CEBU — The University of the Philippines Cebu and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. have launched Bugsay, an executive leadership and governance fellowship. The program aims to strengthen the capacity of local chief executives across Cebu province.
A Collaborative Initiative for Local Leaders
The fellowship is jointly organized by RAFI, UP Cebu, and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance Center for Leadership, Citizenship and Democracy. It targets municipal and city mayors, equipping them with skills for ethical and responsive governance.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro attended the launch and emphasized continuous education as a responsibility for public servants. She described her involvement as both leader and learner alongside attending mayors from Balamban, Dalaguete, Boljoon, Samboan, Catmon, and Alcoy.
The Philosophy Behind Bugsay
The Cebuano word bugsay means paddle or to row. It serves as the program's foundational metaphor, symbolizing collective effort and shared direction. The concept is tied to RAFI's leadership principles popularized by the late Roberto Aboitiz.
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Asst. Prof. Palmy Marinel P. Tudtud spoke on behalf of UP Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo B. Malagar. She said to bugsay is to move together with a shared destination, noting that no local government can face complex challenges alone.
Program Structure and Participants
The fellowship features seven thematic modules and an immersion component. Participants will engage in peer learning, mentoring, and a culminating action-learning capstone project. These elements aim to broaden governance perspectives and develop innovative approaches to local challenges.
Aside from the mayors, the gathering included Provincial Planning and Development Office Head Eleazar Sabinay Jr. and representatives from partner institutions and regional line agencies. Their presence underscored the collaborative nature of the initiative.
Addressing Shared Challenges
The program equips local leaders with skills in ethical, responsive, and collaborative decision-making. It addresses challenges such as climate risks, urban development, and resource constraints that often cross municipal borders. Coordinated strategies can replace isolated policies.
Participating mayors must complete an action-learning capstone project. This requires them to implement practical solutions tailored to their towns, ensuring that the fellowship delivers tangible benefits to communities. The focus is on actionable outcomes rather than theoretical coursework.
Building Resilient Communities
The partnership links local government units with academic expertise from UP and community development experience from RAFI. This synergy grounds governance strategies in research and proven practices, helping narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas.
The Bugsay fellowship will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. By empowering local chief executives, it aims to build resilient communities throughout Cebu and improve public services for all residents.
