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The Governance Cluster of the University Social Involvement Office (USIC) completed the series of Training on Building Communities Towards Clean and Transparent Governance in partner municipalities Cabusao, Calabanga, Sagñay and Buhi on October 16, November 6, 13 and 20, respectively.
Interestingly, the multisectoral participants coming from pilot barangays in the four areas affirmed the relevance and timeliness of the training that they decided to bring the empowerment that they have gained to the barangay level by rerunning the training. They are targeting the first quarter of 2010 to implement the echo-training in their respective barangays. They still sought the assistance of the Ateneo de Naga University.
The Governance Cluster implemented the series of training as a contribution to the voter’s education efforts of the University off campus in preparation for the 2010 elections. Its four sessions are grounded on the Ignatian way of proceeding: reflection-action-reflection as theoretical framework, and inspired by the Ehem! anti-corruption initiative of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus.
The anti-corruption program started with Session 1: Awareness. Here, the participants’ perceptions on corruption were levelled-off and processed. The participants were brought to a higher level of analysis in Session 2: Understanding by discussing the causes and consequences of corruption. Session 3: Reflection brought the participants into a serious analysis of personal and communal culture – habits, values, norms and institutions – which reinforce and perpetuate corrupt practices in all sectors of the society. After individual reflection and group sharing, a ceremonial personal and communal pledge concluded the session. Finally, in Session 4: Action, the participants were challenged to create a Pro-Clean and Transparent Governance Action Plan which shall be implemented in their communities.
Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr., creator of the program design and representative of the Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program to the cluster, and Benita Michele S. Ciudadano of the Center for Local Governance (CLG) facilitated the training. Celeste C. Dizon, another MPA student, co-facilitated in Calabanga, while two volunteers from the Liga ng mga Estudyante sa Agham Pampulitika, namely Nikko Angelo T. Cortez and Jeffery O. Marzan assisted the facilitators in Buhi.
The training was conceptualized and implemented through the USIC– Governance Cluster headed by Dr. Malu C. Barcillano, CLG director. It was also made possible through the support of mayors Evelyn C. Yu of Calabanga, Norberto U. Genova of Cabusao, Roberto C. Briones of Sagñay and Rey T. Lacoste of Buhi, with the assistance of their respective Municipal Planning and Development Officers, namely Norma Severo, Susan A. Basbas, Yolenia Cosa and Agnete Noble.
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