Photo session of the participants together with the invited resource speakers and DAP Senior Vice President Magdalena Mendoza for the 2023 CBILLS Thursday Talks Lecture No. 1

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Center for Governance – Policy Research Office, conducted the first installment of the 2023 Thursday Talks Lecture Series under the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) program entitled, “Working our Way to Development: The Philippine Case” on May 18 at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

CBILLS Program Manager Sheena Carmina Mateo provided a brief history of the lecture series, and shared how this year’s theme, “Rethinking Transformative Development Policies for an Inclusive and Resilient Philippines,” emphasizes the role of retrospection in assessing past development policies and programs in crafting better, more appropriate, and more responsive reforms and actions in the public sector.

From left to right: Ms. Jamie Lyn Daileg, Dr. Emmanuel F. Esguerra, and Dr. Rosemarie G. Edillon during the open forum of the 2023 CBILLS Thursday Talks Lecture No. 1.

Dr. Emmanuel F. Esguerra, a Professorial Lecturer from the University of the Philippines School of Economics, discussed the economic growth and productivity of the Philippines and its neighboring countries. He also described the drivers and effects of labor productivity in the country and concluded that it is necessary to “protect the worker [and] not the job [since] the job’s nature changes over time.” 

Meanwhile, Dr. Rosemarie G. Edillon, undersecretary of the  National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) Policy and Planning Group, described the history of the country’s development plans, AmBisyon Natin 2040, and 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan. She also underscored the need for collective action in development reforms, and stated that the NEDA needs the help of the legislative staff in implementing the proposed policies.

Ms. Jamie Lyn Daileg, Senate Committee Secretary on Economic Affairs, moderated the open forum and provided the synthesis of the discussion.

The live stream of the first installment of the 2023 CBILLS Thursday Talks can be accessed through the Policy Research Office Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DAPCFGPRO.