The Pasig City CSO Academy was conceptualized a year after the transition of local government to the newly elected of Pasig, Mayor Vico Sotto. It was named and launched as the Pasig School of Leaders, initially the target of the said institution were young leaders in the city. However, due to the sudden eruption of Mt. Taal and just a few months later the whole country was placed under strict quarantine because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the said program was halted. Last 2022 a year after the lifting of stricter quarantine, Pasig City as one of its major thrusts propelled the program to include more Civil Society Organizations in local governance through the available mechanisms as mandated by the law and DILG issuances.
The number of Civil Society Organizations seeking accreditation significantly increased for more than a hundred percent, and the same was followed by the convention of and selection of CSO representatives to the Local Special Bodies including the City Development Council. Hence, the Praxis realized that there is a need for a comprehensive capacity development program for the CSOs, to prepare them to be participatory government ready. Mr. Paul Angelo A. Senogat crafted the concept paper of the program and the outline of the training modules. Mr. Senogat, presented it to the RTU Political Science Department faculty headed by Prof. Omar R. Manlapas. The said department helped us to craft the syllabus of each core topics focusing on Core Values of CSO Movement, Leadership and Management, Organizational Development, and Good and Participatory Governance. Further, the proposed Capacity Development program was presented to the City Mayor of Pasig Vico Sotto, and the latter expressed his support and gave the green signal to proceed with the program.
