Empowering local governance: ASoG successfully concludes online training course on policymaking and legislation at the local level

On 24 to 27 of September 2024, the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) through the Executive Education Program held an insightful online training course entitled “Policymaking and Legislation at the Local Level”.

The training was attended by over 40 participants composed of representatives from all over the country such as the Local Government Units of Bulalacao (Oriental Mindoro), Alaminos (Pangasinan), Isabela, Coron (Palawan), Anilao (Iloilo), Eastern Samar, Bataan, and City Governments of Valenzuela, Lipa (Batangas), and Cagayan de Oro; and National Government Agencies such as the National Youth Commission and the National Research Council of the Philippines. There were also representatives from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from the respective agencies of Bangsamoro Youth Commission and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority - Parliament as well as the non-government organization, Philippine Business for Education. Participants from the House of Representatives, Department of Education, and University of the Philippines Law Center were also in attendance.. Finally, representatives from the private sectors were also present such as the Aboitiz Power Corporation - Therma Luzon, Inc. and Therma South, Inc.

This compressed course covers the creation and legislation of policies within the framework of the Philippine public administration and was delivered by one of the Core Faculty Members of the Ateneo School of Government, Dr. Isaias B. Ubana II, PhD. His relevant experiences with the Commission on Audit, his key role in drafting the Local Government Code of 1992 as Legislative Committee Secretary in the Senate of the Philippines, serving five (5) consecutive terms as the Municipal Mayor of Lopez, Quezon, holding leadership roles within the Sanggunian Panlalawigan, and his PhD in Political Science, enriched the 8 learning hours course with practical insights and applications that ran for four (4) days covering four (4) modules.

The first module introduced foundational concepts such as power, governance, politics, and local autonomy. The second module focused on developing technical skills for local policymakers, while the third covered policy-making and analysis to help participants create impactful ordinances and resolutions. Finally, the last module, during the culminating session, updated participants on current trends and issues, with insights from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to guide legislative actions.

At the culminating session on September 27, 2024, ASoG Dean Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño emphasized the close connection between policymaking, legislation, and democratic outcomes, highlighting the critical role local governments play in this process. He stressed the duty of all stakeholders to ensure their efforts contribute to the improvement of democracy, particularly at the local level. Commending the participants' dedication, Dr. Tuaño noted that the knowledge and skills they acquired would directly support good governance and sustainable development in their local communities, ultimately driving meaningful improvements in local government performance.

To see the upcoming short courses offered to the public by the Executive Education Program, please Please stay updated through our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ateneosog
 

Interested in knowing more? Contact us and learn about ASoG-ExecEd’s course and training offerings: execed.asog@ateneo.edu