CPU is part of Region VI core documentation team
Central Philippine University, represented by Asst. Prof. Felnor G. Importante, Director of the Publication & Information Center and member of the University Research Committee (URESCOM) headed by Research Center Director - Dr. Randy Pabulayan, is part of the three-member team of Western Visayas tasked to document at least one best practice of the region to be shared with other local government units or LGUs as an output of a recently concluded seminar-workshop. With her are Mrs. Gemma Paras of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Region VI and Ms. Sunshine Barrios of I-CODE, Iloilo City.
The Region VI core documentation team is among the 12 participants who formed groups of threes constituting the teams from Regions II, X, and the Local Government Academy who attended the 'DILG Workshop on Documenting Replicable Practices' at the Bakhawan Eco-Tourism Center, Buswang, New Kalibo, Aklan on October 25 - 27, 2005.
The delegates were a mix of representatives from the DILG offices, Local Government Academy (LGA), LGUs/NGOs, and the academe. It is noteworthy that the three regions have DILG regional offices (laboratory regions) being assisted by the Local Government Support Program (LGSP) in the documentation of replicable practices. Moreover, these regions are pilot sites for Local Governance Resource Centers (LGRCs).
After the leveling of expectations led by Mr. Abe dela Calzada from the LGSP Office, there was an overview of Replication and GO-FAR. Replication is a systematic and supportive process that involves learning from, and sharing with others, practices that are proven to be effective solutions to common local government problems. GO-FAR is an acronym for Good Practices in Local Governance, Facility for Adaptation and Replication (GO-FAR) which is a project of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with technical assistance from Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program (LGSP-CIDA) and funding assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the leagues of LGUs, MEDCO, and UN-Habitat.
Day 1 topics included an Overview of Replication and GO-FAR, and the Role of the Core Documentation Team. Also in the afternoon was Session 1: Identifying Replicable Practices and Analyzing Replicable Practices which featured the presentation of SIGMA and TOUR AKLAN practices. SIGMA is 'Kasama Ka: Solidarity for Solid Waste Management' of Sigma, Capiz. TOUR AKLAN is 'Tourism through the Optimum Responsible Utilization of Resources of Aklan' 2001 with a commercial run namely 'Manggad it Kalibo' (Wealth of Kalibo: Tradition, Festival, and Environment).
The whole morning of Day 2 was dedicated to a Tour of Kalibo Practice (including lunch). The Tour started with a visit to two of the Kalibo tribes just outside the Bakhawan Eco-Tourism Center, the seminar venue. The delegates listened to a brief history and demonstration of costume-making after which they were made to wear the costumes themselves; joined the street-dancing up to the site where they were shown an intricate step-by-step process of piña cloth weaving and thereafter refreshed themselves with juice from freshly picked buko; and after a brief rest, proceeded to the Bakhawan Eco-Park itself where they walked on a long winding wooden bridge flanked by hundreds of mangrove trees grown for around 15 years, at the end of which was the beach where they were greeted with flowers, singing, and a sumptuous feast of seafoods, chicken barbecue, and rice.
Session 2 in the afternoon comprised of the following: Guidelines for Documenting Replicable Practices and a Workshop on Analyzing a Reference Document.
Day 3 included a Recap of Day 1 and Day 2 by Asst. Prof. Importante, a Facilitated Discussion based on Session 2 Workshop Outputs, Presentation of a Final Reference Document, and a Preparation of Regional Documentation Workplan.
The workplan may commence with a MOA among partner institutions of each region to facilitate the documentation of replicable practices in the region, proceed with the short listing of LGUs with best practices and the screening/evaluation of the replicability of the practice, and conclude with the actual documentation of the best practice. The sharing of the documented best practice with other LGUs facing similar problems is the actual end in sight.
(CPU InfoCenter)