Adhering to its institutional mandate as an active community advocate, the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) continually demonstrates its commitment to regional development through direct involvement, policy guidance, and collaborative engagement with Local Government Units (LGUs) and human rights coalitions. Fulfilling its role in providing expert advice and evidence-based counsel to government entities, CCDC officially secured formal accreditation as a Civil Society Organization (CSO) and leverages powerful multi-sectoral networks to drive regional policy advocacy.
CCDC, represented by Vice President for Administration Atty. Annabelle B. Gondales, appeared before the Sangguniang Bayan of La Trinidad during its 35th Regular Meeting on September 25, 2025, to present and justify the institution’s application for CSO accreditation under the Education sector. Following this presentation, the Sangguniang Bayan of La Trinidad officially approved CCDC’s accreditation in October 2025. Through this formal recognition, CCDC assumes the right to sit as representatives in specialized municipal bodies of the LGU like the Local School Board and serve as a bridge between grassroots citizens and local legislators, giving marginalized sectors a voice in public hearings, committee meetings, and policy formulation.
with the Sangguniang Bayan of La Trinidad and other CSO applicants
Furthermore, CCDC, through its Community Legal Aid Center (CLAC), serves as an active member of the SEMEK Human Rights Hub, a dynamic consortium of various human rights organizations/agencies from different sectors united with the primary goal of protecting and advocating for human rights across the Cordillera Administrative Region. A core mandate of the Hub is policy advocacy for human rights. Notwithstanding its membership in the SEMEK Human Rights Hub, CCDC-CLAC has already been partnering with various municipalities throughout the province to deliver specialized legal services that integrate direct legal aid with vital municipal-level policy advocacy.
By embedding its academic, legal, and coalition-backed expertise directly into local governance structures and regional human rights networks, CCDC actively fulfills its mandate under SDG 16.3.1, providing dedicated expert advice, policy guidance, and institutional participation to local government decision-makers.
