In response to the support needed by LGUs to take on an increased budget and responsibilities after the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court ruling in 2018, the UA&P Center for Research and Communication launched the Institute of Local Development, which offers specific technical and training services to modernize local governance during the forum on October 22, 2025. Joining Vice Governor Mandanas at the launch were ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez, DILG Director Anna Liza Bonagua, UP Professor Emeritus for Public Administration and Governance Dr. Alex Brillantes, Jr., and Dr. Jesus Estanislao, Professor Emeritus and Co-Founder of the University of Asia and the Pacific.
The landscape of governance in the Philippines is undergoing a historic shift. With the impending full implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling—which mandates a substantial increase in the share of local government units (LGUs) in the national budget—LGUs are poised to become the true engines of development. But with greater funding comes greater responsibility, requiring specialized expertise and targeted support.
To meet this critical need, the Center for Research and Communication (CRC) officially announced the launch of its Institute for Local Development (CRC-ILD). Established as a dedicated research, advisory, and advocacy arm, CRC-ILD is committed to equipping LGUs with the world-class tools and knowledge necessary to transform these new resources into sustainable, grassroots impact.
CRC-ILD is mobilizing a powerful consortium of local and international development experts to provide technical services, specialized research, and continuing education in the following areas: Local Economic Growth, Digital Transformation, Renewable Energy, Infrastructure Development, Human Capital Development, Water Security and Climate Change.
In a strong vote of confidence for its mission, CRC-ILD has already secured its first grant from an international organization to conduct research and analytic work on water supply and security issues in local communities.
Forum on Local Governance and Development
The launch of the CRC-ILD was the highlight of the inaugural Forum on Local Governance and Development, held on October 22, 2025, at the Dizon Auditorium of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).
The forum, themed “The Mandanas-Garcia Ruling and the Future of Local Governance in the Philippines,” gathered over 150 participants, including seven mayors and top officials from various national government agencies and international development groups.
Vice Governor Hermilando Mandanas, in a forum at UA&P on October 22, 2025, shares his motivation to better serve local communities as the impetus to challenge the budget allotment and increase resources for LGUs, a move ruled in favor of by the Supreme Court in 2018 and has been a challenge to implement seven years later.
The keynote address was delivered by Vice Governor Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas who initiated the court challenge which culminated in the 2018 Supreme Court ruling more popularly known now as the Mandanas-Garcia ruling.
Joining him were leading local governance scholar Dr. Alex Brillantes, Director Ana Liza Bonagua of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Secretary Ernesto V. Perez of the Anti-Red Tape Authority. UA&P founder and Professor Emeritus Dr. Jesus Estanislao also delivered a message of support.
UA&P President Atty. John Philip Yeung welcomed guests to the forum, with CRC President Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog closing the program. POLIS, the student body of the UA&P Political Economy Program, supported the organization of the forum.
To find out more about CRC, send an email to [email protected], or message +639054280727, or follow us on LinkedIn. You can also find us on Facebook.
