitment, ma-achieve natin ang ating goal na ma-promote natin ang excellence in local governance, para eventually ma-uplift natin ang mga communities na ating pinaglilingkuran,” he stated, affirming DILG CALABARZON’s confidence in achieving excellence in local governance and uplifting communities through these strong partnerships.