15 Afghan officials train under DILG's study exchange program

MANILA, Philippines - Fifteen officials from Afghan communities are currently undergoing training on local governance in the Philippines under the study exchange program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The training is sponsored by the Local Government Academy in cooperation with the Local Government Training and Research Institutes Network of the Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), according to Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno in an article posted at the DILG Web site (www.dilg.gov.ph) on Friday. The national and local Afghan officials undergoing the 15-day training being held at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila include the head of a provincial council, deputy governor, mayor, deputy chair provincial council, executive director, provincial planning specialist, and some UNDP representatives. The training, titled "Toward Deepening Multi-stakeholder Policy Development and Implementation in Afghan Communities," aims to improve the capability of Afghan local government units in policy development. It will also expose the Afghan officials to the different trends in policy development. This would include the implementation of Philippine strategies on enhancing women participation in governance, environment, and natural resources, and mainstreaming of Islam values and practices in policy development. Also part of the training is a study tour of various award-winning local government units (LGU) in the country like Los Baños, Marikina, and Bulacan, according to Local Government Association executive director Marivel Sacendoncillo. "We have several LGUs now classified as ISO-certified or world-class LGUs because of the innovations they introduce with the end in view of achieving efficient delivery of services, things which we would like to show our visitors from Afghan communities for possible replication in their respective localities," Sacendoncillo said. She said that another good thing about this training was that they had invited experts and practitioners who would provide participants with firsthand information regarding local autonomy in the country and bring an understanding of the Philippine public policy process. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV