Makilahok: Shaping the Future of Democratic Governance

The Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), through the Philippine Observatory on Democracy (POD) of the Ateneo Policy Center, hosted a brown bag session titled "Makilahok: Shaping the Future of Democratic Governance" on March 27, 2025, at POH 101, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University. As part of ASOG's commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue on the national electoral discourse, the event provided a platform to examine the state of democracy in the Philippines and explore pathways to strengthen democratic institutions.

Philip Arnold P. Tuaño, Dean of ASOG, opened the session by contextualizing the current state of democracy in the Philippines. He introduced the Philippine Observatory on Democracy as part of a global initiative led by the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU), established in response to global challenges related to democratic backsliding.

Following the dean’s remarks, Kier Ballar, Research Associate and Statistician at the Ateneo Policy Center, presented the initial findings of the POD Survey. The data offered a critical lens into how urban Filipinos perceive democracy at national and local levels. While the survey highlighted high voter turnout, it also revealed low political participation beyond elections and a prevailing sentiment of not being engaged in local community activities.

Atty. Michael Henry Yusingco, Senior Research Fellow at ASOG, then presented his paper on civic engagement, focusing on the role of barangay assemblies in fostering citizen-led political discourse and strengthening local governance. He emphasized that barangay assemblies must serve as a community forum where ordinary citizens can deliberate on relevant issues leading to local legislation, policy recommendations, or plans of action. Additionally, he highlighted the important role that civil society organizations play in enabling these assemblies to function effectively.

Following the presentations, Victor E. Agbayani, former Governor of Pangasinan, and Tomasito S. Villarin, former Akbayan Representative, provided valuable perspectives on Atty. Yusingco's paper. They acknowledged the strengths of barangay assemblies in enhancing participatory governance while also addressing the challenges they face in practice.

The session concluded with an open forum where students, faculty, and civil society participants engaged in a dynamic exchange of ideas. Their questions and reflections further enriched the discussion, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement in local governance.

The Makilahok Brown Bag session is part of POD’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive and informed dialogue on democratic governance. By convening experts and practitioners, the event underscored the importance of local-level engagement in shaping the democratic landscape. As the nation approaches a significant election season, these conversations are crucial in ensuring active and meaningful civic participation.

The Philippine Observatory on Democracy, as part of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) initiative, will continue to provide data-driven insights to inform policy discussions and promote democratic resilience in the Philippines.