Today, December 17, 2027, DILG Tarlac held a reorientation and consultation meeting on Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development (CUCPD) at the Executive Board Room of the Tarlac City Hall. The event sought to deepen collaboration among stakeholders and reinforce efforts to address the needs of vulnerable sectors in the community.

The CUCPD program serves as a key initiative that brings together various sectors—youth, women, the urban poor, and labor groups—with Local Government Units (LGUs) and National Government Agencies (NGAs). Its primary aim is to ensure that government plans and services are responsive to the needs of marginalized communities, promoting inclusive development and lasting peace.

In his opening remarks, Office Caretaker Dennis A. Daquiz underscored the importance of inclusivity in governance, highlighting that real peace and development are achieved only when underserved sectors are empowered and given the support they need. His message resonated with the participants, reinforcing the shared commitment to fostering equitable progress across urban and marginalized areas.

The reorientation session, led by LGOO II Denver S. Yumul, the CUCPD Provincial Focal Person, provided stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the program’s objectives and strategies. It emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacities and fostering collaboration to effectively implement the next phases of the CUCPD in Tarlac City.

During the consultation, Arch. Eduardo Quintero, City Planning and Development Officer, facilitated discussions on the concerns and priorities raised by different sectors. The session also highlighted the City Government’s plans and accomplishments, aimed at bridging identified gaps in service delivery and addressing the pressing issues faced by urban communities.

The event was attended by key officials from the DILG and Tarlac City Government, including LGOO VII Jeffrey S. Manalastas, Cluster Team Leader of DILG Tarlac; LGOO VI Rod Mark M. Salvador, City Local Government Operations Officer; and LGOO VI Henrielle Justeene A. Tuliao, Program Manager of DILG Tarlac. The activity emphasized the unified effort of government agencies to drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.

On December 13, 2024, DILG Tarlac successfully conducted the 4th Quarter Cleanup Drive under the Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCURPP) in Barangay San Nicolas Poblacion, Concepcion, Tarlac.

This initiative was carried out with the support of Concepcion’s local government, led by Mayor Noel L. Villanueva, and the participation of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) under Sonofray Dantes, the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer LGOO VI Rowena Angeles, and DILG Tarlac personnel led by Office Caretaker LGOO VII Dennis Daquiz.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), barangay officials, and community volunteers joined the effort, working together to clean the streets of Barangay San Nicolas Poblacion in support of environmental protection and sustainability.

The activity underscored the spirit of bayanihan, bringing together government agencies, local officials, and community members in the shared goal of rehabilitating Manila Bay and its tributaries.

The DILG Tarlac, in partnership with the Provincial Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (IMTF), conducted the Provincial Roll-Out Orientation for the 2025 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) on December 6, 2024, via Zoom.

The sessions highlighted the key provisions of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2024-160, "CFLGA for All Levels," and detailed the audit’s indicators, categories, and criteria. These discussions ensured that the participants, including the City/Municipal Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (IMTF) from Tarlac’s lone city and 18 municipalities, were equipped with the knowledge necessary for an effective and accurate audit.

With the active participation of IMTF members, the orientation reaffirmed Tarlac LGUs’ commitment to fostering child-friendly communities, aligning local programs with the audit’s standards to ensure that the rights and welfare of children remain a top priority.