PCL launches various programs for members

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) assures that it continues to take efforts to enhance capacities of its members in fulfilling their duties as representatives of their constituents as they introduce innovative tools for sharing of best practices among local government units.

Yesterday, PCL launched in Cebu City its capacity building program dubbed as “CALLING” (Capacity Assistance to Local Legislators’ Initiatives Needed in Governance), which subjects councilors to series of trainings and workshops.

Muntinlupa City Councilor Raul Corro, chairman of the PCL advocacy committee, noted that though many councilors have crafted and implemented good policies, there is still a need to improve their capacity to ensure success of their proposed local legislations and program.

He said the program will also be advantageous for newbies and will serve as refresher for local statesmen who are in their first term.

“This is just the beginning. Change is coming to the PCL,” he added. The program consists of two phases, the first is a refresher training, which contains of “quick tools” in policy making. These tools include policy designing which involves analyzing of local issues and advocacies to help determine the objective of policies, policy advocacy which provides mapping tool to determine the cost efficient advocacy strategies, and monitoring to track policy results and improve policies.

An online platform called “iSUPPORT” website will also be created under the second phase of the program to provide connection among local legislators and the PCL advocacies and environment for learning of PCL members.

iSUPPORT will become a web-based repository of the products of local councils which include ordinances and resolutions, discussion of local issues, political mapping guides and case studies, tools and techniques on budget advocacy, policy monitoring, and communication tools and experiences or stories shared by PCL members.

Butuan City councilor Jaime Cenbrando said the creation of the online platform came on the heels of the queries on sharing of experiences on how some LGUs solve particular issues and problems in their respective constituencies.

Corro said LGUs with less access to Internet can still ask assistance from the PCL advocacy center in Manila through email or calls.— (FREEMAN)