Participants in the Course on Effective Local Legislation with DAP Vice President and Managing Director Imelda C. Caluen and SFHC Board Director Ronald R. Barcena.
The nine (9) municipal vice mayors, 31 councilors, and 15 legislative staff members completed the Course on Effective Legislation implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines last February 18-21, 2020 at the Mercure Manila Ortigas Hotel, Pasig City.
The course aims to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills to develop and promulgate innovative legislations that may help them propel the
development aspirations of their locality. It was the first training intervention implemented under the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership and Legislation
(CBILL) Program for Local Legislators. This program was made possible through the support of the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda. The four-day course tackled the role of local legislators as catalysts of change; the art of policymaking; evidence-based legislation and doing innovative policies and
practices; as well as parliamentary and internal rules of procedures.
The course included esteemed resource persons and local governmentpractitioners, namely, Thelma C. Manuel, Director of the Governance Staff of the
National Economic and Development Office; Ronald R. Barcena, former Board Member of Rizal Province and former Councilor of Antipolo City; Gilbert E. Lumantao,Director of the Policy Research Office of DAP; and Atty. Alfredo R. Busico, former City councilor for 21 years and former City Vice Mayor.
Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, former DILG Secretary who also served as Vice Mayor and Mayor of Calbayog City; and Mayor Fernando L. Mesa of Alabat, Quezon
were also invited to share their innovative policies and practices. Moreover, Vice Mayor Antonino A. Aurelio of Rizal, Laguna discussed the salient provisions of the
Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case and its implications to the local government units.
In her closing message, Vice President Caluen said that leadership plays a crucial role in everything a person wants to do; quoting renowned leadership author
John Maxwell’s statement “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Leaders, Caluen said, not only steer the ship but can also chart the course that they want to take. Leaders of countries have the power and the responsibility to take their government and their people to where they see them thriving and prospering. She expressed that the training participants went through would truly be a defining moment for all of them, to continuously craft and enact innovative local ordinances that further good governance and advance the general well-being of their constituents. The participants likewise affirmed these statements and commended the Academy in helping them realize the possibility of learning something new despite their years of experience in legislation and attendance to various local legislation trainings conducted by other well-known institutions.