New legislators will not be coming in from the cold when they join the 15th Congress starting July 26, 2010. They can avail of a course for new legislators offered by the Center for Policy and Executive Development (CPED) of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) of the University of the Philippines. This was announced by Prof. Leonor Magtolis Briones, Course Director.
Briones stated that the course gives attention to the similarities, as well as the distinct requirements of both district and party list legislators. Subjects cover general as well as specific national issues.
Focus of the course will be on the appropriations process which is the main responsibility of Congress. Legislators will be briefed on new trends in budgeting like participatory budgeting and climate change finance. They will also be given an overview of the Alternative Budget Initiative by civil society organizations who are proposing additional allocations for education, health, agriculture and the environment.
The array of faculty include leading faculty members from U.P. NCPAG: policy experts Drs. Prospero de Vera, Danilo Reyes and Fe Mendoza. Legal luminary Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV will elucidate on the constitutional provisions on party list as well as district legislators. Social Watch Philippines and other civil society organizations will engage the legislators on the alternative budget as well as pressing concerns of marginalized sectors.
“The course will surely be useful for new legislators. How come this course wasn’t offered when we were neophytes in Congress?” remarked Cong. Joel Villanueva who will share his experience in legislative work as a party list congressman. Another distinguished personality, former Cong. Etta Rosales will also clarify the special role of party list legislators viz district congressmen.
“I will share practical tips on how one can be an effective legislator even if one is in the opposition and has no pork barrel,” promised another speaker, Cong. Erin Tanada. Recently, he proposed the reduction of congressional pork barrel by P10 million for each representative.
Those who are interested in the course can still join on Monday, July 12, announced Prof. Briones. The course is open not only to legislators but also to their immediate staff.
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