RATIONALE

The Pimentel Institute of Leadership and Governance is a non-stock, non-profit foundation established to promote competent, ethical and innovative leadership in the public sector; advocate for political and economic reforms needed to strengthen Philippine democracy; and engage in the national discourse on key issues that affect the lives of Filipinos.

The Institute takes its spirit and direction from the life and advocacies of an esteemed statesman and national leader – Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. – whose experience as an constitutionalist (member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention), in local government (as Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City), the executive branch (as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government), the Legislature (as Senate President and Minority Leader) provide valuable lessons in competent, ethical and innovative leadership; and whose legislative achievements (Local Government Code, Cooperatives Code, ARMM law), advocacies (federalism, anti-corruption, human rights, judicial reforms) continue to form part of the national reform agenda.

The policies and directions of the PILG are formulated by a seven-member Board of Trustees composed of luminaries from the academe, religious, political and civil society sectors. A Board of Advisers composed of local and international parliamentarians provide linkages with organizations, other parliaments, and individuals that pursue the same advocacies as PILG. Finally, recognized experts in various fields serve as PILG Fellows and share their expertise, provide innovative ideas, or generate new knowledge the training programs, research activities, and workshops organized by the Institute.

The birth of the Institute coincides with the end of Senator Pimentel’s seventeen-year term in the Senate. The Institute will allow him to share his experiences, ideas and advocacies with various sectors; provide a platform from which he will continue to participate in national discourse; and provide a training ground for current and future leaders of the country.

STRATEGIC FUNCTIONS and PROGRAMS

The Pimentel Institute of Leadership and Governance is envisioned to be an internationally-recognized provider of training programs, specialized studies, and innovative certificate programs that will enhance the competencies of young leaders, national executives and legislators, and local government officials.

Its three-fold functions include the following:


1. Leadership Lecture Series:

The PILG will implement a Pimentel Lecture Series in universities across the country where Senator Pimentel can interact with student and youth leaders on issues such as ethical leadership, graft and corruption, transparency and participation in government decision making, challenges of legislative leadership, federalism, and charter change. The lecture series can be implemented using various modes such as a joint project with students councils, sponsored by civil society organizations, or by officials of colleges and universities.


2. Training:

The PILG will undertake training programs in three major areas:


A. Leadership and Legislative Governance Training for Young Leaders (LLGTYL) The LLGTYL started in 2002 in response to the need to develop young leaders who are competent, committed, visionary, ethical, and can become effective advocates of youth issues. Close to 500 youth leaders have participated in this training program and have become leaders in their communities, academe, government and local governments.

The LLGTYL aims to enhance the knowledge and develop the leadership skills of youth leaders in legislative governance and advocacy. The knowledge and skills developed through this training program will make youth leaders more effective in exercising their leadership roles, in articulating their interests, in organizing their constituencies, and in advocating issues that affect their sector at the national and local levels.

At the end of the training program, the youth leaders shall have been able to:

1. Define the meaning and requirements of leadership, leadership styles, and skills needed in relation to the youth sector and governance;
2. Understand the structures, processes, and dynamics of the Philippine administrative and legislative systems;
3. Discuss and learn lessons from case studies on leadership and governance issues in the legislature;
4. Interact with leaders in the academe and Congress;
5. Determine the gaps and issues in youth policies and programs that require government action;
6. Develop skills to engage in legislative participation and public discourse concerning the youth sector and to propose courses of action and alternative solutions; and
7. Build a network of youth leaders who will act as representatives of the youth sector in policy and issues discussions for purposes of legislation.


B. Training of Local Government Officials (TLGO) The TLGO will offer a wide menu of training programs for local officials, such as:


• Basic Governance Course for newly elected local executives (first term mayors and governors) and local legislators (members of the provincial board, city/municipal councils) to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills in effectively managing their localities;

• Barangay Development Course for newly elected barangay officials focusing on the roles and responsibilities of barangay officials, basic legislative processes and procedures, revenue generation and resource mobilization, development planning, and developing effective communication systems with constituents;

• Advanced Governance Course to capacitate local executives, local legislators, and local bureaucrats in effective legislation, revenue generation, local government budgeting, local government accounting systems, preparation of development plans, disaster preparedness and dealing with climate change, market administration, promoting micro-entrepreneurship, and using ICT and social networking to promote good governance at the local level.

• Transformative Leadership Course for incumbent local officials and those intending to enter public service designed to introduce the concept of public servanthood, the roles and responsibilities of local officials, and the core values needed for effective and ethical leadership in the public service.


C. Seminar-Workshop for New Legislators The seminar-workshop is designed to enhance the capabilities of newly elected members of the House of Representatives to effectively perform their Constitutional roles of constituency representation, policy making, advocacy, oversight, and communication. At the end of the seminar-workshop, the participating legislators shall be able to:

1.Understand the constitutional and formal roles of legislators in a unitary-presidential system of government
2.Understand the structures, processes, and dynamics of the Philippine administrative system
3.Understand the legislative process including structure of the House of Representatives, the committee system, and terminologies used in legislation
4.Be able to effectively organize their legislative and district offices;
5.Be able to translate their campaign promises into specific legislative proposals and a legislative agenda;
6.Effectively use information technology to report on their legislative initiatives, effectively link with their constituents, and promote transparency and participation in the Philippine Legislature;
7.Gain an in-depth understanding of the policy issues, current legislative initiatives, and policy initiatives that they can undertake in their pre-selected policy areas.



3. Research:

As a research outfit, PILG fellows will undertake researches, document best practices, and publish monograms on their respective policy interests. The research activities of the Institute will be done in partnership with academic institutions like the University of Makati, University of the Philippines, specialized offices in Congress, or civil society organizations.

PILG Board, Staff, and Fellows

The following individuals shall comprise the PILG:


Chairman of the Board : Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
President : Atty. Gwendolyn P. Gana
Executive Director : Dr. Prospero E. de Vera
Fellows :
Atty. Koko Pimentel
Pimentel Law Office
(Electoral and constitutional reform, local governments, federalism)

Dr. Prospero E. de Vera
Professor of Public Administration
University of the Philippines
(Political management, legislative development, agriculture, civil service)

Terry Dumugho
(Local government finance, local development planning, federalism)

Atty. Gwen Pimentel-Gana
(Child and family welfare, inter-country adoption, legislative management)

Atty. Luigi Gana
Gana, Manlangit and Perez Law Office
(Election law, local governments)

Malu Tiquia
President
PUBLICUS
(Political management, media relations, legislative management)

Prof. Dan Saguil
Director
NCPAG Center for Public Administration and Governance Education
(Project design and management)

Atty. Jay Dejaresco
(Legislation, media management, law)

Evangeline Crisostomo
(Micro entrepreneurship, insurance)

Dr. Noriel Tiglao
Director, UPNCPAG CPED and Associate Professor of Public Administration
University of the Philippines
(Transportation management, local development planning)

Dr. Jaime Veneracion
Professor of History
University of the Philippines
(Local history, cultural development, tourism development)

Susan Ople
President
Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute
(Migration and labor rights)

Amina Rasul
Trustee
Promotion for Peace and Prosperity in the Philippines
(Mindanao development, education, peace process, women and youth)