The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) organized a three-day online training program for the legislative staff and the officers of the Philippine Congress who are in the middle-level management positions. The program ran from October 26 to 28, 2020. Fifty-one legislative staff and officers of the Philippine Congress and four staff members from Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) participated in the program.

The program was arranged upon a request from DAP, with the aim of providing opportunities for participants to enhance global perspective and understanding on public policy systems, legislation, and public sector leadership. The course was designed for the participants to learn three main topics; Evidence-based policy making, Legislation and Parliamentary Best Practices, and Public Sector Leadership Models.

Lectures and discussion sessions featured: GRIPS Professor Emeritus Masahiro Horie; GRIPS Visiting Scholar Dr. Yoshitsugu Kanemoto; Dr. Ayano Nishihara, Associate Professor, Rikkyo University; GRIPS Professor Hirofumi Takada; and GRIPS Professor Harukata Takenaka.

The participants also attended the knowledge exchange session featuring legislative staff and officers of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives, Japan. Knowledge on legislative practices of both Philippines and Japan were exchanged through active discussion.

On the last day of the program, in a wrap-up session with GRIPS Vice President Prof. Kiyotaka Yokomichi, the participants discussed their program takeaways.