Category: Featured Articles

With the COVID-19 pandemic posing a great threat, various government offices have shifted their services online in order to continue serving their clients while ensuring efficiency as well as public safety.

One of the offices that went online was the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). OF-CORS, or the Overseas Filipinos – CFO Online Registration System, was developed by a team co-chaired by Ivy Miravalles, Director of the Migrant Integration and Education Division. The system, which was launched on March 14-25 of 2020, is intended to make easier and contactless transactions. This is for their main clients: immigrant visa holders, Filipino fiancé(e)/spouse/partner of a foreign national/former Filipino citizen/dual citizen with a visa, and CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate holders. Clients can take advantage of pre-departure services without having to visit a CFO office by registering online; they could also print their own OF-CORS Temporary Certificate and present it to the Bureau of Immigration on their departure day from the Philippines.

How it came to be 

Long before restrictions on face-to-face transactions were a challenge, Miravalles had already recognized the need for service automation way back in 2014. She stated that the concept had remained in the back of her mind since then, until they joined the Public Sector Productivity Innovation Laboratory (PSP InnoLab) bootcamp run by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), where a team composed of trainees from various divisions of the CFO were able to reinforce the idea of service automation. Her team’s trainee informed her of the opportunity, and she was asked to conceptualize the OF-CORS project.

Miravalles shared that they began planning for the project prior to COVID. When the pandemic struck, data and processes were moved online more easily and quickly, allowing the system to be operational as soon as the nationwide lockdown began on March 14 of last year. 

Ease of access

OF-CORS not only helps prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but it also makes the registration of Filipinos going overseas easier and less expensive.

The Director said that the CFO wanted to address the long lines and high registration volume which required significant manpower, as well as the cost incurred by the registrants in visiting their offices, which are currently only located in three areas. Users can register at OF-CORS from the comfort of their own homes, without the need for travel and waiting in long lines. They can also view and access information online.

Filipinos going to different countries who register in the system are given digital certificates that they can show to the Bureau of Immigration when they exit the country.

Continued optimization 

The Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar, or PDOS, is a pre-departure program organized by the CFO for immigrant visa holders, foreign nationals’ spouses, partners, and fiancé(e)s, youth migrants, and cultural exchange program participants who are exiting the country. This seminar has now evolved into a webinar that includes a facilitator, which can also be streamed live and is available on YouTube.

OF-CORS has seen numerous improvements to its system since its initial launch. Miravalles explained that after months of not having a registration fee as a response because of the pandemic, they realized that they needed one to support their operations and their mandate as an agency. Thus, they have coordinated with Bayad Centers and improved their system. Those who wish to receive digital certificates must pay a registration fee of Php 400 before receiving the certificate. They can also choose to have their physical certificate mailed to them, with the cost determined by the system based on their location and the courier they opt to use once paid the required fee. At present, clients may choose to courier options- LBC and Wide Express.

 The CFO strongly advises users to pay using GCash and Bayad Centers in their area. If neither of these options is available in their area, users must pay through CFO’s Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) account.

During the first few months of its implementation, she admitted that they had difficulty in checking the submissions in the online system. Miravalles explained that they realized they needed to improve the system once more. Now, when users submit the required documents, such as a copy of their passport or visa, it is now assigned to an officer who is in-charge to verify the documents.

The Director also revealed that OF-CORS is currently being translated into the Filipino language and Visayan, so that Filipinos who are not fluent in English can better understand the system and its content. An online chat bot on the website is also in the works.

Commitment to safety

Today, there are no more face-to-face transactions in CFO because registration can now be completed online. This, as per the Director, is ideal, particularly for their office, where a large number of people used to come every day. Every employee’s health, as well as the health of those who visit their offices, is important.

Of course, OF-CORS values everyone’s safety, not just in terms of health.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Law, or Republic Act 9208, as amended by Republic Act 10364, governs the mandatory seminars that the CFO is required to hold, particularly for Filipinos who are the spouse, fiancé(e), or partner of a foreign national, former Filipino, or dual citizen.

Because the CFO is unable to provide face-to-face counseling, Tele-counseling was established. Tele-counseling, which includes family counseling and individual counseling, is conducted over the phone, online, and even through the Zoom application. Miravalles stated that Tele-counseling allows them to be more hands-on with registrants, particularly those with problematic cases. Alternative options are available for those with difficult cases, and these cases can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to be worked on.

The light in the dark

“We had to see things in a different perspective,” Miravalles said. There were a few bumps in the road since OF-CORS was launched quickly and was implemented as soon as possible. She also stated that her team had to make do with what they had and that they chose to view the pandemic as an opportunity for growth. She was also able to understand the importance of collaboration between different units and stakeholders alike.

“I am satisfied that the system is really functioning, but I need some important details,” the Director stated. “For example, ‘How do I monitor requests after a client has filed it? How can we manage data well considering the problems on internet connectivity? How can we improve data security?’, these proved to be difficult for me.” Miravalles shared that there are four biggest challenges that they are facing: time management, customer service, ICT (Information and Communications Technology) improvement, and communication. 

Despite the inevitable setbacks, Miravalles expressed gratitude to the DAP, from which she graduated, for their support and assistance in making the project a success. DAP provided training opportunities for her and her team, as well as assistance in quickly deploying the system. On a personal level, Miravalles expressed gratitude to DAP for reinforcing her desire and motivation to see the online system as important.

In this day and age, one’s health and safety should be a top priority. Filipino immigrant visa holders who wish to travel to another country can use the Overseas Filipino – CFO Online Registration System to protect their health and safety while also lowering the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, all because they can now register online.

A famous self-development author, Brian Tracy, once said: “Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends.” Indeed, growth requires an examination of oneself, challenging how things currently are, and taking steps to improve things – no matter how big or small. We will never arrive at perfection; there will always be room for improvement.

In August 2019, Team ALAB of the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), headed by Giovanni Platero, started the Cooperative Assessment Information System or CAIS, as an effort to improve their current system. It was intended to make the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for cooperatives as simple as possible. The system upgrade also included a number of improvements that decreased turnaround time by allowing for more efficient, hassle-free, and user-friendly document processing. This project helps further improve the system for Philippine cooperatives.

How It Came to Be

CAIS Project Manager Giovanni Platero explained that before the conceptualization of the project, their then-existing system, which they use for submitting cooperative reports and used to issue COCs, does not comply with the requirements of Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. The CDA then came up with ways to streamline its processes, particularly with the issuance of COCs, through the development of CAIS, in support of RA 11032.

By virtue of Republic Act 6939, the CDA was established to promote the viability and expansion of cooperatives as tools of fairness, social justice, and economic development. Every cooperative in the Philippines is obligated to produce periodical reports of its program of activities – including those in support of its socio-civic initiatives – at the end of each fiscal year, detailing their development and accomplishments. As of December 2018, there were about 18,065 registered and functioning cooperatives in the country, but only 11,138 or 62% are reporting cooperatives or those who have been issued with a COC. Because of this, CAIS was born.

The project aimed to reduce the burden of complying with reportorial requirements to ensure that cooperatives are functioning in accordance with statutory and regulatory obligations; produce useful information from the cooperatives’ performance monitoring reports; and increase stakeholder collaboration to better promote the development of cooperatives in the country. 

From Finding Fault in Others to Improving Oneself

Platero shared that through CAIS, the system is able to reduce the effort of everyone involved in report evaluation and COC issuance. Not only this, CAIS also enhanced the speed with which services were delivered to the cooperatives. The process is smoother and faster than ever, with little to no issues experienced.

The project also helped the people working behind it. Platero said that their team’s ability to think of new concepts was further enhanced with the help of CAIS. He also mentioned that he learned that the key to a successful creative initiative is accepting others’ ideas, active engagement with stakeholders, and encouraging people to share innovative ideas.

As said by Platero, the mindset of the individuals involved in the system and processed transformations evolved to a new type of “regulatory” environment. “We viewed the regulation now as [an] enabler to advance our developmental initiative for 28,000+ cooperatives in the country,” the project manager explained. “Instead of using regulation to find “fault” on the practices of the cooperatives, we view regulation as [a] tool of finding the weaknesses in the operations of the cooperatives, [as it] gave us [an] opportunity to improve our services through responsive policy and program interventions.” That, he revealed, is the reason why they opted to change their system’s name from Cooperative Monitoring System (CMS) to Cooperative Assessment Information System.

The Deal with Davao

The project manager explained that the initiatives received top management support, and also sparked interest from some Local Government Units (LGUs). This resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Davao LGU and CDA to make CAIS be interfaced with Davao’s Cooperative Management Information System (CMIS), thereby establishing it as a pilot project that can be replicated in other LGUs.

Among the LGUs in the Philippines, Davao boasts a sophisticated Information Technology (IT) system. Platero claims that this is a huge factor for their decision to collaborate with the Davao LGU. The LGU identified an opportunity by integrating CAIS with their CMIS. The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the two parties in May.

In January of this year, Republic Act 11535 was signed into law, requiring the creation of Cooperative Development Officers across the country. As a result, the Davao initiative has the chance to be replicated by other LGUs. Because of this, Platero said that the CAIS project has a multiplier effect. He then revealed that 37 provinces have already appointed their Cooperative Development Officers, with the total number of officers expected to reach around 80 once the other LGUs have done so.

Key Characteristics

The Cooperative Assessment Information System includes a number of project features.

One of these is the full online submission of simplified reportorial requirements. The Authority will examine their current reportorial requirements to ensure that they are relevant and that the forms are easy to complete. Previously, they required reports to be submitted both online and in printed copy.

Another key feature would be the built-in standard evaluation tools for real-time results. The Authority previously had no standard evaluation tool and depended completely on the judgement of its evaluators. Moreover, the evaluation period’s turnaround time is also not defined. To add to that, the Authority still issues a Certificate of Compliance without properly evaluating submitted reports – revoking the COC once the Authority finds a deficiency and non-compliance later on. With all of these issues at hand, the Authority created a standard evaluation tool that was incorporated into the system, making it easy to use and producing real-time results.

Furthermore, a notification via SMS or e-mail feature is included in the system. Cooperatives receive an SMS or e-mail notification with the results of the evaluation and when the COC is ready for pickup. Previously, they simply provided the cooperatives with a claim stub that specified when they would need to return.

Other features include an online payment facility; e-signatures and barcodes for COCs; performance monitoring and data analytics capability; mapping, visualization, and geo-tagging capability; and web services that have interoperability features with other stakeholders.

Room for more improvements     

Despite being the initial success of CAIS, Platero shared that further improvements are needed so that it can better address the demands of the organization.

The first improvement Platero mentioned was the conduct of a more in-depth technical analysis of the system’s efficiency in terms of performance, accuracy, and dependency. Another would be completing a regulatory cost compliance study, so that CDA will be aware of the expenses associated with rules imposed on cooperatives. Lastly, they would need to further develop the system in order to meet cooperative compliance obligations that are the bare minimum required to satisfy CDA policy objectives.

The process of improvement is, in fact, a long road. With the global pandemic that is going on, efforts to enhance the system were hampered due to the shift in priorities.

Platero said that the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Innovation Laboratory, helped them to conceptualize the project, as well as in developing an action plan to help implement it. The Innovation Laboratory uses the design thinking method to help organizations identify possible opportunities for improvement and co-create solutions. DAP continues to conduct online collaboration meetings with CDA in order to monitor the progress of the implementation of CAIS.

As of now, the project is in its “transition stage “, as said by Platero. Currently, they are transferring all physical data they have and fully converting it into its digital forms. 

Everything in the world is a work in progress. The Cooperative Assessment Information System, though already a feat by itself, still has a large potential of becoming even better. As the saying      goes, “Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection.” The key is to always have a humble, curious, and innovative mind. 

“The only thing that is constant in life is change.” Cliché as it may sound, but it is true. Change is inevitable in one’s life, but to be able to be the one to bring a good change to a lot of people is something noble to aspire to.

Take Edward Bana, for example. He is the team leader of the group which created TROPHY, or the Transformed Human Resource Office through Proficient Hiring System, and the developer of the Document Tracking System (DTS). Both of these projects aim for one thing – to provide a faster and much more proficient system for the people and offices involved in the Department of Education (DepEd) in Antique.

The Future with Technology

Technology plays a big role in our lives. It makes everything more efficient for us, from doing simple tasks to running complex processes. The future, in all of its uncertain glory, includes the involvement (and evolvement) of technology.

One of the main factors that contributed to the birth of TROPHY is the desire for change. Data processing can be complicated, and it frequently results in undesirable outcomes such as lost documents or slow updates. TROPHY’s main goal is to organize and quicken the processes of recruitment, selection, and placement within the division of Antique. With the help of technology, Bana and his team were able to come up with TROPHY to make the accessing and processing of data faster.

TROPHY is established to raise the division’s level of excellence in governance and public service efficiency, while following its principles. The division was able to create numerous technology-based systems, some of which are the following: a recruitment, selection, and placement manual which improved the hiring system; created an online system of recruitment and application; and created a database of all teaching and non-teaching personnel of the division office to fast-track the release of benefits.

Moreover, there is a reward system called Pasidungog, where they honor or commend outstanding teaching and non-teaching employees in the division – something to motivate and give back to those who are doing great in their jobs.

Fast-track, Faster Tracked

Much like a shipment made, documents circulating the division office of Antique now haves their own tracking numbers, all thanks to Bana’s Document Tracking System.

The Document Tracking System, which was launched on the 22nd of February this year, is a program that is installed in every functional unit of the division office, district office, and public schools. It is an automated routing and monitoring system for all papers submitted to and handled by the different sections in the division office. As a computer programmer, Bana explained that as it has been his hobby to create systems, and the DTS is one of his pet-ideas for technology-based innovations in their office.

Bana also shared that he felt very happy to hear how important the DTS has been to school heads and the district staff. “It is fulfilling to hear stories,” he said, “they are happy that because of this system, they need not to go to the division office just to check the status of their MOOE requests, DTRs submitted, reimbursements, appointment papers, and all other documents that need action from the different service providers in the division office.” The positive feedback from the software users themselves are solid proof that the DTS is of huge help in making processes more fast-track.

As to how the project came to be, Bana mentioned that at a workshop conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), another participating team identified the need for a technology-based project that intends to improve the internal procedures in their office. They underlined the need for a Document Tracking System to improve the efficacy, efficiency, and transparency of document processing, particularly in the areas of finances, teacher hiring, and the promotion of employees. Similar to the concern of the other team, lost papers, the difficulty of tracing documents for follow-ups, and a reliable communication medium between service providers and document owners, have all been mentioned as issues in their division.

Because of the said problems within the office regarding the loss and negligence of other documents, Bana shared that the employees who are handling these documents are now more careful than ever. “Previously, we cannot impose accountability on those documents,” he said, “but this time, the different personnel in the different offices [who] have become very conscious and cautious in handling the documents.” Bana further explained that the reason why the employees are more cautious than before is that with the help of the internet-based component of the DTS, the history of a document can be accessed by just inputting its tracking number in the system.

Changes in Oneself

From working alone to leading a whole team, it can be implied that there is more than one thing that has changed for Bana.

“To be involved in a project that is successfully implemented brings fulfillment to my life as a public servant,” the developer shared. Bana revealed that the DTS project pushed him to put in extra hours of study and research into figuring out how to translate the expectations and ideas of the system’s target clients into complex codes. He also shared that his position has shifted slightly from a full-time source code programmer to a major project manager and source code developer. 

No I in Team

Matt Mulleweg once said, “Technology is best when it brings people together.”

In the past, Bana was fond of working alone, developing systems all by himself. However, being part of a team and being able to collaborate with others changed his perception. “Working with a team and with a lot of ideas pouring in through consultations and collaboration, and with distribution of tasks among the team members in terms of administrative and technical works,” he shared, “we realized that our development became faster and our product became more relevant and responsive to the needs of our target clients.”

He also mentioned that through DAP and its Education, Training, Capacity Building, Seminars (ETCBS) Program, he was able to join and produce the DTS with the help of his team. “It remained as an idea with an initial framework until I found my team and had an opportunity to work on it and make it a reality,” Bana admitted. 

Collaboration is indeed important in getting the job done. Bana expressed his gratitude on behalf of his team and all those behind TROPHY and DTS to Deputy Speaker Hon. Loren Legarda for her support, and the Development Academy of the Philippines for the workshops and training that the team was able to attend, which helped in strengthening their camaraderie as a group and improve their knowledge as individuals. 

Like what Elon Musk said, “Your will is the most accurate way to predict your future.” The future is somehow scary – full of uncertainties, a lot of things will change along the way. But, if you really want to see change, you must start to gather up the will to do so.

In these trying times, it is important to see others just as significant as you see yourself. For one who wishes for change to happen – for yourself or even those around you – one must be clear of what future they want to have. As long as you dream for change, change will definitely come.

As Elizabeth Warren once said, “A good education is the foundation for a better future.” However, not all children are guaranteed of a good education and consequently, a good future. This has been a challenge for children living in far-flung areas who face different difficulties in going to school – such as walking great lengths to reach their destination, including going up the mountains, or crossing rivers and lakes. Thus, a team from the Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division of Antique came up with the project B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo (BKSN), which means “Kinabukasan Ko, Nakasalalay Sa’yo” in the Filipino language, which aims to help children living in far-flung areas in the district of Antique to overcome these challenges and have the chance to receive proper and quality education.

Roselyn Abuela, the Team Leader of Group #10 – D’Mobilizers (the group heading BKSN) was very hands-on with the project. From its conceptualization, planning, until its implementation, Abuela gave everything she got to help make the project a success.

Education for All

Abuela shared that her team believes that “Education is a right, not a privilege.” True enough, their team shares the same belief with many – education should be given to all, and not just the privileged few. For children living in far-flung areas, receiving quality education seems to be a long shot as they grapple with lack of resources.

In February of this year, the B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo project finally came alive. Abuela clarified that BKSN is not only a mere project, but is something that holds a much deeper significance for them. “This is, in reality,” she stated, “a whispering voice of a child seeking, pleading, and yearning for love and support for his/her brighter future.” With children living on mountainsides and some across seas and rivers lacking resources needed to receive proper education, this painful reality became an eye opener for Abuela and caused the spark inside of her to burn brighter than ever.

Last Mile Schools, as defined by DepEd, are public schools which are located in remote and isolated places with intermittent or no electricity or internet access. Out of 175 Last Mile Schools in their division, 10 of which are among the most underprivileged in Antique, owing to their unique geographical and cultural contexts, and thus making them the perfect target recipient of the project. B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo aims to give every indigenous child an accessible, relevant, quality, and life-changing education. The B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo project aims to maximize the involvement of stakeholders in the improvement of basic services and learning outcomes of 10 priority last mile schools. Particularly, the project aims to close at least two resource gaps of the 10 identified schools through active, strategic, and sustained resource mobilization.

Not-so Overnight Changes

Like they say, Rome was not built in a day. You cannot finish a work of art in a day. More importantly, you cannot make and rush changes over night. Like all things, change also takes time.

Abuela shared how the B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo project came to be. She shared that there were two stages of the process: the Pre-Implementation Stage and the Implementation Stage. The first stage included the conceptualization of the project and finalization of its design, data collection and validation, introduction to the school and stakeholders, and the establishment of Division Partnership Council and Technical Working Group. The latter stage included the mobilization of stakeholders and potential partners, and the on-going monitoring and adjustment of the program.

Ever since its implementation, the project has already reached numerous milestones, which have greatly helped in easing the burden of the priority schools which are already behind other schools in terms of their basic services and facilities.  Some of the accomplishments that came about through the project are: facilitation of the repair of the Teachers’ Quarter of Caloy-ahan Primary School; generated funds from Juan Huwaran books for the 10 Last Mile Schools;  secured commitment of support for the “Kain Po” Feeding Program from the RSPo Foundation, Grollier International, Inc. and Rotary International, Inc.; received a cash donation amounting to 20,000 pesos from Friends from Korea for the repair of the comfort rooms of Caloy-ahan Primary School; strengthened commitment of parents and barangay officials to establish Teachers’ Living Quarters at Caloy-ahan Primary School; secured approval for the proposal for one additional teacher item for P. Javier Primary School;  endorsement to the One Meralco Foundation electrification project to address the electrification gap of P. Javier Primary School; secured budget allocation for land titling of the Capayas Primary School; provided laminating film for instructional materials for the Caloy-ahan Primary School; and conducted First Aid Training for the Capayas Primary School.

On the other hand, another major and innovative feature of the project is the creation and eventual institutionalization of the Resource Needs Management System (RNMS). It was conceptualized by the Social Mobilization Unit under the School Governance and Operations Division, and developed by the Information Technology students of the University of Antique. As said by Abuela, the RNMS “will have a great impact on resource generation activities not only of the last mile schools, but of all those schools in the Division of Antique.” Abuela’s team believes that this will further contribute to the accomplishment of the mission and goals of DepEd.

Then and Now

Of course, if you are part of something as honorable as B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo, you get to have new learnings along the way, and even a new perspective in life.

Aside from her realization upon seeing the children’s ways of life, Abuela further shared how the project helps her in becoming a better person. “The BKSN project helped me discover and develop my capabilities, inspired me to take the extra miles in doing things, taught me to face the challenges squarely, made me conquer my fears, and made my journey of making a difference in the lives of the Last Mile Schools children, teachers, and communities more fulfilling and meaningful,” she explained.

Abuela also explained that B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo gave her a sense of fulfillment which gave her a purpose in life, which is to serve the underprivileged young learners. A leader’s job is to influence its team, and that is what exactly Abuela was able to do, along with gaining more confidence in dealing with other groups and people. Aside from these intrinsic impacts the project was able to give her, external factors were also brought about by it such as additional grade level offering and teaching items; additional school supplies; Balay-Darayunan (Teachers’ Quarter); and tapping multiple potential partners like Nestle Philippines for MILO PE kits, and Friends from Korea.

Pandemic Blues

Ever since the global health crisis struck the Philippines, it definitely caused many missed opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a huge struggle for everyone. Abuela and her team feared that even though preparations were already made, the quality of education might get compromised because of the virus.

Furthermore, Abuela explained that because of the pandemic, they were not able to move easily and get things done in an instant. Because of the rising number of COVID-positive cases and the restrictions brought by the pandemic, the timeline of their projects was affected, causing them to reschedule some activities. Even so, Abuela assured that the implementation of their activities are still on-going. “Tuloy-tuloy lang yung implementation natin kahit na, syempre, may pandemic,” she said.

In the same way that it takes a village to raise a child, B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo would not be possible without the efforts and support of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and its leadership development program for the DepEd Antique which was sponsored by the Office of Deputy Speaker Hon. Loren Legarda. Abuela expressed her gratitude to both, calling them “God-laden instruments toward the desired changes.” She also thanked her team, the Local Government Units (LGUs), School Heads and personnel, the parents, partners, and everyone who did their parts in making the project a success.
The children are the future – and as much as they are the future, they need good education to help them build a better future for themselves. With the help of B’was-Damlag Ko, Sakdag N’yo, underprivileged children living in remote areas are given the chance to build a better future by getting proper education. They, too, are given the chance to have coloring books no money could ever amount to, and they are ready to paint their future by the number, one color at a time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably disrupted how employees traditionally worked. It forced organizations, both public and private, to adopt alternative work arrangements to sustain productivity and efficiency amid the ongoing crisis. For the public sector in particular, much is expected from the national and local government agencies to keep the unhampered delivery of key public services as the country grapples with the ramifications of the pandemic. It is against this backdrop that this case study attempts to situate the productivity of government agencies from the perspective of 2,756 civil servants as they adopted alternative work arrangements during the community quarantine period in May 2020.

Conducted through an online survey and focus group discussion, the findings showed that the alternative work arrangements adopted during the community quarantine period under study, regardless of what type, had positive effects on the perceived performance and productivity of government employees. The satisfactory level of self-perceived productivity of government employees reflected their agility in adjusting to non-traditional forms of work arrangements and resiliency in remaining productive and efficient amid an unprecedented external shock. The expected outputs from the respondents were still delivered, although the individual and organizational targets have unavoidably changed to suit the evolving new realities. From the agencies’ viewpoint, some savings were reportedly realized but there were also additional expenses incurred. There were adjustments pursued by the agencies which also signified the extra effort they exerted to ensure that their core services are delivered despite the disruptions while also safeguarding the health of their employees.

Unsurprisingly, the availability of ICT tools and equipment provided by the agencies and the availability of strong internet connectivity facilitated the employees’ accomplishment of their tasks while working under alternative work arrangements. Aside from these ICT-related factors, organizational culture—particularly high levels of trust and support from management, and an ethos of communication and collaboration within the organization—also plays a pivotal role in maintaining employee productivity.

However, alternative work arrangements, especially remote work, come with additional personal costs which can be a burden to many. A majority of the non-managerial employees were using their personal computer/laptop and internet connection to work on their assigned tasks while at home. The physical environment at home also affected their productivity performance. Those who work-from-home reportedly get easily distracted by personal matters such as household chores and childcare. However, having a conducive work environment at home is already within the control of the employees but might prove to be extra difficult given the pandemic situation.

Finally, while government employees reported satisfactory levels of productivity during the community quarantine period, providing them adequate support to help them remain productive while safeguarding their overall well-being during this uncertain time is of utmost importance. From the case study’s findings, the key recommendations include 1) maximizing the use of digital technologies and leveraging individual competencies in using these technologies; 2) establishing concrete performance standards for functions and tasks done remotely; and 3) recalibrating policies and guidelines in relation to human resource and performance management.

For a copy of the report, please email coe_psp@dap.edu.ph.

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Productivity and Development Center, in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), has successfully conducted the Workshop on Modern Food Transportation and Regulation last 13 to 15 July 2021 via videoconference. This workshop was one of the virtual programs held under the APO’s Digital Multi-Country Program.

The three-day virtual event tackled relevant information on global trends, challenges, and opportunities on food transportation, best practices, relevant management system (ISO 23412:2020), and the impetus to modernize food delivery systems. It also delved into policies/regulations to seize the opportunities as well as cope with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of smart transformation of food transportation in member countries to meet modern consumers’ needs such as timely delivery, high quality, and safe food from secure sources was also emphasized.

Welcome remarks by Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan Jr., President and CEO
Development Academy of the Philippines | APO Alternate Director for the Philippines

DAP President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan Jr. highlighted, in his welcome remarks, that the current pandemic exposed the vulnerability of the global food supply chain particularly in the area of food logistics, as evidenced by the delays and congestion created by border restrictions and other measures undertaken to contain the spread of the virus. Hence, industries were urged to embrace technology-based innovations to contribute to accelerating food system transformation in particular the use of big data, the internet of things, robotics, and automation. However, mainstreaming these innovations largely depends on how regulatory bodies steer the direction of its regulated actors to adopt smart approaches in operations and policies that underpin these regulations.

Attended by overseas and local participants from Bangladesh, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Philippines, the workshop had top-notch experts and practitioners in their field namely, Dr. Sahat M. Pasaribu of Indonesia, key officers of the Yamato Holdings Co. Ltd. of Japan, Dr. Rodney Wee of Asia Cold Chain Centre of Singapore, Dr. Florentin Blanc of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and our very own, Ms. Cherrie Atilano of the AGREA from the Philippines.

The last day of the workshop capped off with group presentations on the challenges and opportunities in food transportation, the needed regulations to address these challenges and opportunities, and the management systems, facilities, infrastructure, institutional mechanisms, and system requirements to be able to install or strengthen and modernize food transportation.

Closing remarks by Arnel D. Abanto, Vice-President and Managing Director
Productivity and Development Center | Development Academy of the Philippines

In his closing remarks, DAP Vice-President Arnel D. Abanto congratulated all the participants for completing the three-day workshop with the hope to be able to create a ripple effect as they apply their learnings from this multi-country program. To help transform and modernize food transportation, he underscored the following key considerations in identifying regulatory measures: a) achieving environment-friendly and sustainable development; b) implementing food traceability, and c) developing a viable food distribution channel. He further added that the biggest aid to strengthen modern food transportation and regulation does not only lie in the state-of-the-art technological advancements such as cold chain infrastructure and applications, but also in the innovative and collaborative action among agencies and organizations at the national, regional, and global scale in carefully designing a responsive food logistics plan which incorporates the necessary food safety requirements.

The DAP and APO, together with its partners in the government sector and the private sector hope to positively impact the food transportation sector and the overall food system in the coming years. For more information, visit www.dap.edu.ph, email pdc@dap.edu.ph or call 8632-2156/2137.

Click to see highlights of the three-day workshop: Click to see highlights of the three-day workshop: Integration Video_APO-DAP Digital Multi-Country Workshop on Modern Food Transportation and Regulation.mp4

This article was originally posted in http://pdc.dap.edu.ph/index.php/international-and-local-participants-learn-modern-food-transportation-and-regulation/

29 July 2021 – The Development Academy of the Philippines Center for Governance – Policy Research Office (CfG-PRO) continued its two-part discussion on full devolution in line with the implementation of the Mandanas ruling in the fourth installment of the Thursday Talks Webinar Series entitled “Devolution Ready: Realizing Meaningful Autonomy” under the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) program. 

Moderated by Dr. Maria Ela L. Atienza, local governance and devolution expert from the Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, the webinar featured Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla from Regional Development Group of the National Economic and Development Authority, who highlighted the inequity within the Philippines and enumerated the initiatives used in guiding offices to promote regional equity. 

The second session, led by OIC-Director John Aries Macaspac from the Local Government and Regional Coordination Bureau of the Department of Budget and Management, discussed the past and current computation of LGU shares in line with the Mandanas ruling. He also asked Congress to pass the proposed Income Classification Bill, which would aid the determination of the financial capabilities of LGUs to undertake development projects and provide different forms of assistance to LGUs.

Afterwards, in a panel discussion, Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, National President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and National Chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, stated that there should be clearer recognition of the inequity experienced by LGUs and raised concerns on the difficulties LGUs might face with the intended timeline for the devolution transition plan. 

Gov. Cua had emphasized that IRA shares from the Local Government Code 30 years ago allocated to LGUs were not enough to fulfill their envisioned responsibilities and mandates, and the additional financial shares for the devolution efforts are what the national government ‘owes’ the LGUs in the first place. 

Following this, Dr. Charlotte Justine Dikono-Sicat began by stating that it is an opportune time to devolve, especially since LGUs have always strived to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to their constituents. She then shared her four general recommendations for the strengthening of devolution which were strategic fund utilization, enhancing the generation of funds, alignment of funds, and improving institutional adjustment, alignment and coordination.

During the open forum, Dr. Diokno-Sicat explained that the economic principles behind devolution, decentralization, and federalism are essentially the same and that we have the tools to help us strengthen the goals of the Mandanas ruling. 

Next, Gov. Cua stated that LGUs have been ready and keen to spend on projects as LGUs have been waiting on funding to come in for decades. Undersecretary Sombilla discussed that all LGUs will be affected by the Mandanas ruling and highlighted the importance of utilization of funds from the national government among the LGUs as well as the budget preparation and optimization of IRA/NTA so it may be efficiently managed.Director Masapac added that it is up to LGUs to prioritize projects that they feel are important for their development and that projects cannot be imposed on the LGUs.

In her synthesis, Dr. Atienza highlighted the importance of capacity building for LGUs and the importance of stakeholder involvement in the devolution efforts. She also expressed her hope that with the Mandanas ruling, LGUs will have the ability to maximize their available resources and undergo successful harmonization within the different levels of government.

The livestream of this event can still be accessed through the Policy Research Office Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DAPCFGPRO. – by Rion Cairus Reyes

Eager to go to school, a third-grade student packed his bag with his learning materials as his parents awaited the announcement regarding the suspension of school. From the radio set we hear the grim announcement: the virus causing a global pandemic is now in the country and everybody is advised to stay home. Adults as well as kids are locked down, but learning has to continue at home. This left the student confused – inasmuch as he struggled to read his learning modules, he also struggled to make sense of the ongoing situation.

Watching children grow to achieve their dreams is the aspiration of both teachers and parents as they guide the young ones to their future. With enough anticipation and care, we make it their mission to bring out the best of the children. But how can we ensure that we are giving them a nurturing learning environment if this current pandemic crippled our resources?

Students in the 3rd grade are already expected to read independently and do numerical computations by themselves, but according to the Regional Unified Numeracy Test and Division Literacy test in San Jose District, Division of Antique, the results shows that among the 1,445 Grade 3 students that underwent the test, 218 students or 15.08% are non-numerates and 170 students or 11.76% are non-readers, raising the concern of the teachers in the district.

Each learner has a certain capacity to process the information given to them by chunking data into pieces they can easily digest and understand. In addition, students tend to have their own learning cycle that helps them quickly adapt. But some pupils, especially those that do not have enough resources for an optimal learning environment, are usually left behind. 

To some, the assessment results may just be a number, but it points to a pressing issue that demands our utmost attention. If not addressed, the inability to read and do basic arithmetical operations may be a roadblock to the educational sustainability of students.

As these concerning rates become an alarm for most instructors in the field, an innovation program thru the Development Academy of the Philippines’ Center for Governance, helped the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Antique to come up with a strategic response called Count on US, ANITA (United Stakeholders Activate the Nurturing Intensive Teaching amidst Adversity). The project initially focuses on maximizing learning support systems for non-readers and non-numerators in the new normal through the active involvement of stakeholders in providing support to address the literacy and numeracy problems. The project develops a mentoring hub for parents, learners, and teachers, engaging experts to help improve learner’s performance, tapping professional pseudo-tutors or teachers to supplement learning gaps, developing learner packages for learners and potential partners, and orienting and capacitating learning facilitators.

Conduct of Capability Building for Teachers at Atabay Elementary School

Foreseeing possible challenges that might come along the way

“The project changed the perspective of the people in the community, that improving the literacy and numeracy skills of learners are not the role of the teachers alone but rather by the entire community. That when there is unity, there is hope for every learner to be a champion,” said Anita Gubalane, Count on US, ANITA team leader.

Gubalane is an Education Program Supervisor of the Department of Education who also stands as a team leader of the said project. She took the lead in planning, implementing, and monitoring the entire project. The project’s planning took place in December 2020 and was implemented in January until April 2021. The initiative becomes an avenue for learners to adapt and sustain the means of learning.

For an ordinary 9-year-old pupil used to learning with his classmates in a typical classroom setup, along with all the things that make up the whole school experience, remote learning is stressful at times. At worst, it was found to be a discouraging experience. The innovation project, Count on US, ANITA  aims to fill this gap. 

Cooperative Endeavor

Mildred Napuli, Teacher I of San Jose District, said that the “Project Count on US, ANITA depicts the true bayanihan spirit wherein our stakeholders collaborate and work together for our beneficiaries.”

With this significant effort and consistent follow-ups for the project, it has already commenced as a strategic response for learners in the diverse phase of adaptability. Aside from the realistic assurance of dedication and commitment from everyone involved, information was disseminated through different platforms, which became an important factor in the successful mobilization for the project.

Gubalane also shared that there are salient events that contributed to the project’s early success, which are the development of learning packages and the conduct of home visitation to teach the struggling learners. Yet even if this flexible offer is here to stand, perennial problems such as numeracy and literacy conditions should not be overlooked but examined along with the progress made by the project. Echoing the Department of Education’s battle cry, she said, ‘no one should be left behind.’

School heads, teachers, and stakeholders joined hands as they are bound to enthusiastically implement the project as it continues to help the learners through its mode of accountability and the corresponding project implementation plan. It is a tremendous and exceptional package made to assist struggling learners.

Role of Fulfillment

“After two months of the implementation of the project through the Intensive Remote Teaching with the help of our various stakeholders, the innovation project Count on US, ANITA brought a significant impact on the reading and numeracy skills of the learners,” Ma. Adrilyn Lacurom, the District In-Charge said.

After the project’s intervention, 45% of the third-grader non-readers (78 out of 170) are now considered readers, and overall 515 learners have increased their reading level, initiating a great increase in the literacy level of students in the district. Meanwhile, 56% of the non-numerates (126 out of 218) are now under the category of numerates. At the same time, a total of 819 students increased their numeracy level – filling up the wide gap from the statistics before the intervention. 

As a result of the project, DepEd Antique also has better experience developing and implementing plans and better understanding of how to conduct intensive teaching and enhanced knowledge in developing learning packages to assist struggling learners. It is indeed a project made for sustainability and strategy that molds not just the learner’s preference but the implementer’s expertise as well.

Chances and Challenges

There is indeed hope in education. As the future begins to widen its door of opportunities for the young ones, teachers and parents can serve as the guide in navigating their way amidst uncertainties and challenges. Project Count on US, ANITA is a welcome development in helping students sustain their love of learning, despite the many struggles in the new normal.

“The project could be improved by having every school create a team to oversee the replication of the project in all districts. The team will continue to tap all potential stakeholders in the community and enhance the capability of teachers through the conduct of training on how to handle the struggling learners. It is also important to create a policy to institutionalize the Project Count on US ANITA,” Gubalane said. 

This innovation project showed us a glimpse of the difficulties of the current world we are living in. If children find it hard to adapt to their learning environment now, how could they possibly become the leaders of tomorrow? As we continue to navigate the uncertain terrain of a post-pandemic world, may we remember that while it is never easy to cope and adapt, having the help and support of the people around us can make it a little bit easier to make sense of the world around us.

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Productivity and Development Center, in partnership with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), an intergovernmental organization in the Asia-Pacific region, is conducting the Workshop on Modern Food Transportation and Regulation on 13 to 15 July 2021 via Zoom.

The workshop will highlight the importance of smart transformation of food transportation in member countries to meet modern consumers’ needs such as timely delivery, high quality, and safe food from secure sources. This goal is anchored on the commitment and key result areas of the APO in reference to its newly launched Vision 2025 striving for an “inclusive, innovation-led productivity growth in Asia and the Pacific.

Moreover, the three-day virtual activity will discuss highly relevant topics which mainly focus on Global Trends, Challenges, Policy/Regulatory Responses, and Opportunities in Food Transportation, Modern Delivery System with the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Cold Chain Logistics in Response to Covid-19, and International Standard on Temperature-Controlled Parcel Delivery Service (ISO23412). The duration of each day’s sessions will be around four hours comprising of presentations, interactive group discussions, and other relevant collaborative learning methods.

Expected to be attended by some 30 foreign and local participants from Bangladesh, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Philippines, the workshop will also be graced by experts and presenters on agricultural economy, cold chain management using state- of-the-art technologies, and relevant management systems, particularly ISO 23412:2020.

This initiative is part of the virtual programs conducted under the Digital Multi- Country programs of the APO. This is pursuant to the unified goal of the DAP and APO to promote innovative interventions, approaches and best practices across all sectors of the economy, foster the development forces at work both in national and regional scale, and bolster the institutional infrastructure crucial to sustained productivity improvement. Indeed, the APO and the National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) have continuously lived up to their commitment to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Asia and the Pacific through the enhancement of productivity.

The DAP, as the country’s National Productivity Organization, and the APO,
hope to continuously impact food transportation and logistics at all levels — national, local or even global in the coming years. For more information, visit www.dap.edu.ph or email pdc@dap.edu.ph.

This article was originally posted in http://pdc.dap.edu.ph/index.php/dap-and-apo-to-conduct-a-workshop-on-modern-food-transportation-and-regulation/

The global pandemic has heightened the productivity imperative in the public sector. The accurate measure of productivity is important for policy given that the public sector is a major employer in most economies. This is the main point stressed by Firas Raad, World Bank Country Manager based in Malaysia at the International Roundtable on Public Sector Productivity Measurement held on June 16, 2021, organized by the World Bank to discuss the issue of public sector productivity. The panel comprised of two reactors from ASEAN (Philippines and Malaysia), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission.


To start with, Daniel Rogger of the Bureaucracy Lab presented the architecture for productivity analysis using an articulated model of understanding of productivity in government, the complementary approach of using macro and micro-measures of productivity, and the correlation of data to determinants of productivity. Members of the panel also shared their organization’s experiences, challenges, and key lessons in measuring public sector productivity.


Magdalena Mendoza, Senior Vice-President of the Development Academy of the Philippines, traced the evolution of productivity movement in the Philippine public sector at a time when the country had a very tight fiscal situation, then under the period of heightened demand for results, and the need to regain the trust of its citizenry. She mentioned that measuring public sector productivity remains a challenge although there had been several efforts to do so. For instance, productivity measurement done at the service-level such as tax collection, licensing, and passport application using the methodology of Dunleavy and Carrera of the London School of Economics and at meso-level such as health and education adapting an approach used to measure productivity in Australia. She raised the need for a consensus on the construct of public sector productivity to adopt a national-level measurement approach.


Other members of the panel also shared their organization’s experiences, challenges, and key lessons in measuring public sector productivity. Mattieu Cahen, Senior Policy Analyst of the Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division of the OECD discussed the challenges on data such as lack of standardization, disconnection between data, main impact, the importance of environment, and context. He also conveyed the trend of looking beyond efficiency and effectiveness of administration and into the broader sense of well-being. Dr. Lewis Dijksta, Head of the Economic Analysis Sector of the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission shared the experience of the World Justice Project using a justice scoreboard that relied on administrative data monitored regularly to create a government benchmark. This showed data variation in regional and urban contexts which enabled the transfer of knowledge for improvement. Dr. Thomas Niaounakis, Senior Advisor of the Ministry of Finance Netherlands, provided the advice of prioritizing organizations willing to adopt productivity measurement compared to those resistant in lieu of the challenges of implementation. Dr. Anesee Ibrahim, Director for Research of the Planning and Policy Division of the Public Service Department of Malaysia, seconded the panel members in their challenges and key learnings. He emphasized how measuring productivity at the individual level can have a very big impact on human resource management as data provides actionable information and understands characteristics that correlate to productivity.


Deryck Brown, Senior Public Sector Specialist of the World Bank, closed the session by synthesizing the efforts from the different countries and highlighting creative ways to address implementation challenges. With public sector productivity measurement becoming increasingly relevant to improve performance and deliver better public service, he encouraged organizations like the DAP to participate in the various activities of the World Bank’s Bureaucracy Lab, which is purposed to produce new datasets and conduct analytical work to better understand and innovate government bureaucracies.