The four-day training workshop equipped CBMS and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) focal persons from Regions VIII, IX, XI, XII, and Caraga with the skills to interpret and apply CBMS data in the CDP process. With guidance from experts from BLGD and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), participants explored key components of the planning cycle, including ecological profiling, vision-reality gap analysis, and the formulation of the Local Development Investment Program (LDIP) and Capacity Development Agenda.

To strengthen analytical capacities, participants were introduced to innovative tools such as the Local Development Indicator System (LDIS) and the Problem-Solution Finding Matrix (PSFM). These tools support data-informed decision-making, enabling local governments to prioritize development interventions that are aligned with real-time, community-level data.

The workshop combined plenary discussions and hands-on exercises, enabling participants to analyze CBMS-generated indicators, maps, and reports, and translate them into strategic, sectoral responses aligned with the development vision and realities of their LGUs. The sessions culminated in the drafting of regional action plans, ensuring that participants could immediately apply their learning in their respective regions.

In his welcome message, DILG MIMAROPA Assistant Regional Director Rey S. Maranan highlighted the increasing importance of granular and accurate data in addressing complex local challenges. BLGD Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua also emphasized the institutionalization of CBMS as a critical step in synchronizing national and local planning efforts, calling on participants to champion its integration in the CDP process.

For DILG Region 8, data integration remains a cornerstone of good governance. Under the leadership of Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe, the region has strengthened its push for evidence-based planning. During a consultation workshop with the Local Government Academy (LGA) in April, Director Agabe underscored the Department’s direction toward becoming a knowledge-driven organization:

“Our interventions must be precisely targeted and informed by concrete evidence,” he said. “By leveraging robust data analytics and systematic knowledge management, we can anticipate emerging risks, optimize resource allocation, and design programs and projects that are both resilient and responsive to community needs.”

The CBMS Module III-B workshop is part of the national rollout of DILG’s initiative to institutionalize data-driven governance, aimed at empowering LGUs to make informed, impactful, and inclusive decisions that drive sustainable development.