On April 13, 2026, the Pasig City Council held a committee hearing to review and renew the partnership for the Pasig City CSO Academy (PCCA), a landmark project born from a multi-sectoral initiative and partnership between the Pasig City Local Government Unit, Rizal Technological University (RTU), Advocacies and PRAXIS for Leadership and Community Development, Inc. (PRAXIS), and the Center for the Advancement of Local Governance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Present at the session were the representatives of each key partner. Assoc. Prof. Ricardo Momongan Jr., Director of the Extension and Community Services Office, and faculty from the Political Science Department Asst. Prof. John Benedict D. Alim and Instr. Girllie Garcia participated in the session on behalf of RTU. Aura Pineda of PRAXIS, Marianne Bernal Anceno of DILG Pasig, and Atty. Dan Christian Ramos from the Office of the City Mayor was also in attendance. Prof. Lilibeth A. Oliver from the Community Affairs and Linkages Office of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig also joins the project as a partner.

Hon. Angelu de Leon, Pasig City Councilor, presided over the hearing, guiding the discussions and ensuring that all relevant matters were thoroughly addressed. The hearing focused on Proposed Resolution No. 279, Series of 2026, which was authored by Councilor Paul Angelo Senogat, who also served as the resource speaker. The deliberations focused on assessing the Academy’s results and its continued role in strengthening participatory governance.

The discussions highlighted how the program equips civil society organizations (CSOs) with leadership, governance, and community engagement skills, which are necessary tools in participatory governance being advocated by both Mayor Vico Sotto and Councilor Senogat.

As the discussions progressed, all the partners expressed support for renewing the agreement, citing the Academy’s value in bringing together the local government, academe, and civil society toward a shared goal of sociopolitical development. They emphasized that continuing the partnership is key to sustaining its gains and expanding its beneficial effects to civil society.

The hearing concluded with the committee endorsing the renewal of the partnership, subject to the provision that the proposed improvements be integrated into the resolution. The session closed with a shared commitment to strengthening the CSO Academy as a model for inclusive, participatory development in Pasig City.

With the renewal of the partnership, the Pasig City CSO Academy is set to remain operational through the joint efforts of the “pillars” of PCCA and continue to provide capacity-building services for civil society groups in Pasig City.

RTU’s role in PCCA as a founding pillar is one of the university’s proudest achievements. Now that the PCCA has secured the council’s approval, the University reaffirms its commitment to sharing its expertise and resources to help instill the culture of participatory governance in Pasig.