By Chessa Pae Faustino, STRATCOM Correspondent

Mariano Marcos State University signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Ilocos Norte, along with 28 other member agencies of the Multi-Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee (MSAC), to strengthen the Local Governance Provincial Resource Center (LGPRC) on July 15 at the Center for Flexible Learning.

Spearheaded by DILG Ilocos Norte, the MoA signing centered on renewing and expanding partnerships under the MSAC and LGPRC to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building efforts in local governance across Region 1.

Under the MoA, DILG will lead the LGPRC as convener, manage its operations and facilities, provide annual resource support, oversee implementation, submit regular reports, and serve as secretariat during meetings.
On the other hand, MMSU and the 28 other member agencies will provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs), share facilities, produce and promote communication materials,  and supply relevant data and educational resources. They also committed to enhancing multi-sectoral participation, enjoining barangay involvement in LGPRC activities, offering resource speakers and capacity-building programs, and implementing moral recovery and values formation initiatives, in line with their respective mandates.

Present at the MOA signing were Atty. Gerald Gallardo, DILG Ilocos Norte provincial director, Ms. Jeslen Tesoro, DILG Ilocos Norte program manager, and representatives from various national government agencies, civil society organizations, local resource institutes, and LGUs comprising the MSAC.

Representing MMSU were Dr. Margita Hilario, Master of Arts and Public Administration program head, and Prof. Herdy Yumul, Strategic Communication director and faculty member of the public administration and sociology programs.

According to Ms. Tesoro, the MSAC initially had nine members, including MMSU, and has now expanded to 29 member agencies. She emphasized that the renewed agreement reinforces the MSAC, with all parties “agreeing, covenanting, and binding themselves” to support shared goals in local governance.

Atty. Gallardo, meanwhile, thanked development partners for their commitment and emphasized the importance of formalized collaboration in enhancing capacity-building efforts. He recognized the value of diverse representation in addressing multi-sectoral concerns and acknowledged the enduring support of the university in advancing the goals of MSAC.

MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. expressed gratitude to the DILG for bringing together various agencies to strengthen local governance in the province. “The university is committed to helping achieve the goals of the committee, ensuring our active participation in every initiative the MSAC wishes to implement,” he said.