“Strong plans aren’t born in comfort—they’re hammered out in storms, over packed calendars, and with people who refuse to give up.”

That’s exactly what unfolded in Agusan del Sur, when 35 participants from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sibagat and several National Government Agencies (NGAs) came together for a Strategic Planning Workshop. What could have been just another meeting turned into a story of grit, collaboration, and shared vision.

One Workshop, Many Voices

Representatives from the DILG, RHU, and DENR rolled up their sleeves and joined meaningful dialogues that gave depth to the day’s sessions. Guiding the process were Ms. Avha Hilario, SEA Inc.’s Mindanao Expansion Coordinator, and field coordinators Les Pacheco and Maria Amora, who steered conversations with a blend of Appreciative Inquiry and SWOT Analysis.

It wasn’t just a workshop.

It was a chorus of voices—each one adding texture to Sibagat’s shared future.

From Orientation to Ownership

The day opened with a crash course on IPAT-SIAD—a framework for Integrated, Participatory, and Sustainable Development. For some, it was new territory. For others, a reminder. But for everyone, it was an invitation to go beyond theory.

One participant joked, “It’s not just acronyms we’re learning—it’s accountability.”

And just like that, ownership was born.

Stories that Shape Strategy

Strategy, after all, isn’t drawn on whiteboards alone. It breathes in the lived experiences of the people.

Mr. John Perater of the Municipal Development Planning Office grounded the session with real development challenges, while Ms. Airene, the Municipal Tourism Officer, shared a refreshingly candid take on tourism—equal parts practical and hopeful.

Their anecdotes reminded everyone of one thing: Plans only work when rooted in reality.

More Than Plans—A Shared Direction

By day’s end, what emerged wasn’t just a stack of notes. Participants co-created a collective mission and vision, spotlighted priority projects, and mapped activities across seven vital dimensions: Societal, Political, Economic, Ecological, Cultural, Humane, and Spiritual.

In the words of one facilitator, “This isn’t just about planning—it’s about agreeing on the kind of Sibagat we want to wake up to tomorrow.”

The First Step Toward Lasting Change

Yes, it rained hard. Yes, schedules were tight. But Sibagat’s leaders showed that storms don’t derail progress—they sharpen it.

Here, planning is more than paperwork.
It’s resilience in action.
It’s partnership forged in dialogue.
It’s the future, mapped together.