STAFF DEVELOPMENT

• EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSIONS
• STAFF TRAININGS
  • Training on Research, Campaign Methodologies and Legislative Advocacy
• TEAM-BUILDING
  

Training on Research, Campaign Methodologies and Legislative Advocacy

The training on Research, Campaign Methodologies and Legislative Advocacy was conducted last July 27 – 29, 2001. The objective of the training was to help equip the project’s key personnel with the skills required to accomplish the project efficiently and effectively. It was participated by the staff from the research unit: the Research Coordinator, the Research Assistant for political mapping and the research assistant for the library researches; and the conference unit: the conference coordinator and the conference assistant. Before the training was conducted, the target participants accomplished a questionnaire designed to determine their training needs.

The Institute prepared the design of the training using the accomplished questionnaire. The main topics of the training were research methodologies, political mapping and database building, campaign work, legislative work and advocacy work.

Highlights of the training

Research methodologies
By Mr. Earl Parreño
Member
IPER Board of Trustees

Since the project would engage in activities such as interviewing and conference facilitation, Mr. Parreño focused his discussion on interviewing (one on one) and focus group discussion (FGD) facilitation. In interviewing, he discussed the dos and don’ts of conducting a one on one interview. He also tackled the stages of interviewing. Some tips on asking the questions, recording the answers and probing questions were given in order to get the necessary information from the interviewee.

On focus group discussion, Mr. Parreño discussed the importance of selecting participants of a focus group discussion. He reiterated that the members of a focus group discussion should be more or less like-minded in order to avoid debate and to deepen the view of a homogeneous group on an issue.

Political Mapping and Database-Building
By Mr. Reynaldo Gueco
MIS Coordinator and
Databank Manager
AKBAYAN!

Mr. Gueco discussed the steps in doing a political map and the activities involved in each step. The steps that he highlighted are data gathering, processing or analysis, policy, action, analysis/ reports. He mentioned that political mapping is an extensive and expensive work and requires a number of staff to do the job. Since the current project, which is the study on electoral and parliamentary reforms, has a limited budget, he gave some word of advice on doing the work in a limited budget without sacrificing the output.

On database building, he did not have a thorough lecture discussion of the subject matter. What he did was a demonstration on database management using the software Microsoft access. He showed how to put information on the database and how to link the relationships of the entries. He also reiterated the importance of designing the database wherein regular updating of data is possible.

Campaign 101
Mr. Ramon Casiple
Executive Director
IPER

On the topic on campaign work, Mr. Casiple focused on its basic activities, from its definition, setting an objective and plans, campaign strategy and tactics, methodologies and management. He also discussed the specific task and responsibilities of the leadership, management and staff in doing a campaign. This topic will be more useful on the campaign and advocacy aspect of the project.

Legislative Work
By Mr. Erwin Lara
Committee Secretary
Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms

The political mapping aspect of the project would require a regular dealing with the legislative body of the government. Doing this work would not only require a person to be properly equipped with interviewing skills, it is also very important for a person to know how the work in legislation is being done.

Mr. Lara begins his topic by discussing the theoretical concept of legislative process both in Senate and the House of Representatives. How a certain bill becomes a law or stashed into archives. He also discussed the process on how a bill is being set to the first reading; how it is assigned to a specific legislative committee; to second reading and third reading up to the bicameral conference and its approval. Aside from that process, he also shares with the staff the decision making process of the legislators on passing the bill. What influenced them into coming up with such decisions, thus, a researcher would have an idea on the things he had to consider in conducting an interview.

Advocacy Work
By Atty. Byron Bocar
Consultant
Office Rep. Rosales

Atty. Byron Bocar first discussed the definition of advocacy work. He then focused his discussion on the following techniques in doing the advocacy work:

1) Mastery and familiarity with the subject being advocated by doing a thorough research and studying is important.
2) Setting a negotiable and non negotiable without surrendering the essence of the subject of the bill.
3) In drafting of bill it is important to know the situation of the beneficiaries.
4) It is also important to find ally from other organizations advocating the same bill.
5) The points of intervention of advocacy work are on committee meeting, plenary session and conference committee.