The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) formally introduced the BAGANI Rising Leaders Development Program to student leaders of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) during a meeting held on February 10, 2026, at the UNP Administration Building.
The DAP delegation received a warm welcome from Mr. Albert Tejero, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Officer-in-Charge of the University, in the absence of President Dr. Erwin Cadorna, who is on official business in Indonesia. The engagement was also attended by Dr. Eleonor Belizar, Special Assistant to the President; Hon. Jake Axel Tacadena, Student Regent; and College Deans—an assembly that highlighted the university’s strong institutional backing for leadership development initiatives.
Leading the DAP delegation were Mr. June Arvin Guday, Vice President for Corporate Affairs; Ms. Marites Solomon, Program Director for the Sustainable Human Development Program; and Mr. French Bandona, Project Manager of the BAGANI Rising Leaders Development Program. They were joined by project staff Mr. John Roel Gonzaga, Mr. Tala Ysabel dela Peña, Renzo Teodoro, Carl Johannes Gamboa, Mark Christian Simbahon, and Mikaela Olidan, who provided program details and engaged with the student leaders.
The BAGANI Rising Leaders Development Program is a fully funded, nationwide government initiative spearheaded by the Development Academy of the Philippines. It aims to ignite passion for leadership and governance among young public servants by equipping them with the skills, values, and competencies necessary to address the evolving challenges of modern governance and to create tangible impact in the public sector.
During the presentation, DAP officials outlined the two major learning tracks under the BAGANI program. The BAGANI Open-Learning Program is a four-month, self-paced digital learning platform that offers modules on local governance, leadership fundamentals, and emerging innovations in the public sector, specifically tailored to the needs of youth leaders. Meanwhile, the BAGANI Fellowship Program is an intensive residency designed for the top 100 outstanding young fellows nationwide, providing an immersive learning experience through in-depth workshops, mentoring, and collaborative engagements with governance experts.
As a core requirement of the fellowship, selected participants will conceptualize and implement Catalyst Projects that aim to address pressing and emerging challenges related to national and security development, translating leadership learning into concrete, community-centered solutions.
The BAGANI program is open to young leaders aged 18 to 30 from various sectors, including national government agencies, local government units, Sangguniang Kabataan, and student leaders from universities, colleges, and vocational institutions.
The introduction of the BAGANI Rising Leaders Development Program at UNP marks a significant opportunity for its student leaders to engage in a nationally recognized leadership initiative, reinforcing the university’s commitment to develop future leaders equipped for public service and governance.
