DILG urges newly elected local officials to join training program
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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged newly elected local officials to participate in a capacity development program.
The program, called the “enhanced” Newly Elected Officials Performing Leadership for Uplifting Service (NEO PLUS), was designed to help newly elected local leaders “govern effectively and responsibly” through training and support, the DILG said in a statement Thursday.
According to the DILG, the NEO PLUS program will be implemented in three phases, focusing on the following topics:
- Accepting the Mandate and Embracing the Development Challenge – June to December 2025
- Acting on the Mandate and Addressing the Development Challenge – January to December 2026
- Achieving Results and Embedding Gains – January 2027 to June 2028
“NEO PLUS is anchored on three core components: unlocking strategic leadership and competencies, enhancing management systems and local policy, and strengthening service delivery through partnerships and innovation,” the DILG explained.
“By the end of the program, local chief executives are expected to demonstrate improved leadership and governance performance, while sanggunian members must show enhanced capabilities in legislation and policy-making to drive local development,” it added.
The agency also said the program will be implemented through the Local Government Academy.
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Meanwhile, re-elected officials are expected to take a refresher course through the program, the DILG said.
The DILG also encouraged newly elected officials to participate in a separate introductory course on strategic leadership and management, scheduled from July to August 2025./mcm
