Hon. Liecel Mondejar-Seville is a trailblazing leader in local governance, renowned for her dynamic leadership and unwavering commitment to public service. As one of three mayoral alumni from Batch 10 “Kasaligan” of the Local Government Executives and Managers Class (LGEMC) by the Development Academy of the Philippines, she is the first woman to achieve this distinction and was recognized as the highest-performing scholar of her batch.

        Her career in public service began in 2007 when she was first elected as Municipal Mayor of New Lucena, Iloilo, a position she held until 2016. Following this, she served as a Provincial Board Member from 2016 to 2019, before returning as mayor in 2019—a role she continued to fulfill with distinction until the end of her term in 2025.

        In 2025, Hon. Mondejar-Seville successfully won a seat as a Sangguniang Bayan Member of the Municipality of New Lucena, continuing her commitment to good governance and inclusive leadership. Her dedication remains evident as she recently championed and passed the People’s Council Ordinance of New Lucena, a landmark legislation promoting participatory governance by empowering civil society organizations (CSOs) to actively engage in local government processes, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.

        In addition to her role as former Local Chief Executive, SB Liecel actively contributed to various leadership initiatives. She served as Chairperson of the 2nd Integrated Area of Development (2nd IAD), President of the Smoke-Free Cities Asia Pacific Network (SCAN) Philippines, and Secretary General of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Iloilo Chapter.

        Under her exemplary stewardship, New Lucena achieved numerous accolades, including:

                • Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in 2014, 2015, and 2016; and recently, for year                             2023, which was awarded in 2024.

                • Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping;

                • Gawad Pamana Award in 2011;

                • Induction into the Hall of Fame for Excellence in Local Governance; and

                • The prestigious Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health.

        The municipality was also recognized as the Best Performing LGU in the 4th-6th Class Category in the EXCELL Awards, by DILG Region VI in both 2021 and 2022, and as a national awardee for its initiatives in Anti-Drug Abuse Council programs and nutrition program implementation.

        Beyond her municipality, SB Liecel is a sought-after speaker and thought leader. In 2022, she was invited as a resource speaker for “Strategic Management and Futuristic Thinking” at the New Elected Officials Orientation Course organized by DILG Region VI. She later addressed municipal mayors in Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental during the Basic Orientation Course organized by DILG Region VII. Her expertise was further showcased during the Knowledge Exchange event for newly elected officials held in Iloilo City, where she emphasized the role of Local Chief Executives in strengthening local special bodies.

        She also participated as a panelist in the 2nd LGEMC Learning Practitioner’s Forum, sharing the best practices of her LGU, and contributed as a former member of the Development Academy of the Philippines' Roster of Resource Persons for Child-Friendly Local Governance.

        Internationally, SB Liecel broadened her expertise by joining the Local Governance Foreign Study Mission for Economic Development at The Hague Academy for Local Governance, The Hague, Netherlands in September 2024.

        An accomplished academic, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Iloilo Doctor's College, is a licensed nurse, and successfully passed the Career Executive Service Board Examination in 2014.

         SB Liecel Mondejar-Seville's steadfast dedication to innovation, inclusive governance, and community development has solidified her reputation as an inspiring figure in Philippine local governance.