PCSDS Legal Services Section participates in the Workshop Strengthening Legislative Focal Persons’ Capacities and Strategies for the 19th Congress

The PCSDS Legal Services Section participated in the two-day workshop sponsored and organized by USAID SIBOL and DENR Legislative Liaison Office (LLO), entitled “Workshop Strengthening Legislative Focal Persons’ Capacities and Strategies for the 19th Congress” on 24-25 November 2022 at Clark, Pampanga.

The workshop was conducted in the interest of the service and to strengthen the service delivery efficiency of the DENR’s Legislative Liaison System by equipping the legislative focal persons with the needed skills in the reviewing, developing, and updating the advocacy strategy for identified priority policy or legislative reform agenda of the Department, as well as, introducing the process for maintaining the Legislative Information System.

The event was graced by Mr. Joselito M. Blanco (OIC Asst. Regional Director for Technical Services, DENR Region 3), Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, CESO I (Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs), Dr. Ernie Guiang of (Chief of Party, USAID SIBOL Project), and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go who respectively delivered messages before the participants.

While Dir. Romirose Padin (Director, LLO), Mr. Marlito Guidote (Deputy Chief of Party, USAID SIBOL Project), Mr. Rommel Reyes (Committee Secretary, Committee on Climate Change, HoR), Ms. Bernadine Mahinay (Committee Secretary, Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, Senate), and USec. Bernardino Sayo (Presidential Legislative Assistant, PLLO) rendered different lectures and discussions on Priority Legislative Measures, Political Economy Analysis, Strategic Advocacy, Network and Coalition Building, and Strategies for the 19th Congress, respectively.

Highlight of the workshop was the introduction to the DENR LLO Legislative Information System (LIS). This is an innovation which leads to convenience because through the use of DENR LLO-LIS, the agency (such as the PCSDS) will be able to have access to the information on the status and updates of its proponent bills and/or bills with priority status through notification via email. In addition thereto, the functionalities of LIS likewise include the features to add/edit/delete(soft delete): Bills; Newsletters; Republic Acts; Congress; Author; Status of Bill; Attachment Description; and User Management.

Several regional legislative liaison officers and legislative focal persons from DENR Regional Offices and attached agencies actively participated in the two-day duration of the workshop. Atty. Charlene Acosta attended on behalf of PCSDS.