The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) through its Special Programs Section conducted a skills enhancement training from 9-12 January 2017 for personnel and volunteers of the local government units (LGUs) in preparation for the launching of the ASEAN 2017 Philippine chairmanship. The training at the SEDA Abreeza Hotel, Davao City was attended by Davao LGU personnel as well as student volunteers from various schools .

The participants were divided into four groups, each of which underwent a different module per day. Before the training began, a plenary session was held wherein FSI oriented the personnel and volunteers on the different aspects of training. The staff of SEDA Hotel also gave a short security briefing to the participants.

Ms. Karen Agustin-Ostrea, one of the module speakers, discussed effective communication, Ms. Karina Agustin-Crisostomo handled the module on image enhancement, Ambassador Fortunato D. Oblena (Ret.) lectured on protocol and liaising, and Mr. Revimarc L. De Mesa provided the the participants with important points on conference management services.

The training closed with a consolidation session, where the four groups chose representatives to discuss what they learned in the training modules they attended.