Abstract This study investigates the effectiveness of local governance initiatives in Monkayo, Davao de Oro, Philippines. It explores citizen satisfaction concerning the Local Government Unit's (LGU) priority programs, encapsulated in the ASENSO framework, which includes Agriculture, Social Services, Education, Natural Resources and Environment, Security, Peace and Order, and Opportunity. This research highlights the importance of citizen satisfaction as a measure of local government performance. However, despite the essential role of these programs in enhancing community well-being and socioeconomic development, empirical data on citizen satisfaction in rural settings like Monkayo is limited. The study addresses this gap by employing a quantitative descriptive research design, utilizing a survey distributed across the municipality's 21 barangays, with a sample size of 385 residents. Results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the LGU's priority programs, with an overall mean score of 4.36, categorized as "very high." Specifically, Education Services received the highest mean score of 4.45, followed closely by Social Services (4.40) and Security, Peace, and Order (4.38). The findings suggest that the LGU's initiatives are meeting community expectations and promoting trust and engagement between citizens and local authorities. The study concludes that understanding citizen satisfaction is important for local government officials to refine service delivery and enhance public administration practices. Furthermore, this research serves as a model for similar rural municipalities aiming to evaluate and improve their public service programs by providing a comprehensive assessment of citizen attitudes toward local governance.