CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines – Samar State University (SSU) strengthened local governance initiatives as it provided technical assistance to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Samar Provincial Office during the Provincial Roll-out Training on CBMS Module III-B: Uses and Application of Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Data held on December 2-4, 2025 at the CAS Audio-Visual Center, SSU Main Campus.
The activity forms part of SSU’s program on Strengthening Evidence-Based Local Governance: Capacitating LGU Functionaries on the Uses and Applications of CBMS Data for Local Planning and Budgeting, spearheaded by the Samar Island Center for Good and Local Governance (SICGLG).
Two SSU personnel, namely Alfonso Alex Labrague Jr. of SICGLG and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nathalie Ann Acosta of the College of Arts and Sciences, served as technical assistants throughout the three-day training. Labrague led the session on “Monitoring and Evaluation,” and Acosta discussed “Communicating the Plan.”
Participants tackled key topics essential to data-driven local planning, including CBMS and Local Development Planning, Comprehensive Development Planning Process, SDG 2030 Agenda, Ambisyon Natin 2040, the Philippine Development Plan, Provincial Development Physical Framework Plan, Local Development Indicator System (LDIS), VRG analysis, preparation of PPAs, prioritization and investment programming, and the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) through local budgeting.
The collaboration accentuates SSU’s continuing commitment to advancing capacity-building efforts that promote transparent, efficient, and evidence-based local governance across Samar province.