TRAINING. Bhutanese leaders and resource speakers on governance take a picture with former Philippine Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr (seated second from lower right) after a training on integrity and social accountability at UP Diliman. Photo courtesy of Alex Brillantes Jr.

By Wilson J Hormeguera

The Governance and Leadership Institute (GLI) of Xavier University took part in a training on integrity and social accountability with the government officials and civil society representatives from the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan.

For his part as one of the resource speakers, GLI director Dr Dixon Yasay discussed the significance, challenges, and gains of intergovernmental relations, including the Philippine Policy and Structural Framework for Accountability.

The event covered sub-themes on the Introduction to Social Accountability Concepts and Global Trends; Anti-corruption and Integrity Development; Local Governments in Focus; National Anti-poverty Programs and Bottom-up Budgeting; Municipal Development Planning, Implementation, and Accountability Concerns; and Capacity Development for Subnational Government Units.

Besides advocating for federalism, former Philippine Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr shared his experiences in national and local governance and the importance of holding the government accountable for its programs and to its constituents.

The training, held last month, was organized by the University of the Philippines - Diliman’s Center for Local and Regional Governance, a constituent unit of UP Diliman’s National College of Public Administration and Governance. ∎