ILOILO City – As newly elected local officials prepare to assume office, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to launch an intensive leadership training program starting July 1, aimed at guiding them in setting priorities and crafting a responsive agenda for their first 100 days.
Under the 2025 Newly Elected Officials Performing Leadership for Uplifting Service (NEO PLUS) Program, mayors, governors, vice governors, vice mayors, sanggunian members, and other designated local functionaries will undergo a series of capacity development courses that emphasize strategic leadership and effective public service delivery.
The initiative, led by the DILG’s Local Government Academy (LGA), forms part of a three-year national effort to ensure newly elected leaders are equipped to govern with competence and accountability, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to bolster grassroots governance.
In preparation for the rollout, the DILG Region 6 completed an orientation for training managers on June 16–17. Attendees included provincial directors, cluster heads, program managers, NEO focal persons, and field operations officers across Western Visayas. The session was spearheaded by DILG-6 assistant regional director Maria Calpiza Sardua, alongside LGA assistant director Esmeralda Daphne Purnell.
The program offers different learning tracks: first-time officials will undergo a course on strategic leadership for good governance, while returning officials will participate in a refresher course focused on transformative leadership.
Executive briefings, facilitated by DILG Field Officers and LGU Transition Teams, will mark the start of the program on July 1, ensuring a smooth transition into public office.
All training activities are free of charge.
In a statement, the DILG Central Office urged local leaders to “take part in the NEO PLUS Program to strengthen their leadership capacities, promote effective local governance, and ensure a responsive and citizen-centered public service.”/PN
