Ms. Reina Pelayo-Lino, Head of ASOG Executive Education Program delivering her opening remarks and an overview of the program.

With 43 participants coming from different public and private institutions, our Professor of Praxis, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, covered essential topics that deepen and enrich the understanding and application of public policymaking that can be applied in the participants’ respective day to day jobs and roles. The following modules were developed for this training program: Rationale and Purpose of Government; What is Public Policy? and Public Policy Process.

Ateneo School of Government and Professor of Praxis, Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, lead the pioneer session on the “Introduction to Public Policymaking”

By highlighting the “practical” approach of crafting public policy versus the usual long and academic approach that has always been the norm, Prof. Trillanes aimed at revolutionizing and reframing how public policy should be approached by policymakers. Another important aspect of this training program is an emphasis on the protection of human rights, good governance and ensuring that all public policy is aimed at the welfare of the people.

One of the workshop activities for participants of “Introduction to Public Policymaking”

At the end of the lecture proper, a short workshop session was also conducted wherein participants were tasked to create short and long term policy alternatives to pressing issues faced by local government units today. Participants were given a chance to craft their own solutions that are practical, realistic and responsive; solutions that can be implemented in their own offices and jurisdictions. With the success of the launch, IPSDI will be continuing the implementation of this learning course in partnership with urban and rural based local government units all over the Philippines in the succeeding months.

Mr. Christopher Orongan, Executive Director of IPSDI giving his closing remarks for the pioneer session of “Introduction

The campaign’s objective was two-pronged. First, it empowered the youth to help steer the nation toward a more participative democracy. Second, it aimed to assist Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in exercising their constitutional right to vote. The campaign achieved significant success, mobilizing a total of 1,073 participants, surpassing its goal of 1,000 voters.

Young leaders played a pivotal role in this campaign, driving the mobilization of a diverse demographic: 545 women, 329 men, and three individuals who preferred to withhold information about their gender. The youth, aged 18-25, constituted the majority, with 745 participants. Despite logistical obstacles preventing a full survey of the PWD group, documents from their organizations highlighted that 196 PWDs.

196 PWDs and senior citizens were provided with free transport, snacks, and drinks during the election.

A cornerstone of the campaign was the training of 16 youth leaders who were responsible for fostering The Democracy Network in their local communities. Eleven of these leaders facilitated commitment-signing events, attended by a total of 291 participants, who pledged to uphold the integrity of the democratic process. These commitments encompassed a range of principles from refusing to sell votes to educating themselves on electoral issues, to maintaining accountability for candidates’ promises.

Complementing the on-ground efforts, an online campaign was launched to counter disinformation and rally support for the #STRONGERtogether initiative. On election day, the signatories of the commitment mobilized their networks to participate in the electoral process and complete a survey on political participation.

The #STRONGERtogether campaign successfully established the Democracy Network PH, a youth-led informal organization devoted to augmenting political participation among Filipino citizens.

Members of the Democracy Network PH

Looking ahead, IPSDI intends to leverage the potential of these youth leaders who outperformed their targets. This strategy is crucial given the ongoing spread of disinformation, particularly on social media, even after the elections.

The institute remains committed to fostering democratic engagement, laying the groundwork for future campaigns aimed at encouraging citizens to actively shape the nation’s political landscape.

The non-partisan campaign, launched on Friday August 13, 2021, seeks to support Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and Senior Citizens by providing transportation assistance to make accessible COMELEC registration sites in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

In support of the campaign, TWHI Administrative Manager Ramon Apilado lauded the effort by saying that it makes the registration, and even the upcoming 2022 elections, more inclusive for PWDs.

“The quarantine has been difficult for everyone to move, most especially those who are differently abled.” said Apilado “We hope that through this campaign we empower more PWDs to register and participate in our democracy.”

In addition, the campaign also appeals to young voters to register in exchange for access to a platform that offers jobs, scholarships, mentorship, and training opportunities – the first campaign of its kind.

“We need to take a different approach than the conventional campaigns we’ve held before,” said IPSDI President Elmer Cruz. “This time, besides the usual tone of ‘urgency’, we’ve decided to invest in building relationships and giving them a new reason to register and vote – an incentive to access other opportunities.”

COMELEC Spokesperson Director James Jimenez believes #STRONGERtogether would greatly complement the ongoing efforts of the commission to increase voter registration before September 30.

“These efforts are part of our collective but differentiated responsibility to get everyone to register,” Jimenez said. “The priority is clear: to get everyone to participate in the elections, and we can only do that if we make voter registration all the more accessible and appealing.”

With only around 50 days left until the registration deadline, the group prods voters to register in a bid to increase public participation in the 2022 national polls; an election described as consequential due to the current COVID-19 global crisis.

Each batch was attended by an average of 20 participants coming from diverse backgrounds: students, lawyers, and managers from the government and private sectors.

The online workshops delved into the rationale of government, the potential of public policy as an effective instrument for addressing both national and local issues, and the public policy formulation process which included very engaging breakout sessions.

It was emphasized how policymakers without the correct values and basic foundation of public policymaking end up creating policies that are either impossible to effectively implement or lead to detrimental outcomes. 

Examples of failed policies/policy proposals include the mandatory filling up of health declaration forms, mandatory use of face shields, motorcycle crime prevention law, and the government’s policy response to drug abuse.

Former Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV provided participants with a solid understanding of the criteria for evaluating policy alternatives, which is an integral part of effective public policy formulation. 

Here are some pieces of feedback we got from  participants:

“I like the group work. I really appreciate that it was a hands-on workshop.”

“I like the clarity of the topics that Prof. Trillanes have taught us. In a span of 4 hours, lessons good for more than 1 semester were tackled with ease.”

“What I liked most about the workshop is the breakout sessions with my group mates. It allowed us to practice, exercise, and apply what we learned during the discussion. It also made us realize that some problems may sound easy to solve by making a policy, but critical thinking and thinking outside of the box are truly essential to be able to solve the problem. Looking forward to more workshops like this!”

By engaging in the breakout sessions and applying their newfound skills to real organizational problems, attendees walked away with practical experience in developing public policy solutions. These workshops exemplify the importance of fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in leaders, as they confront the growing complexities and challenges in their organizations.

Written by: Jore-Annie Rico

Abstract

The Philippines has been identified as the third most climate-vulnerable country in the world, trailing behind the South Pacific island nations of Vanuatu and Tonga¹. The geographic susceptibility of the Philippines to natural hazards such as cyclones, flooding and sea level rise is compounded by issues related to poverty and economic underdevelopment.

As extreme weather conditions take their toll on poor and at-risk communities, it is crucial that disaster management and risk reduction be recognized and incorporated into the country’s comprehensive development plan.

The catastrophic aftermath left by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 has spurred a renewed interest in plugging the loopholes in Philippine disaster response. As such, this discussion paper explores disaster-related experiences from selected Asian countries with the goal of providing innovative strategies and potentially fruitful avenues to improve disaster management in the Philippines. The collection of best practices in disaster management could be used as a reference by government agencies, policymakers, community organizations and the general public.

Keywords: disaster management, best practices, Philippines, Asia

[Best Practices in Disaster Risk Management from Selected Asian Countries]

Abstract

With women comprising more than half of the world’s current population, their critical role in engendering and sustaining peace has gained acknowledgment today more than at any other point in history.

Transcending the issue of equality or morality, the inclusion of women in any peace-building process is an efficiency issue. Empowering women to take part in any peace-building effort is crucial because peace will be impossible to achieve if half of the world’s population remains excluded or faces discrimination (Peace Direct, n.d.).

Whether they are combatants, survivors, peacekeepers, or innocent civilians, women must be empowered to play an active role in ensuring peaceful development (Kristof, as cited in Kuehnast, 2011).

Numerous international and national commitments were put in place to reaffirm the importance of women in peace processes. It was in 2005 when Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security was accepted, the first time that inter-linkages across development, peace and security and human rights were globally recognized (Klot, 2007).

Six years after, the Busan Joint Action Plan on Gender Equality and Development captured the commitment to gender equality, women’s rights, and women’s empowerment. In 2010, United Nations Policy Committee endorsed the seven-point action plan on women‟s participation in peacebuilding (ADB, 2013).

That women are at the heart of peacebuilding is apparent in every conflict-ridden region. Anecdotes from UN News‟ 2004 report reveal the unseen and unsung efforts made by women to bring peace in many troubled countries. Israeli and Palestinian women have collaborated to advocate for peace in the teeming Gaza Strip.

Nepali women have represented the voice of women in the peace talks between the government and Maoist rebels. Women‟s Peace Caravans venture into the most treacherous conflict-ridden interiors of Colombia to protest against the civil war and negotiate with the guerillas.

This research paper seeks to discuss the role of women in the peace process in the Philippines. The paper begins with an analysis of the nexus of gender and conflict. Next, roles of women in the peace process are discussed. Lastly, policy recommendations are focused on tapping opportunities to expand women‟s participation.

Keywords: women empowerment, Philippine peace process, 

[The Role of Women in Peacebuilding: The Case of the Philippines]

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the present traffic situation in Metro Manila, in particular the urgent concerns brought about by traffic congestion. This paper finds that the uncontrolled ownership of vehicles in the metro is largely responsible for the congestion. The daily strain that this contributes to the economy as well as to the lives of the regular commuters can not be relentlessly ignored.

Traffic costs a staggering Php2.4 billion a day in lost productivity, illness, wasted fuel and vehicle maintenance. As a megacity, traffic problems will aggravate if no interventions are implemented. Thus, this paper proposes that the Philippine government develops its own quota system, with due consideration to local conditions, using Singapore‘s Vehicle Quota System as its model in order to manage the ever-increasing vehicle density in the metro.

Keywords: vehicle density, traffic, traffic congestion, Metro Manila, Vehicle Quota System

[Managing Vehicle Density: The case of Metro Manila]