ASOG holds Parliamentary Forum and Workshop on Policy and Lawmaking in Cotabato City

The Ateneo School of Government through the Executive Education Program and the Ateneo Policy Center, in collaboration with Ateneo de Zamboanga University and UK-based Westminster Foundation for Democracy held a Public Forum on and Workshop on Policy and Lawmaking, as part of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary 101 Series. The said event was held on 09 January 2020 at the EM Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Cotabato City. In attendance during the event were representatives from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), their staff, policymakers, and the academe. 
 
The forum is designed in response to the identified needs of the BTA members and their staff during the first parliamentary forum and workshop that the Ateneo School of Government hosted in Cotabato City last October 2019. This second forum aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of policy-making in the parliamentary environment of the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

Atty. Michael Henry Yusingco, non-resident fellow of the Ateneo Policy Center, discusses policy-making in parliamentary form of government. Atty. Yusingco emphasized the distinction between parliamentary and presidential forms, and how policy development, exercise of powers, elections, and accountability mechanisms differ in each form of government

Mr. Alexander Simm, Program Manager of Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Southeast Asia, also discussed legislative scrutiny and best practices in the United Kingdom. In his presentation, Mr. Simm mentioned that in the UK, Parliament can fast track legislation through Allocation of Time Order or Business of the House Motion Order and the same must be justified. Fast tracking legislation in parliament, according to Mr. Simm, always happens when there are emergencies or issues that need decisive action from the Parliament. He emphasized, however, that legislative scrutiny could not be disregarded to ensure transparency and proportionality. 

After the presentations from the speakers, an open forum was held to address questions from the audience. 
 
In the afternoon, a workshop for the BTA members and BTA staff was conducted. Participants underwent a simulation of public policy design thinking process and went through the stages of policy development. Throughout the workshop, the relevance of evidence-based and evidence-informed policy formulation was emphasized.

Participants also identified potential barriers, resources needed, and project strategic timelines for the formulation of their chosen policy issue.

Moderating the proceedings was Atty. Dion Lorenz L. Romano, Project Manager of Ateneo Policy Center, Ateneo School of Government.
 
The event was closed by Mr. Alvin Legados Arcete, MPM, Director of the Ateneo Center for Leadership and Governance, Ateneo de Zamboanga University.