The Master in Public Administration (MPA) students enrolled in MMPA 214N1 – Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Systems Analysis conducted a two-day Barangay Participatory Planning and Budgeting Workshop in Barangay San Buenaventura, Buhi, Camarines Sur on October 19-20, 2024 with the assistance of the Ateneo de Naga University-Center for Local Governance.
The workshop aimed to strengthen local governance by empowering barangay leaders in planning and budgeting.
The Graduate School-Master in Public Administration 1st year students who served as facilitators included Lowie S. Ferrer, Miko T. Ravago, Jonalyn Gabalfin, Jem Dane Dela Cruz, and Michelle A. Sabido under the supervision of their professor and Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Malu C. Barcillano, and with the assistance of Camille Faye R. Badong from the Center for Local Governance.
The workshop targeted the Barangay Development Council of San Buenaventura, led by Barangay Captain Arturo E. Lavadia, and featured participation from various sectors including the Sangguniang Kabataan, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and Barangay Health Workers, among others.
Workshop Highlights
The program kicked off with Lowie S. Ferrer leading the participants through an introductory session, where expectations were set, and the workshop’s objectives were explained. The participants were oriented on the Local Government Code, providing a foundation for understanding the different types of local development plans and the barangay planning process. A “Current Reality” dialogue was also conducted to assess the community’s current situation, followed by a statement of the barangay address from Barangay Captain Lavadia.
The afternoon session, “Shared Practical Vision,” facilitated by Jem Dane Dela Cruz, helped participants conceptualize a vision for their barangay. This exercise allowed them to reflect on how their vision could address current issues and created a sense of pride in their collective aspirations for the community.
Strategic planning continued with Miko T. Ravago guiding participants through the “Strategic Direction” workshop. This session focused on aligning the community’s shared vision with concrete strategies to achieve their goals, creating a pathway toward sustainable development.
Day Two: From Vision to Action
On the second day, Jonalyn Gabalfin led the Annual Investment Planning and Prioritization workshop, where participants developed detailed plans and identified specific projects based on their strategic goals. This session emphasized the importance of community-driven decision-making and shared leadership in determining the allocation of barangay funds.
The final session, facilitated by Michelle A. Sabido, gave an orientation on the Barangay Budgeting Process emphasizing the barangay’s budgeting elements, components, and process, sources of barangay revenue, barangay expenditures, and barangay budgeting process and reviewed the budgetary requirements essential for the barangay’s Annual Investment Plan (AIP). By the end of the workshop, the participants had successfully developed an AIP, with clear project priorities and funding strategies in place.
Community Impact
The workshop left a profound and lasting impact on Barangay San Buenaventura, empowering local leaders to take full ownership of their community’s development. For many participants, this was not just a training session, but a transformative experience that opened new avenues for collaborative governance. By involving diverse sectors—ranging from youth representatives to senior citizens—participants gained a deeper understanding of the collective power of shared leadership and decision-making.
What set this workshop apart was its ability to instill a sense of urgency and responsibility among the barangay leaders. The community members didn’t just learn how to manage their budget—they were equipped with the tools to shape their future in a way that directly responds to their community’s needs. The process of creating an Annual Investment Plan (AIP) was more than just an administrative task; it became a platform for uniting the community around a common vision of progress and development.
Participants walked away with a newfound confidence, ready to tackle the challenges ahead. “This workshop gave us the tools and the voice to shape our future,” expressed Barangay Captain Arturo E. Lavadia. The development council, with its clear priorities and well-defined strategies, is now more prepared than ever to create impactful changes that will resonate throughout the barangay for years to come.
This initiative has strengthened not only the capacity of the local government but also the bond among the community members, ensuring that future planning will be a more inclusive, transparent, and effective process. With the knowledge and skills gained, Barangay San Buenaventura is now poised to transform their vision into tangible, lasting improvements that will uplift the entire community.
Before the conduct of the said Workshop, the student-facilitators participated in the same activity by observing the process demonstrated by the CLG-trained facilitators and former MPA students, namely, Ms. Marbin Ciudadano, Ms. Michele Morales, Mr. Jay Abawag and Ms. Maricel Abordo. The Workshop was conducted in Barangay Sta Elena, Buhi Camarines Sur in October on October 12-13, 2024. This is part of the preparation given to the students before they were asked to handle the Service-Learning activity. They were also asked to attend the Training on Technology of Participation-Level 1: Basic Group Facilitation Methods on August 29-30, 2024.
Prepared by:
Louie Ferrer
GS-MPA Program
