In a significant move to empower the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons in the Municipality of Leon, Iloilo, the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas Master of Management major in Public Management (MMPM) students organized a Project Development and Management Workshop on August 10, 2024. This public service was organized as a class project for the course MGT 243 (Program Development and Management) under Asst. Prof. Ma. Rhona P. Beriales of the College of Management. The workshop is anchored on the stipulations of Republic Act 10742, or the "Sangguniang Kabataan Reform (SK) Act of 2015," which highlights the importance of the SK's role as a training ground for effective local governance and administration.
The workshop aimed to equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills in proposal writing and project implementation, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in their roles as project planners.
The activity was spearheaded by Mr. Menard Tandug, the class project manager. Eighty-three (83) SK chairpersons and ten (10) members from the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) were capacitated to effectively design, implement, manage, and evaluate programs and projects focused on communities' prevailing needs and issues at hand.
Dr. Czarinnah G. Araneta, Professor III of the UPV Division of Social Sciences, discussed program development and management processes and tools necessary to implement SK programs and projects.
"While it is crucial to work within the limits of the project, we must also maintain the project's relevance and quality. Understanding the project development process is essential to determine the path for future expansion and development. Our goal is to provide initiatives that are both relevant and helpful," emphasized by Prof. Araneta.
Meanwhile, UPV CM Asst. Prof. Beriales guided participants in writing project proposals aligned with the Barangay Youth Development Plan and Annual Youth Investment Program. Participants, grouped into 10 clusters, crafted proposals centered on the indicators of the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance. With the guidance of UPV graduate students, the SK and LYDC participants presented their project proposals, which garnered commendations and constructive feedback from the resource persons.
Asst. Prof. Beriales stressed that learning should be a continuous process, "in this century, we need to learn, unlearn, and relearn. We push for this program because we believe that SK officials and student leaders should be able to develop and implement projects that will address community problems and elevate the Municipality of Leon to the next level."
SK Municipal Federation Pres. Trexie Jan C. Villacastin said that the workshop's lessons would streamline the processes of project planning, proposal preparation, and project implementation, such as their upcoming event, the Linggo ng Kabataan.
The UPV graduate students collaborated with the Municipal Government of Leon, Iloilo, headed by Mayor Ma. Lina Cabana-Holipas, the DILG - Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Emmy Marie A. Nedula, and the Local Youth Development Office led by Ritchel Calfoforo, in organizing the activity designed to capacitate SK officials to become more adept project proponents and managers.
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