The participants of the 2021 CBILLS International Learning Courses on Public Policy and Public Sector Leadership from the Appropriations and Finance Group (top), Emerging Leaders (second), Middle Managers (third), and Senior Leaders Track (bottom) via Zoom – Photo Collage by Mary Ann Fajardo.
The Development Academy of the Philippines’ Center for Governance (DAP-CFG) partnered with three institutions for the “International Learning Course on Public Policy and Public Sector Leadership” offered under the various tracks of the 2021 Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) program from the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippines.
The courses were implemented in partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore for the Appropriations and Finance Group (June 28-July 1, 2021) and Emerging Leaders Track (October 25-29, 2021); with the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Japan for the Middle Managers Track (October 18-22, 2021); and with the Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management for the Senior Leaders Track (November 8-12, 2021).
The International Learning Course (ILC) is one of the CBILLS program components that aimed at providing an opportunity for participants to learn from international experts and institutions as well as to enhance the their global perspective and understanding in the areas of public policy systems, legislation, public sector leadership, and innovative governance measures. It also served as a forum for information exchange where participants discussed and shared skills and best practices while building and strengthening networks for possible international collaboration.
The international learning courses included sessions on governance, public sector leadership, policy making and innovations and technology as well as those tailored to the main role and functions of the participating legislative officers and staff such as public financial management, budget accounting and reforms, among others. It also featured distinguished policy experts, academicians, and legislators from Singapore, Japan, and South Korea.
One of the key features of this course is the knowledge exchange session on legislative best practices and challenges designed to provide an opportunity to present the best practices as well as challenges of the Philippines and the counterpart country and learn from the practical experience of each other on legislative process, good practices in legislative process and legislative drafting, information sharing practices, effective communications and engagement strategy, and citizen participation in the legislative decision-making. The participants had the opportunity to interact and discuss with their counterpart from Japan House of Representatives, former Minister in the Ministries of Communications and Information of Singapore Dr. Yaacob Bin Ibrahim, and Deputy-Director General Yuhyang Kim of the Korean National Assembly Research Service during this session of the course.
“As the final requirement of the ILC, the participants have submitted group reports that contain concrete and doable recommendations that adapt best practices and innovations in performing and improving their legislative functions. Moreover, these reports demonstrated their understanding of the sessions and the entire course and how it can improve their individual work and institution.” – Mary Ann Fajardo