Emerging Leaders during their final course presentation, joined by panelists Dr. Josefina Almeda and Mardy Gonzales
Tagaytay City, Philippines—The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) Program, held a week-long training for the 2025 Emerging Leaders Track from the Philippine Congress at the DAP Conference Center.
The training featured two courses: “Revisiting the Fundamentals of Legislative Operations, Processes, and Procedures” (July 14-15) followed by “Turning Data to Insights: Understanding Research Tools and Techniques for Policy Development” (July 16-18).
In his opening message, Atty. Arnel Jose Bañas, Senate Deputy Secretary for Administration and Financial Services, emphasized that the program is designed to develop strategic leaders and critical thinkers. He told scholars: “If your goal is to be a better version of yourself, then you are [in] the right place: [here in the DAP CBILLS Program].”
The first course, led by Atty. Rodolfo Noel Quimbo, Director-General of the Senate Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management (BROOM), and Lina Mortega, former Service Director of the House Committee Affairs Department, deepened the scholars’ understanding of legislative processes and strengthened their professional orientation as congressional staff.
Atty. Rodolfo Noel Quimbo shares insights during his lecture.
Dr. Josephine Almeda delivers her lecture.
The second course focused on equipping scholars with evidence-based research skills. Prior to the session, scholars joined a sensing activity with the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO) and the House of Representatives’ Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) to contextualize research within their institutions. Resource speakers included Professor Tina Clemente of the UP Asian Center, Executive Director Josephine Almeda of the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI), and Sheena Carmina Mateo and Mardy Gonzales of the DAP’s Center for Governance, who introduced evidenced-based policymaking and essential quantitative and qualitative research concepts and methodologies.
The course also featured Jude Michael Teves of the Asian Development Bank, who discussed the role of data analytics in policymaking, and Nissa Caderao of the DAP’s Center for Strategic Futures who presented the Data Observatory Philippines (DOPh) initiative. Likewise, Gonzales also highlighted the ethical considerations and informed consent in research.
Emerging Leaders from the House of Representatives present their legislative research plan.
As a culminating activity, scholars developed their legislative research plans on sectors such as health, education, youth protection, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and urban development. A panel of experts reviewed the outputs, emphasizing the importance of clear objectives, aligned research questions, and the use of practical tools to improve their legislative research plans.
The CBILLS Program will conclude its 2025 run with the second CBILLS Conference, where select legislative research plans may be showcased — highlighting the commitment of emerging leaders to advancing a data-driven and responsive legislature.