Development Academy of the Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Elba S. Cruz emphasized the importance of a “venue of convergence” for rural development practitioners as she welcomed the 66 graduates that made up Batch 3 of the Master in Public Management-Major in Rural Development (MPM-RD) during their commencement exercises recently.

The MPM-RD program of the DAP Graduate School of Public and Development Management (GSPDM) facilitates such convergence with the National Convergence Initiative (NCI) and its member organizations, which include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“This opportunity to be able to host such an important course for our rural development workers is an affirmation that the DAP remains a bastion of learning, particularly for government workers and officials,” Cruz said.

The commencement exercises had three guests of honor from the NCI, namely, DENR Assistant Secretary Marcial Amaro Jr., DA Undersecretary Ranibai Dilangalen and DAR Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong.

Bistoyong told the graduates about one of the goals of the NCI, which is to “prepare for the ultimate merging of the rural development agencies to ensure an integrated approach in planning, monitoring and development, implementing programs and projects through the efficient use of government resources.”

Amaro, meanwhile, said he takes pride in the four agencies spearheading the effort of convergence as well as in the DAP for its support and involvement in the program.  “There is no doubt that this initiative will indeed pave the way for sustainable rural development in the Philippines,” he said.

Dilangalen, on the other hand, challenged the graduates to change the landscape of Philippine agriculture and rural development into something that the Filipinos can be proud of.

“Change is here and you, our MPM-RD scholars, are one of its catalysts,” she said.

The DAP partnered with several schools and entities in the 22-month MPM-RD program, including the Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development, the College of Architecture of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan de Oro, the NCI, the DA, DAR, DENR and DILG.