There are meetings that feel procedural, and then there are meetings that feel participatory. The recent Municipal Development Council (MDC) Meeting in New Lucena belonged to the latter. It did not carry the noise of politics, but the steady rhythm of consultation.

Presided over by Mayor Carl Vincent Mondejar, alongside Vice Mayor Isabelo Acollador and SB Member Liecel Mondejar-Seville, the council gathered Punong Barangays, Civil Society Organizations, and development partners including SEA Executive Director Mary Ann T. Fanega and Municipal Coordinator Rosanna Constantino. It was a full room — not just in attendance, but in engagement.

At the heart of the discussion was the ₱8,000,000 allocation for barangay projects. What stood out was the clarity. The funds were not discussed in broad strokes but were tied to concrete proposals: road concreting for barangays such as Badiang, Agpangan, Cabilauan, Kawayanan, Guinobatan, Sitio Ubos, Janipa-an Oeste, and Jelicuon Oeste; solar street lights for Dawis; and the completion of the multi-purpose gym in Pasil. Each project was named. Each amount was scrutinized. Transparency was not declared — it was practiced.

One barangay representative quietly remarked, “Mas maayo gid nga klaro kung diin makadto ang kwarta.” It was not a grand speech, but it captured the essence of the session. People were not just present; they were paying attention.

The council then finalized an additional ₱2.3 million in proposed allocations. Adjustments were made to strengthen road construction from Bita-og Gaja to Pasil, increase funding for Janipa-an Oeste, support the Cagban to Gen. Delgado Road, rehabilitate the Crisis Center or Balay Silangan, and help complete the Rural Health Unit building. The conversation was deliberate. There was no sense of rubber-stamping. Questions were asked, clarifications were given, and the body moved with collective agreement.

Accountability also surfaced during the meeting. Hon. Randy Tolentino of Brgy. Badiang raised a concern about a contractor whose road project allegedly caused damage in their area. It could have been deflected or deferred, but Mayor Mondejar responded firmly that the LGU would hold the contractor’s retention fee until the damage is repaired. It was a simple assurance, yet it signaled something deeper: public funds come with public responsibility.

Another important discussion centered on the proposed consultancy for the completion of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). Rather than deciding unilaterally, the Mayor sought the council’s input. Hon. Batiduan affirmed that technical experts are necessary to ensure that development remains organized and holistic. The body agreed, recognizing that sustainable growth requires not only intention but expertise.

Even concerns beyond the main agenda were given space. The Daycare Worker Federation President raised issues regarding a school gym. The matter was noted and committed for further discussion with the school board. It was not dismissed. It was acknowledged — and that acknowledgment matters.

What unfolded that day was more than compliance with statutory requirements. It was consultative governance in motion. There were no dramatic confrontations, no grandstanding — only steady dialogue about roads, health facilities, planning frameworks, and community concerns.

In many ways, democracy is most visible not during elections but in moments like this — when leaders listen, when budgets are explained, when questions are entertained without irritation. The MDC Meeting in New Lucena was a reminder that good governance is not loud. It is detailed. It is accountable. It is willing to answer for every peso and every project.

And perhaps that is the quiet strength of participatory leadership: not perfection, but openness.