Quezon City, April 4, 2024 – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) convened a significant discourse on public accountability and participatory governance during the first installment of its Thursday Talks Series under the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) program.
Titled “Strengthening Public Accountability and Participatory Governance for Sustainable Development,” the lecture, held at the House of Representatives, attracted a diverse audience from the Philippine Congress eager to explore concepts of and local dynamics in governance. Sheena Carmina Mateo, CBILLS program manager, discussed this year’s theme, “Anchoring Sustainable Philippine Development in the Pillars of Innovative and Participatory Governance,” emphasizing the transformative potential of innovation in bolstering governance structures for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable futures.
Lecture 1 Resource Persons during the Open Forum: (From left to right) Vice President Imelda C. Caluen (Moderator), Dr. Maria Ela L. Atienza, and Atty. Reverie Pure Sapaen
The first session opened with Atty. Reverie Pure Sapaen, director of the National Economic and Development Authority-Governance Staff, exploring public accountability and participatory governance within the framework of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Atty. Sapaen linked these principles with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), outlining the nation’s progress, challenges, opportunities, and best practices for strengthening public accountability to help the country achieve these goals.
Dr. Maria Ela Atienza, professor at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Department of Political Science, provided a conceptual understanding of inclusive governance and democracy, globally and within Philippine political institutions. Dr. Atienza shed light on the implications of the global democratic landscape in the country, stressing the need for genuine empowerment for sustainable development. She introduced a collaborative project between International IDEA and UP, offering local indicators for assessment, recommendations, and opportunities for strengthening the Philippine political system and institutions for development. In her closing statement, she emphasized, “Sustainable development cannot be achieved without genuine empowerment of people on the ground.”
Class picture of scholars together with the invited resource speakers and for the CBILLS 2024 Thursday Talks Lecture 1 at the Romualdez Hall, House of Representatives
In the succeeding segment, DAP Vice President Imelda Caluen moderated the open forum where scholars from the Philippine Congress engaged in vibrant discussions on SDG16 indicators, strategies for authentic participation, corruption mitigation, and their alignment with the Philippine Development Plan.
The CBILLS Thursday Talks Series, implemented by the DAP’s Center for Governance, highlights the Academy’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration toward achieving inclusive and sustainable development goals.
– Ziona Gilia Castro