The JRU-Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program, the seat of the NCR-Chapter of the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines, Inc. (ASPAP) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the City Government of Mandaluyong to strengthen their collaborative partnership in pursuing local development efforts. This collaboration is being supported by the World Bank’s Panibagong Paraan Project aimed at showcasing innovative development ideas in Philippine local governments.

The ASPAP-NCR Chapter particularly selected the JRU-MPA Program given its already established collaboration with the City Government in various local development efforts. In 2007, the JRU-MPA Program also sponsored selected technical staff of the City Government to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-funded Training on the Mainstreaming of Gender and Human Rights to Local Development. As a follow through to this initial capacity-building support to the city government, the MOA institutionalized the JRU-MPA Program’s technical and advisory assistance to the city government in various development efforts towards this end.  

Present during the signing were (seated, L-R) Prof. Eleazar E. Ricote, JRU-MPA Program Head and President of the ASPAP-NCR Chapter, JRU-Vice President for Finance Theodore U. Calaguas who represented JRU-President Dr. Vincent K. Fabella, Mayor Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Dean Wilhelmina I. Nies, Dean of the JRU College Division; (standing) Dr. Fe Fatima Villamayor, JRU Dean for Nursing, and Mr. Delfin Assistio, former City Councilor and JRU Alumni.