Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) contributes to efforts to address poverty in its various dimensions by participating in policy discussions, strengthening partnerships with government agencies and development organizations, and engaging in multi-stakeholder initiatives that promote health, social protection, nutrition, and inclusive development.
Through these engagements, CCDC supports the development and implementation of policies and programs that respond to the needs of vulnerable communities and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty.
CCDC, through its participation in various platforms that assure quality, sharing its institutional anti-poverty-related practices, innovations and policies to various networks such as the World Universities Ranking for Innovations have earned global ranking recognition for the past three years.
Strengthening Partnerships for Health Leadership and Policy Development
On October 9, 2025, CCDC renewed its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), reaffirming their collaboration in capacity development, research and knowledge dissemination, networking, and knowledge exchange.
The partnership builds on the Health Leadership Development Program completed in 2024 through the collaboration of CCDC, ZFF, and the Department of Health (DOH). The program equipped eleven municipal local chief executives and their respective local health boards with leadership capacities to strengthen local health systems and support the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.
Beyond leadership training, the renewed partnership underscores the importance of developing policies and platforms that sustain knowledge management, research, and learning dissemination. These initiatives help strengthen evidence-informed decision-making and support the translation of local experiences into knowledge that can inform policy development beyond individual municipalities and contribute to broader development efforts.
By supporting stronger local health governance, CCDC contributes to addressing dimensions of poverty associated with limited access to essential health services and unequal opportunities for community well-being.
Participating in Local and National Policy Dialogues Addressing Poverty
CCDC actively participated in government-led forums and multi-stakeholder engagements in 2025 that addressed sustainable development, social protection, and nutrition.
On June 10, 2025, Ms. Corazon Ocden represented CCDC at the launch of the Baguio City Voluntary Local Review (VLR), held at Ion Hotel along Legarda Road, Baguio City. With the theme “Towards a Livable, Inclusive, and Creative City: Baguio’s SDG Journey,” the event marked the city’s first comprehensive assessment of its progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the local level.
The activity highlighted the importance of monitoring development commitments, promoting accountability, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Key messages were delivered by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran. Ar. Donna R. Tabangin, City Planning and Development Coordinator, presented the VLR results, while Mr. Aljo Quintans, UNDP SDG Specialist, provided the broader context. Representatives from the youth, academe, civil society organizations, and Indigenous communities also expressed their support. The event culminated in the ceremonial signing of the Baguio SDG Commitments, followed by a national expression of support from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
CCDC’s participation in the VLR launch provided an opportunity to engage with stakeholders working to translate global development goals into local priorities, including those related to poverty reduction, inclusion, and access to essential services.
On October 1, 2025, Ms. Mahinda Pinmiliw represented CCDC at a meeting convened by the Department of Labor and Employment–Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) at its office in Cabinet Hill, Baguio City. The invitation, dated September 11, 2025, brought together stakeholders to discuss two national programs with direct implications for vulnerable and low-income households:
- Benteng Bigas Meron Na (BBM) – a program that allows eligible minimum-wage earners to purchase rice at ₱20 per kilogram, subject to the applicable monthly limit of 10 kilograms.
- PhilHealth YAKAP – a health program intended to expand access to primary care services and health benefits, particularly for eligible and underserved populations.
These initiatives illustrate how public policies can help ease the cost of basic necessities and reduce barriers to healthcare, addressing economic and health-related dimensions of poverty.
On November 26, 2025, CCDC staff members Ms. Lily-Ann Dulay and Ms. Bethsaida Forag participated in activities on scaling up nutrition at City Lights Hotel, General Luna, Baguio City. Ms. Forag also attended the Scaling Up Nutrition Forum Network. These engagements reinforced the importance of coordinated action among institutions and development partners in addressing nutrition concerns, which are closely linked to household welfare, health, and human development.
Through these forums, CCDC engages with stakeholders involved in shaping, implementing, and strengthening development initiatives. Such participation helps connect the College’s educational and community engagement functions with broader policy efforts to reduce poverty and improve quality of life.
Representation in Local Governance and Policy-Making Bodies
As a recognized Civil Society Organization (CSO) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), CCDC participates in multi-stakeholder networks and local governance mechanisms that provide opportunities for institutional representation, collaboration, and engagement in public policy discussions.
CCDC personnel represent the College in various government agencies, councils, and advisory bodies, including:
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE): Prescila D. Palacsa
- Gender and Development (GAD): Michelle C. Palongdias
- Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC): Julie-ann B. Olila
- Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC): Lourence B. Miguel
- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG): Corazon L. Ocden
- Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (CRHRDC): Marina I. Sagandoy, Herman Hoover Agyao, and Marivel D. Muñoz
- Department of Health (DOH): Marivel D. Muñoz / Marife E. Kidatan
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD): Melody Calpase-Ducat / Kimberlyn M. Valdez
- Department of Tourism (DOT): Wenilyn R. Mateo
- Philippine Red Cross: Marivel D. Muñoz
- Office of the Governor – Teachers’ Day Council: Rosaria M. Pes-oyen
- Benguet Provincial Health Office: Dr. Myla G. Corpuz
- PhilHealth: Marife E. Kidatan
- DILG Multi-Stakeholders Advisory Council (MSAC): Corazon L. Ocden
