Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF)—through the NCF Academic and Business Development Office (ABD) and in strategic partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Camarines Sur—primed fourteen “Champions of Barangay Governance” during the Conferment Ceremony for the Executive Certificate in Barangay Governance (CBG) on July 29, 2026, at the Center for Research, Learning, and Development Office, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City.
Representing DILG Camarines Sur Provincial Director Ray B. Caceres, CESO V, Dr. Jerwin A. Novio, Local Government Operations Officer VII, personally attested to the scholars’ completion of the requirements for the seven-week CBG masterclass.
The DILG recognized top-performing elected and appointed local government officials, naming Mr. Joe P. Ombao, Secretary of Barangay Pili, Presentacion, Camarines Sur, as the top completer of the batch.
Second-place honors were earned by two Barangay Secretaries from the Municipality of Presentacion: Mr. Michael B. Vivero of Barangay Bagong Sirang and Mr. Jerry-May B. Batacao of Barangay Bulalacao.
Meanwhile, Hon. Gaspar P. Alfon, Punong Barangay of Palong, Pamplona, and Mr. Santiago S. Opinion, Barangay Secretary of Loob, Gainza, secured third place.
The fourteen completers successfully satisfied the requirements of the seven-module coursework, encompassing Fundamentals of Barangay Governance; Development of Barangay Plans, Implementation, and Monitoring; Fiscal Administration for Barangays; Legislation in the Local Unit; Localized Justice System; Barangay Administrative Service; and Barangay Automation.
Culminating the ceremony, Dr. Novio led the presentation of the “Kaagapay sa Pamamahala” award to NCF “in grateful recognition of the steadfast partnership and its invaluable support in governance initiatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government through sustained collaboration, shared expertise, and meaningful contribution to knowledge sharing and capacity development.”
NCF President Mr. Mario C. Villanueva received the award on behalf of the institution and emphasized NCF’s unwavering commitment to adult and lifelong learning through micro-credential programs. President Villanueva assured continued institutional support, noting that capacity-building is “a continuous process where we [NCF] intend to share whatever technology we learn to utilize.”
Marking the successful implementation of the CBG program, NCF and DILG Camarines Sur equipped local leaders with the foundational attributes needed for effective, ethical, and transformative barangay leadership—establishing a resilient framework for continuous community-level innovation, while empowering local officials to directly translate acquired policy insights, administrative skills, and digital tools into transparent, responsive, and future-proof public service for Bicolanos.