World Bank's Access to Information and Open Data Initiative - Highlighted

The Knowledge and Information Resource Network (KIRN) has conducted a 3-day seminar-workshop with the theme:“Library Tourism and Hospitality: The Innovative Way of Endearing Libraries and Harnessing Knowledge for the 21^stCentury Education ” Last September 8-10, 2011 at St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP), Tuguegarao City. The objectives of the seminar-workshop were a) to bring together the librarians and library staff in all the Paulinian schools in the country, Basic Education and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the region and create a library network; b) to share SPUP’s library innovation, best practices, and resources being a recipient of the World Bank- Knowledge for Development Center (WB-KDC); c) to promote and enrich the services and resources of libraries and information centers through library tourism and hospitality; and d) to enhance partnership and networking among libraries and information centers. Said activity was attended by the administrators, librarians and library staff of St. Paul Schools across the country, Basic Education and HEIs in the region, Public Libraries, and Library Science students.

The first day was highlighted with the manifestation of SPUP-KIRN’s best practices and services presented by KIRN Director, Dr. Rosalinda Tanguilan. At the end of the day, the participants were spiritually revitalized during the visit to the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat. For more than 400 years the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Piat has been a significant event in the lives of devotees of the people in the Cagayan Valley. More than anything else, the Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Piat is a devotional and spiritual journey from one's home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Piat to venerate Our Blessed Mother, to ask for Her intercession and to thank Her for the favors received from God through Her intercession.

Mr. Henry Grageda of World Bank Philippines started the second day session with the updates on WB’s Access to Information and Open Data Initiative (ODI). Meanwhile, Mr. Ronaldo Sumait, the SPUP-KDC Librarian/Knowledge Facilitator oriented the participants about the resources, services and activities of the KDC. After which Mr. Sumait demonstrated the use of ODI and its importance to research studies. The participants were given a chance to explore and navigate the data during the hands-on at the computer laboratory. Furthermore, the topic on web-based technologies and resources in library tourism was instigated by Mr. Santiago Tagacay III. The web-pages created by each participant will be useful in promoting library tourism and hospitality in their respective institutions. The two topics discussed in the afternoon were entitled “Marketing and Networking of Libraries and Information Centers”; and “The 21st Century Library Practices/Events: Execute with Sense and Style”. The former was presented by Dr. Reyza Alenzuela, Director of Thomas Jefferson Information Center and the latter was delivered by Prof. Rhea Rowena Apolinario of University of the Philippines, School of Library and Information Studies. The group was mesmerized with the beauty of nature when they explored the Callao Caves, boating at Mororan Falls and watched the sunset flight of millions of bats looking for food at dusk. The cave is the best known tourist attraction of Cagayan province. It is located in the town of Peñablanca, a thirty minute drive from Tuguegarao City. It requires little test of patience as you go up the stairs with close to 200 steps before seeing the colossal limestone and rock formations inside. It is made up of seven chambers and various formations: the column, chapel, skeleton, elephant’s head, praying angel, rocket, lion’s head and dog’s head formations.

The “Impact and Challenges of Library Tourism and Hospitality in Library” was the last topic deliberated during the third day by Mr. Roderick Ramos, PAARL President, De La Salle University.Moreover, Dr. Tanguilan facilitated the organization of the library network. After the closing ceremonies, the participants proceeded to Iguig Calvary Hills located about 16 kilometers from Tuguegarao City. In the 11-hectare rolling hills are the larger-than-life-size concrete 14 Stations of the Cross depicting Jesus Christ’s suffering before his death at Mount Calvary. The place also features a three centuries old well, Dominican convent ruins, and the prosaic view of the Cagayan River which resembles that of the River Jordan. Built of concentric bricks, the church has buttresses, one of the very few left in the country.

The endeavor ended with a farewell lunch at the LRC lobby. The participants are now going back to their respective institutions bringing along with them the innovative ways of endearing libraries and harnessing knowledge for the 21^st century education through library tourism and hospitality.

KDC Nooks Updated

The SPUP-KDC Librarian/Knowledge Facilitator Mr. Ronaldo Sumait, and the two Knowledge and Information Resource Network Librarians represented by Mr. Santiago Tagacay III and Ms. Corazon Tumbali visited and updated the resources of the following KDC Nooks:

· Department of Interior and Local Government Unit Regional Office 02;

· Isabela Provincial Library and Museum, Ilagan Isabela;

· Cagayan State University, Lal-lo, Cagayan;

· Cagayan National High School, Tuguegarao City; and

· Tagga Barangay Hall, Tagga, Tuguegarao City

These KDC Nooks serve as a depository of World Bank (WB) publications, books, serials, posters/brochures and audio-visual materials. Most of the donated resources to the mentioned recipients are focused on environmental sustainability, good governance and economic development. Meanwhile, Mr. Sumait took the opportunity to introduce the Open Data Initiative (ODI) of the WB to maximize its usage. The City Library of Cauayan was visited as well and the librarians were oriented on the use of ODI.

The Librarians of the Cauayan City Library pay attention as Mr. Sumait converses the features of the Open Data Initiative and its importance to the research studies of their clients

Deaf Human Rights and Legal Access Training-Workshop - Part II

To further empower the deaf from the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, the Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC) in partnership with St. Paul University Philippines - Knowledge for Development Center (SPUP-KDC) conducted the second Deaf Human Rights Seminar last June 22, 2011 in SPUP-KDC, Tuguegarao City.

The training is part of the project “Strategies for attaining legal access and safeguarding human rights of the deaf in the Philippines” funded by Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), in partnership with Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) and its affiliate member organizations, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. (IDEALS), and World Bank - KDCs.

The fruitful endeavor organized by Mr. Ronaldo Sumait, the KDC Librarian/Knowledge Facilitator, was attended by twenty one (21) deaf participants and facilitated by Mr. Raphael Domingo, Ms. Marites Racquel Corpuz and Ms. Melissa Rubi Rabang of the PDRC aimed to increase awareness and provide training regarding human rights of the deaf among deaf and hearing advocates from the two provinces. Some of the participants have also been active as volunteers and vanguards of fundamental rights for protection from harm of the deaf.

The primary goal of the colloquium was to disseminate information about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). A video presentation in Filipino Sign Language was shown to the participants for them to be able to understand the articles of the UNCRPD. The participants were asked to fill up the monitoring form on the implementation of Magna Carta for the Disabled or RA 7277 and to propose future plans for workshops.

Aside from the lectures conducted, the Deaf facilitators have been assigned to go to the different areas within the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela to gather case information involving Deaf parties. The PDRC through the Deaf Human Rights project would like to see legal access for the Deaf in case proceedings or even before the case is filed.

Policy Dialogue Series on Good Governance & KDC Annual Meeting 2011

Good Governance is Everybody’s Business

Policy Dialogue Series on Local Governance and the

World Bank – Knowledge for Development Center Annual Meeting 2011

University President Sister Remy Angela Junio, spc headed the SPUP contingent composed of KIRN Director Dr. Rosalinda Tanguilan, Good Governance Point Person Mr. Sergio Imperio, and KDC Librarian/Knowledge Facilitator Mr. Ronaldo Sumait to the World Bank – Knowledge for Development Center Annual Meeting last May 25-26, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Quezon City.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) sought the help of civil society organizations to prod local government units to practice good governance and monitor their compliance to standards set by the national government.

During a policy dialogue called “Good Governance Is Everybody’s Business” DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo told an audience of local chief executives, civil society organizations, academe, and external development partners: “Our programs to strengthen governance like the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) will work better if it is driven by the citizenry. Effectively we are opening doors to them because this administration’s drive to improve governance will work best if owned and supported by its constituents.”

The dialogue was co-sponsored by the DILG, World Bank, the Australian Agency for International Development, CODE-NGO, Task Force-Participatory Local Governance, and the Transparency and Accountability Network.

DILG officials have been going around the country on a road show called “Byaheng Pinoy” to encourage more LGUs to participate in the performance incentive program. Thirty LGUs received cash incentives for meeting the requirements in 2010.

World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman noted that civil society organizations, especially in the Philippines, would be effective partners in spreading good governance practices.

“Local government and civil society engagement is an area where the Philippines is ahead of most countries. Now the engagement is changing. The government is now telling civil society organizations,‘You are welcome to come into the kitchen,’ so to speak, and help us with spreading good governance. And that is very encouraging,” he said.

Mr. Hofman pointed out that this is a very good time to invest in good governance and help strengthen capacities of organizations working on transparency, accountability, and service delivery because the flavors of engagement are changing.

Engagements can take different forms. Civil society could create partnerships with LGUs for programs to qualify them for the seal of good housekeeping, monitor LGU compliance independent of government, or inform citizens of LGU performance.

Bentham dela Cruz, Mayor of Amlan in Negros Oriental, recently obtained the DILG’s seal of good housekeeping without even knowing about the PCF.

He explained that his strategy was merely to be transparent in governance, use resources efficiently, and abide by the rules of audit. “When I started (in 2005), our adverse findings were recorded in documents that were so thick. I did not stop until the adverse findings were about one page long,” he said. Thanks to the PCF, he now has funding for the technical-vocational-agricultural school that his Local School Board (LSB) identified as a crucial need in his town.

Mr. dela Cruz said he welcomed the participation of civil society in local governance because often, he’s faced with indifference to development changes at the local level. “It’s a reality and a challenge. You have to live with people’s indifference unless you give them an incentive,” Mr. dela Cruz said.

Mayor Enriquieta D. Bomediano of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte, admitted to being initially overwhelmed by the requirements of the PCF, being a first-time mayor. She studied the town’s tax code for a year, consulted with barangays, municipal engineers, ABC Presidents, accountants, and anyone who could help her have high marks in the DILG’s performance monitoring scorecard. “I was really challenged and I learned that you only need openness to qualify for the PCF,” said Ms. Bomediano.

Gerry Bulatao, Executive Director of the Consortium for the Advancement of Peoples Participation through Sustainable Integrated Area Development (CAPP-SIAD), said the DILG’s PCF is a program that civil society is willing to pursue.

“In civil society, there is now a new mood in place. We are disappointed in some places, but we love the direction and we feel that we can navigate around the problems. With the PCF, the DILG has opened the door for many new possibilities,” Mr. Bulatao said. He said this is the time for NGOs to pursue their dreams of changing the country through participatory processes.

Sam Chittick, Governance Advisor of AusAID in his closing remarks emphasized the important role that the Performance Challenge Fund can play in promoting information disclosure by LGUs. He said,"this information provides critical inputs for civil society and all citizens to improve local planning and budgeting, which in turn should lead to better development outcomes for all Filipinos." ACK: worldbank.org

The second day highlighted the KDC Presidents’ Breakfast Meeting with the World Bank Country Director Mr. Bert Hofman. Dr. Tanguilan shared the activities of the SPUP-KDC.Meanwhile, Mr. Imperio joined the group discussions on systematizing the CSO participation in Performance Challenge Fund and Seal of Good Housekeeping. The workshop ended with a knowledge-sharing on maximization of Open Data Initiative

Seminar on the Katarungang Pambarangay held for Barangay Officials

In response to a felt and expressed need, the BS Social Work program of SPUP, with the assistance of the Office of Good Governance of the same institution and St. Paul University Philippines KDC, organized and facilitated a Seminar on the Katarungang Pambarangay. Eleven barangay officials of Bangag, Solana, Cagayan attended the occasion. The participants led byBarangay Captain Ruel Fabroa were given a chance to ask questions and share their views about the nature, composition, functions and other information about the barangay justice system advocated by the government.

The Participants

The half-day seminar was held last March 9, 2011, at the Barangay Bangag Multi-Purpose Hall. Mr. Sergio Imperio, Unit Head of Good Governance of SPUP, was the resource speaker. The SPUP KDC supplied the necessary references for the seminar. Ms. Jenalyn Quebedo and Ms. Jogi Ramos, BSSW- IV students, under the supervision of Ms. Maricel Gomez, head of the Social Work Program of the University, organized the seminar.

Mr. Imperio and the BSSW-IV Students

The Participants

Deaf Human Rights and Legal Access Videoconference Training

Knowledge for Development Center	Philippine Deaf Resource Center	St. Paul University Philippines

Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC) in partnership with St. Paul University Philippines - Knowledge for Development Center (SPUP-KDC) conducted a Deaf Human Rights and Legal Access Training (DHRLA) on February 21-23, 2011 in SPUP-KDC, Tuguegarao City. This is part of the project “Strategies for attaining legal access and safeguarding human rights of the deaf in the Philippines” funded by Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), in partnership with Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) and its affiliate member organizations, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. (IDEALS), and World Bank - KDCs.

The three-day videoconference attended by the deaf community (teachers, volunteers, students), local government units (city and provincial social workers), academe (law and social work educators), non-government organizations (social workers, psychologists, volunteers) and law enforcer (officer of Women and Children’s Desk) aimed to increase awareness and provide training regarding human rights of the deaf among deaf and hearing advocates in the locality. The training consists of two parts: the pre-videoconferences wherein the modules and assignments were sent to each participant and videoconference sessions where the participants are gathered in the SPUP-KDC connected via videoconference with project legal consultants of PDRC transmitting from the World Bank- KDC in Ortigas, Pasig City.

As part of the action plan, the participants of the training created a Paralegals and Advocates committee. Mr. Panfilo Marantan, a member of the board of governors of Katipunan ng Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas Inc. (KAMPI) was chosen as the Chairperson. Mrs. Marge Obonan, a social worker of the Breaking Barriers for Young Adults with Disabilities and Mrs. Herminia Danao, a social worker and a faculty of SPUP were selected as Vice-Chair and secretary respectively. The committee plans and intends to organize similar DHRLA training to the other groups in Tuguegarao City.

For more photos please visit http://multiply.com/slideshow/spupkdc2:photos:56

Mobile KDC and Visually Impaired Recipients Culminating Activity "Aggao na Pattaradday anna Pappabalo"

Knowledge and Information Resource Network, World-Bank Knowledge for Development Center (WB-KDC) in partnership with the Community Extension Services conducted a Mobile KDC and Visually Impaired Recipients Culminating Activity “Ággao na Pattaradday anna Pappabalo” on January 25, 2011 at the KDC.

The program aimed to a) bring together the Mobile KDC recipients and the Visually Impaired Persons (VIPs) for socialization; b) impart knowledge to the KDC recipients the issues on climate change and its impact to the environment c) elucidate the children’s role as responsible young citizen in the country; and d) showcase the talents and skills of the VIPs.

Mobile KDC recipients from the elementary schools of Larion Alto, Tuguegarao City; Inga, Enrile, Cagayan; Estefania, Amulung, Cagayan; and Lannig, Solana, Cagayan
joined the KDC VIP beneficiaries in this gathering.

Film viewing on climate change followed by an essay writing, poster making and slogan making contests with a theme "SAVE MOTHER NATURE" highlighted the activity. Dr. Madelyn Menor, Associate Dean of SASTE and Dr. Beatriz Clemente, a member of the SPUP Research Team facilitated as judges. The winners were the following:

Essay Writing:

1^st Place: Rochelle Luyun - Estefania Elementary School (EES), Amulung, Cagayan
2^nd Place: Lovely Malamnao - Lannig Elementary School (LES), Solana, Cagayan
3^rd Place: Rachelle Joy Sibbaluca - Larion Alto Elementary School, Tuguegarao City

Poster Making:

1^st Place: Angel Soriano – EES

2^nd Place: Trisha Rances – LES
3^rd Place: Romnick Rances - LES

Slogan Making:

1^st Place: Yvonne Galiza - LES
2^nd Place: Maricar Bartolome - LES
3^rd Place: Mark Anthony Adversalo - EES

For more photos please visit http://multiply.com/slideshow/spupkdc2:photos:55/1