Category: Featured Articles

Pasig City, Philippines, April 19, 2024 – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), recognized as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), ran the fourth batch of the 2024 Fastbreak Workshop Series: “Designing Citizen-Centered Public Services” from April 16 to 18, 2024 at the DAP Building in Pasig City.

The intensive workshop convened 23 participants who were equipped with tools and techniques essential for ideating and developing innovative solutions tailored to enhance public services. Among the methodologies used were Crazy 8s, collaborative Design Charrettes, the inventive SCAMPER technique, strategic Affinity Diagrams, and compelling Storyboards.

The participants hailed from six government agencies and state universities and colleges including the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Siniloan Water District, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Eastern Samar State University, and Negros Oriental State University.

The 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced initiative stands as a beacon within the Productivity Challenge Program. Spearheaded by the DAP COE-PSP, this multi-year project is designed to raise awareness and enhance the productivity and innovation of public-sector organizations nationwide. Moreover, it aims to foster a culture of innovation and improve productivity, ultimately elevating the quality of service delivery.

For more information on the Productivity Challenge, please visit:
https://productivitychallenge.dap.edu.ph/

This article was originally published on the DAP website.https://dap.edu.ph/dap-runs-fourth-2024-fastbreak-workshop-series/

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), has concluded the upskilling phase of the Development of Public-Sector Productivity Specialist – Foundation Course (DPSPS-FC) last 18-22 March 2024 in Quezon City.

Thirty-five participants representing 10 public-sector organizations joined the training. Participating agencies include the DAP, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region I, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Energy, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the Department of Justice.

Over the course of five days, the participants were immersed in a series of learning sessions and workshops led by esteemed resource speakers. Topics ranged from understanding productivity concepts and measuring productivity in the public sector to diagnosing and analyzing productivity, and identifying productivity improvement solutions. DAP Resident Fellow Maria Rosario Ablan, Project Officer Philip Ryan Junginger, and Productivity Experts Elena A. Cruz and Niña Maria B. Estudillo provided insights and guidance.

A highlight of the program was a site visit to the Supply and Property Management Office (SPMO) of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Participants gained firsthand exposure to innovative approaches and best practices in productivity enhancement, particularly through the implementation of the Property Accountability Records and Disposal System (PARDS) Portal and the utilization of QR Code Mobile Scanner for inventory of property, plant, equipment (PPE), and semi-expandable properties.A highlight of the program was a site visit to the Supply and Property Management Office (SPMO) of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Participants gained firsthand exposure to innovative approaches and best practices in productivity enhancement, particularly through the implementation of the Property Accountability Records and Disposal System (PARDS) Portal and the utilization of QR Code Mobile Scanner for inventory of property, plant, equipment (PPE), and semi-expandable properties.

The culmination of the upskilling phase saw participants develop their productivity improvement plans (PIPs) based on their learnings and workshop outputs. This plan maps out the key activities of implementing a solution to a problem towards improving performance and efficiency in implementing programs and regulations.

From the upskilling phase, the participants will return to their agencies to prepare for the subsequent phases, such as pitching, implementation of the PIP, and a knowledge and experience-sharing session.

The DPSPS-FC is a comprehensive training program designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to enhance productivity within the public sector. The course covers essential aspects of public-sector management, efficiency improvement, and the application of productivity frameworks.

Twenty-four participants from seven national government agencies (NGAs) and state universities and Colleges (SUCs) joined the batch 3 of the 2024 Fastbreak Workshop Series: Designing Citizen-Centered Public Services held on 19-21 March 2024 at DAP, Pasig City.

Participating agencies include the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Commission on Higher Education—National Capital Region, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Marikina Polytechnic College, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Throughout the workshop, participants were assisted in understanding the core values and needs of their clients, laying a foundation for citizen-centered service design. They were equipped with tools on how to gather ideas for service delivery improvement such as Crazy 8s, Design Charrettes, SCAMPER, Affinity Diagram, and Storyboard, empowering them to ideate and develop innovative solutions to enhance their respective services. On the final day, they tested their solutions and made adjustments to their design prior to translating these into a plan.

The DAP, as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity, will be accepting participants for the remaining sessions scheduled on 16 – 18 April 2024 and 23 – 25 April 2024. Nominating officers are encouraged to download the nomination form from the provided link and carefully review the accompanying guidelines before completing and submitting the document.

Download the nomination form here: https://productivitychallenge.dap.edu.ph/2024-fastbreak-workshop/

The 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced initiative is part of the Productivity Challenge Program, a multi-year project led by the DAP COE-PSP. This program aims to elevate awareness and enhance the productivity and innovation of public-sector organizations across the Philippines. It seeks to cultivate a culture of innovation and improve productivity, ultimately enhancing service delivery quality.

For more information on the Productivity Challenge, please visit https://productivitychallenge.dap.edu.ph/ or send an email inquiry to productivitychallenge@dap.edu.ph.

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), hosted the second iteration of the 2024 Fastbreak Workshop Series: Designing Citizen-Centered Public Services from 12 to 14 March 2024 at DAP, Pasig City.

Twenty-two participants representing five public-sector organizations attended this workshop. These organizations include Isabela State University—Ilagan and Echague Campus, the Local Government of Rodriguez, Rizal, the National Privacy Commission, the National Youth Commission, and the Social Security System.

The workshop series holistically incorporates the tools and methodologies of design thinking, service design, and design sprint by analyzing citizen feedback and making the necessary changes to work processes, infrastructure, and channels to deliver value in public services. Participants will go through three phases: Upskilling, Pitching, and Pilot-testing, ensuring that their outputs commit to reducing service transaction hours and contribute to this year’s Productivity Challenge, the 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced.

There will be succeeding runs in April. Government agencies and offices can now nominate participants following the nomination guidelines. Email notifications will be sent to those accepted for the next runs.

The 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced initiative is part of the Productivity Challenge Program, a multi-year project led by the DAP COE-PSP. This program aims to elevate awareness and enhance the productivity and innovation of public-sector organizations across the Philippines. It seeks to cultivate a culture of innovation and improve productivity, ultimately enhancing service delivery quality.

For more information on the Productivity Challenge, please visit: https://productivitychallenge.dap.edu.ph/

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), as the Center for Excellence for Public-Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), presented the proposed framework and methodology for measuring public-sector productivity to the Inter-Agency Committee on Good Governance (IAC-GG) 1st Quarter Meeting and Planning Workshop.

The meeting was held on 29 February 2024 at the Executive Lounge of the Department of Budget and Management Central Office, Manila. DAP Center for Governance Vice President Imelda C. Caluen led the presentation.  Members of the IAC-GG  welcomed this DAP-led initiative, recognizing its potential to provide invaluable insights into assessing government performance over time.

Key IAC-GG members attended the meeting, including the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Commission on Audit, Philippine Civil Service Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Governance Commission for GOCCs, Office of the Ombudsman Philippines, Presidential Management Staff, and the National Economic and Development Authority.

The DAP is conducting case studies on productivity measurement with two national government agencies and ten local government units. These research projects are part of the Academy’s effort to provide a standardized framework and methodology for evaluating the productivity of Philippine government agencies in support of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028

Government agencies and local government units interested to join in the pilot testing of this initiative may contact the COE-PSP Program Management Office at 8897-6296, or 631-0921 to 30 local 152 or through the email address cfg-coepsp-gse3@dap.edu.ph

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), officially kicked off the 2024 Fastbreak Workshop Series: Designing Citizen-Centered Public Services on 27-29 February 2024 at Ortigas Center, Pasig City. A total

A total of 42 participants representing 12 public-sector organizations joined this workshop. These organizations include Aklan State University, Bohol Island State University, City Government of Navotas, City Government of Tabaco, Albay, Cooperative Development Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Employees’ Compensation Commission, Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-specialty Medical Center, Ifugao State University, Parole and Probation Administration, Sultan Kudarat State University, and Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University.

The workshop series holistically incorporates the tools and methodologies of design thinking, service design, and design sprint by analyzing citizen feedback and making the necessary changes to work processes, infrastructure, and channels to deliver value in public services. Participants will go through three phases: Upskilling, Pitching, and Pilot-testing, ensuring that their outputs commit to reducing service transaction hours and contribute to this year’s Productivity Challenge, the 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced.

There will be succeeding runs of the workshop series in March and April. Government agencies and offices can now nominate their participants. Email notifications will be sent to those accepted for the next runs.

The 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced initiative is part of the Productivity Challenge Program, a multi-year project led by the DAP COE-PSP. This program aims to elevate awareness and enhance the productivity and innovation of public-sector organizations (PSOs) across the Philippines. It seeks to cultivate a culture of innovation and improve productivity, ultimately enhancing service delivery quality.

For more information on the Productivity Challenge, please visit: https://productivitychallenge.dap.edu.ph/

To culminate this year’s Development of Public-Sector Productivity Specialists Foundation Course (DPSPS-FC) and the Designing Citizen-Centered Public Services (DCCPS) program, 111 on-site and online participants gathered for the Knowledge and Experience Sharing Session on 11 December 2023.

The participants presented their Productivity Improvement Plans (PIPs) and Service Innovation Projects (SIPs) designed for their respective government agencies. They also provided updates linked to the implementation and adoption of their projects.

The PIPs ranged from automated trade systems for the agricultural sector to improved financial assistance distribution processes. At the same time, the SIPs were developed to improve services like providing student discounts in rail systems and free legal assistance to help resolve document corrections.

Agency representatives also had the opportunity to discuss the drivers and challenges they faced in pilot-testing their outputs. One of the participating agencies, the National Security Council, cited that the team pursued the idea of a Quality Management System to address the internal inefficiencies that could hamper and limit the service delivery to other stakeholders.

Many teams mentioned that some challenges were finding a common time for meetings with stakeholders and ensuring effective communication and coordination.


The teams also had their advice to potential participants of the two programs. They mentioned that getting the management and stakeholders’ buy-in and planning are crucial for mobilizing productivity for these initiatives.


In his opening remarks, Center for Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity Program Director Peter Dan Baon expressed his gratitude to the attendees and participating agencies for their commitment to their projects.

“It’s essential to note that these programs are more than just training sessions. They represent our shared vision aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. Through them, the Development Academy of the Philippines endeavors to play a pivotal role in refining and redefining the contours of our public sector’s productivity,” said Dir. Baon.

The DPSPS-FC equips agency representatives with specialized training in planning, problem-solving, measurement, and analysis, ultimately aimed at improving organizational productivity.

The DCCPS course aims to assist government agencies in crafting client-centric solutions. It provides coaching and guidance throughout important stages such as information gathering, idea development, and testing.