From June 18 to 22, GRIPS conducted a five-day training program for a group of legislative staff headed by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito from the Philippines. The group consisted of 31 participants from the House of Senator, House of Representatives and Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

The program was arranged upon a request from DAP. It was a pilot benchmarking program funded by the government of the Philippines. The purpose of the program was to sharpen their knowledge on the new trends and competencies required for public sector leaders as well as to understand the legislative process of Japan. The participants attended the lectures given by GRIPS professors and visited Mitaka City as well as Secretariat of the House of Representatives. 

Visit to the Diet

At GRIPS, lectures on “Leadership Model and Public Sector Innovation Models” were given by Prof.Masahiro Horie (Professor Emeritus) and Prof. Ayano Nishihara (Assistant Professor, Rikkyo University) from different perspectives. After the lectures, participants attended the workshop on Leadership facilitated by Prof. Horie and visited Mitaka city to meet officers and citizens who are actually participating in the collaboration projects organized by citizen, private sectors and the city.

Workshop on Leadership facilitated by Prof.Horie

Visit to Mitaka City

They also attended the lecture on “Intergovernmental Relations of the National and Local Government” given by Prof. Hirofumi Takada, “Japan’s Political Set up” by Prof. Mikitaka Masuyama and “Structure and Role of DIET” by Prof. Harukata Takenaka.

After the lectures, the group visited the Secretariat of House of Representatives (HoR). Mr. Shinji Mukoono, Secretary General welcomed the group and the officers of HoR presented the briefings on “Legislative Procedure” and “Deliberative Process of the Budge in the Diet of Japan”. In addition, Mr. Takeaki Yaoita, Director General of Committees Department facilitated the session to exchange the opinions and questions. Participants could understand and compare the different approaches and challenges of the legislative process of the Philippines and Japan.

Discussion at Secretariat of House of Representatives

On the final day of the program, a wrap-up session was organized by DAP staff. They reviewed the program and discussed with group members in order to share their knowledge and resolution. Participants received the Certificate of Completion from Prof.Kiyotaka Yokomichi (Vice-President of GRIPS) to end the program.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito and Prof.Tanaka, President of GRIPS

with Program Director, Prof.Yokomichi