ASOG Hosted Evidence-Based Policymaking Workshop for Aklan

On June 8, 2022, the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), through its partnership with the Knowledge to Policy Center (K2P) of the American University in Beirut (AUB), hosted its first Evidence-Based Policymaking Workshop in support of tobacco control at Marzon Hotel in Kalibo, Aklan. In collaboration with Aklan Provincial Health Office and Smoke-free Aklan, representatives composed of tobacco control coordinators, municipal health officers, nurses, and municipal council legislative staff from the 17 municipalities of the province all came in attendance in order to learn more about how research can benefit decision making in their respective areas.

Aklan is known as one of the provinces in the Philippines that has several municipalities awarded with the prestigious Red Orchid award by the Department of Health for promoting a 100% Tobacco-Free Environment in their respective communities. This is awarded through the evaluation of their comprehensive efforts towards achieving the 100% tobacco-free goal using the World Health Organization’s MPOWER initiative and given scores ranging between percentage points. Proof of the province’s anti-tobacco efforts, the workshop was held to further this advocacy for current and future endeavors by equipping them with necessary research skills to support and promote stronger tobacco control policies.

The workshop included a mini-lecture on what evidence-based policymaking is and how it can be applied in the government setting. The four principles behind the concept, which are building and compiling evidence, measuring effectiveness, evidence-based program prioritization, and innovation, were discussed in length through key concepts involved in each. These were then related to existing processes within the government, such as data collection across programs, archived documents, program evaluation, existing policies, and implementation procedures. By being aware of how data circulates across various channels within the government, future decision-making can be improved for improved results.

As a companion to evidence-based policymaking, the workshop also dedicated a section to making a policy brief. The three main sections of a policy brief, which are the problem, options and elements, and implementation considerations, were then described and introduced using ASOG’s own example. After that, a short activity on the application of these concepts was done by splitting the attendees into their respective municipalities and prompting reflection on their individual problems, challenges, current achievements and policies, and potential allies in advocacy.

The workshop attendees enthusiastically participated in the day’s activities and reached out to the ASOG representatives to ask for thoughts about future actions to take in their localities. As a summary of these talks, the proposed next steps to take in each area revolved around improving the current implementation of anti-tobacco policies by forming a more focused task force, reaching out and collaborating with potential allies in their areas, and fostering a more evidence-based decision-making culture among the representatives’ offices.