NDMU Contributes to Policy Development and Regional Cooperation Through DILG and ASEAN Partnerships

Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) strengthened its commitment to evidence-based policymaking, responsive governance, and regional collaboration in 2025 through its engagement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the ASEAN Accounting Education Workgroup (AAEW).

On July 31, 2025, NDMU met with DILG representative Ms. Cristy Jane Buenaflor following the university’s formal identification as a Local Resource Institution (LRI) for the research component of the 2025 Regional Decentralization Conference. The initiative focused on youth development, particularly reviewing existing policies governing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and proposing amendments to make youth representation more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable in selected municipalities of South Cotabato.

The collaboration highlighted NDMU’s role in contributing academic research and professional expertise to local governance and policy development. The initiative was spearheaded by Mrs. Sheila B. Roma, Director of the Research and Innovation Center, in collaboration with the Social Science Department. Atty. Rene M. Barrion, NDMU Vice President for Administration, also participated in the meeting and shared legal perspectives relevant to the policy review process. Through this engagement, the university supported efforts to strengthen youth participation and inform policy reforms through research-based recommendations.

NDMU further expanded its regional engagement on October 28, 2025, when it formalized its membership in the ASEAN Accounting Education Workgroup (AAEW) through a Memorandum of Agreement signed at CamEd Business School in Cambodia. Representing NDMU were Dr. Michelle F. Capistrano, CPA, DBMIS, Dean of the College of Business, Governance, and Accountancy, and Ms. Angel Queen M. Samoraga, CPA, MBA, Assistant Professor of the Accountancy Department, who served as witness to the signing. AAEW was represented by its President, Professor Dr. Rozainun Haji Abdul Aziz, P.M.K., C.A. (M), with Dr. Florenz C. Tugas, CPA, CISA, ASEAN CPA, Vice President II of AAEW, serving as witness.

The partnership aims to advance accounting education, research, innovation, professional development, curriculum enhancement, and academic exchange across Southeast Asia. It also provides opportunities for NDMU to participate in collaborative initiatives and contribute to the continued development of accounting education within the ASEAN community.

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Together, these engagements demonstrate NDMU’s commitment to building partnerships that connect academic expertise with public policy, institutional development, and regional cooperation. Its collaboration with DILG provides a direct avenue for research-informed input into local governance and youth policy, while its AAEW membership strengthens its participation in regional academic and professional initiatives.

These efforts contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, particularly through collaboration with government and regional organizations. The DILG initiative also supports SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, through its focus on responsive governance, inclusive youth representation, and policy development.

By engaging government and regional partners, NDMU continues to demonstrate how higher education institutions can contribute knowledge, research, and professional perspectives to address societal challenges and support more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable development.