By Wilson J Hormeguera
Xavier University – Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI) conducted a training on effective legislation dubbed as “Local Legislative Enhancement Course” on September 3-5 at XU AVR 1.
The three-day course was aimed at improving the writing skills of legislators and legislative staff in making committee reports and crafting ordinances and resolutions; developing their organizing skills for effective conduct of committee hearings and public hearings; introducing legislative tracking system; and familiarizing the success measures for effective legislation.
Quality Local Legislation (QLL) is a combination of three elements: representation, law-making and oversight. The entire training framework observed these three important components.
Legislators and legislative staff from different municipalities in Region 10, including the local government units of Kauswagan, Pantao-Ragat and Kapatagan from Lanao del Norte; LGUs of Malaybalay and Impasug-ong from Bukidnon; LGU of Tudela from Misamis Occidental; LGUs of Gingoog, Lagonglong, Opol, Tagoloan from Misamis Oriental, attended the event.
Aside from GLI director Dr Dixon Yasay, the head training instructor, experts from XU and other sectors also became part of the training team. Former Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya gave a talk on the rules of legislative engagement; Robert dela Serna on the role of social media in legislation; Engr Gail de la Rita on multi-stakeholder dialogue as part of representation; Cedric G Dayta on legislative tracking system; CDO City Councilor Roger Abaday on crafting quality ordinances; Foster Anayron on quasi-judicial function of legislation; Engr Dexter Lo on evidence-based legislation; and Rowena Rugay on the cost of development and legislation.
“Kinahanglan kaayo ni nga training kay daghan pa gyud sa atong lawmakers in the locality ang dili pa kabalo sa ilang pinaka-function [We really need this training because a lot of our lawmakers in the locality still do not know their ultimate function],” remarked Gingoog City Vice Mayor Erik Cañosa, one of the participants.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director Atty Rene K Burdeos, who gave the keynote message during the training, recognized the crucial role of legislation in the over-all mechanism of local governance and the role of the educational institutions like XU in capacitating public servants.
On behalf of the XU president Fr Roberto “Bobby” C Yap SJ, XU vice president for Research and Social Outreach (RSO) Dr Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit welcomed the participants and imparted to the crowd the role of the academe in the development engagements of the local government.
XU through GLI continues to engage in governance as a thematic area under its RSO cluster.