Pasig, Philippines, February 29 – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) marked a significant milestone in international collaboration as it welcomed a distinguished delegation from Mongolia on February 19, 2024. This historic meeting between the DAP, recognized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity, and Mongolia’s National Productivity Organization (MPO) initiated bilateral cooperation on Public-Sector Excellence and Performance Evaluation, which aims to promote mutual learning and the exchange of best practices among APO members.
Led by DAP President and CEO AND Majah-Leah V. Ravago, APO Alternate Director for the Philippines, the gathering included representatives from Mongolia’s MPO and Authority of Government Supervisory. Notable attendees were: MPO Deputy Director Batbileg Tsagaan; Chief Officer and Head Researcher Anar Bayarsaikhan (Authority of Government Supervisory); Senior Legal Adviser Ariunkhur Choijilsuren (Authority of Government Supervisory); and Chief/Journalist Sukhbaatar Dagvasuren (Mongolian National Broadcaster).
Dr. Ravago highlighted the importance of this cooperation, stating, “This collaboration between NPOs serves as a vital platform for mutual learning, knowledge transfer, and collaboration. Over the next four days, we will engage in the exchange of best practices, successes, and challenges.” She expressed optimism that the partnership between the Philippines and Mongolia would pave the way for advancing public sector productivity across the Asia-Pacific region.
Accompanying Dr. Ravago were DAP officials Magdalena Mendoza, senior vice president for programs, and Armand Tristan Suratos, APO liaison officer for the Philippines. The visit commenced with a comprehensive tour of the DAP Pasig building, providing delegates insights into its history, architecture, and operational functions.
Beyond the DAP, the Mongolian delegation’s itinerary included visits to key Philippine government agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority, Civil Service Commission, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Labor and Employment from February 20-21. This exposure aimed to facilitate exchanges of high-level officials of Mongolia and the Philippines for mutual learning and sharing of experiences and best practices in public-sector excellence and performance evaluation.
The four-day engagement concluded with a final discussion on long-term collaboration between DAP, MPO, and the Mongolian Authority of Government Supervisory on February 22, 2024, at the DAP Pasig building. Before departing the Philippines, delegates also visited the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City, further enhancing ties and knowledge exchange between the two nations.
This initiative underscores the commitment of both the Philippines and Mongolia to enhancing public-sector productivity and performance evaluation, setting a precedent for collaborative excellence in the region.