The Development Academy of the Philippines’ expertise continued to be instrumental in honing the skills of government officers.  This was again demonstrated when some 26 officers and technical staff of the central and regional offices of the Bureau of Local Government Finance underwent an intensive four-day training course called “Course on Project Management” and another two-day orientation on designing a training program at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City from March 28 to April 2, 2016.

The BLGF had sought the assistance of the DAP’s Center for Governance to deliver the training requirements that would improve and strengthen the project planning and management skills of its officers and technical staff as well as develop their competencies in designing effective training programs.  Specifically targeted to undergo the program conducted by the CFG’s Local Governance and Development Office were those who are involved in local fiscal and financial management projects.

DAP President Antonio Kalaw Jr. underscored the importance of the role played by the participants in the program, calling the BLGF as “the focal agency” that runs the fiscal and financial affairs of 82 provinces, 144 cities, 1,490 municipalities and 42,036 barangays throughout the country.  He reminded them that it is their “share of service to the Filipino people” to ensure that local treasury, revenues, taxation and properties are properly supervised, assessed and implemented.

Thus, Kalaw said, the participants “should always be efficient, effective, and capable” of performing their respective responsibilities at the BLGF.

On the other hand, Atty. Janet Abuel, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, who was among the invited resource speakers, told the participants that strong leadership must be present to push for and sustain reforms.

According to Abuel, the challenge is to overcome skepticism and resistance that will always be there when one is taking the road to reform because reform means change and change is disruptive.  She further reminded the BLGF officers that more often than not, the road to reform gets worse before it gets better.

“If you want to go fast, go alone.  But if you want to go far, go together,” she persuaded the participants.

The Course on Project Management aims to equip participants with a deeper understanding of the concepts, principles, techniques and approaches on project identification, planning, design and implementation as well as project monitoring and evaluation using the “Project Management Book of Knowledge” as a framework.  On the other hand, the orientation course on designing training programs is intended to enable participants to develop effective training programs. – M. Belga