Quezon City, September 22-26, 2025 – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), as the focal organization of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), successfully concluded the upskilling phase of the Development of Public-Sector Productivity Specialists Foundation Course (DPSPSFC).

Some 18 participants from six government agencies formally began their journey toward becoming certified productivity specialists. The agencies represented were the Parole and Probation Administration, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Agriculture, Department of Migrant Workers, Commission on Population and Development, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. 

Over five days, participants deepened their understanding of public-sector productivity through sessions diagnosing challenges, identifying solutions, and crafting improvement plans. The course also introduced specialized discussions on artificial intelligence, productivity measurement tools, and strategies for implementing and reviewing productivity interventions.

A site visit to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), showcased the agency’s best practices, including its Kagitingan Roadmap and its compliance with the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management. The visit also featured the PVAO One-Stop-Shop for veterans and their beneficiaries and PVAO’s newly-built  Child Minding Center, a flagship gender and development initiative.

The upskilling phase concluded with each participating agency drafting a productivity improvement plan, to be further refined through pitching,  coaching, and knowledge-sharing  in the next phase.

By developing a pool of productivity specialists, DAP continues to advance efficiency, innovation, and improved service delivery across the Philippine public sector.