JUNE 23, 2013

NR # 3143B

Neophyte Congressmen set to undergo legislative course

Bearing full enthusiasm and the desire to be effective legislators, some 31 neophyte members of the House of Representatives of the incoming 16 th Congress have enlisted for the Executive Course on Legislation. They will be the very first batch to undergo this training, which is set for Monday, June 24, at the Executive House of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. This is a historic initiative of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., House Secretary General, Atty. Marilyn Barua-Yap, announced today. The four-day executive course, Atty. Barua-Yap said, is a collaborative undertaking of the House of Representatives and the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) led by Dean Edna E.A. Co. Speaker Belmontes desire to optimize the potentials and ideas of each member of the 286-member chamber, especially the new and young legislators, is the moving spirit behind his strong support for this historic initiative, she said. We appreciate the readiness and determination of the new batch of legislators to gain knowledge and experience through the open and intelligent sharing of ideals and insights with their more experienced and knowledgeable colleagues, as well as with highly respected members of the academe, the House official said. There are three major objectives of the course, namely to: 1) Gain substantial working knowledge of the theories, concepts, and dynamics of legislation that they need in performing their lawmaking role; 2) Appreciate the value of legislation in the context of Philippine development, in general and the development challenges of their legislative districts in particular; and 3) Understand the dynamics of the legislative process and of the management of relationships with peers, executive agencies, civil society organizations, international development agencies and their constituents. The vital topics covered by the 4-day executive course include: The Philippine Administrative System; The Philippine Development Plan and the Economy; The Philippine Development Assistance Fund; The Rules and the challenges facing Philippine Legislators; The National Legislative Process; the National Budget process; and the role of congress in the budget process. Other essential topics are about the following: Negotiating the legislative mill; the transition from platforms to legislative agenda; Working with the Executive agencies to

provide constituent needs; Working with peers and institutions within the House of Representatives; Communicating with Constituents, the Philippines and the World; and Experiential sharing on the dynamics of Legislation in the House of Representatives. Resource persons include the following veteran members of the House of Representatives: Hon. Edcel Lagman of Albay; Hon. Rolando Andaya, Jr. of Camarines Sur; Hon. Romero Federico Quimbo of Marikina City; Hon. Janette Garin of Iloilo; Hon. Maria Isabelle Climaco; and House Sec. Gen. Atty. Marilyn Barua-Yap. Resource person from the UP-NCPAG are: Dean Edna Co; Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III, VP for Public Affairs, UP; Atty. Raul Pangalangan, former Dean of the UP College of Law; Dr. Gilberto Lianto, Research Fellow, Philippine Institute for Development; Dr. Jaime Pacanan, Undersecretary DPWH; Hon. Janet Abuel, Assistant Secretary DBM; and Ms. Ma. Lourdes Tiquia, founder and General Manager of the PUBLICUS Company Limited. (30) dpt