"We can make a difference; we have stopped a lot of discriminatory, unjust, and failed legislation because of our voice."
Manila — Policy analyst, women’s rights advocate, and lead facilitator Dr. Socorro L. Reyes emphasized in her discussion the framework for lobbying (advocacy) and power mapping during a 2-day capacity development training entitled Strategic Advocacy for Political and Electoral Reforms, held last February 8–9, 2023.
This capacity development training is intended to gather representatives from various political stakeholders, youth organizations, women's and LGBTQIA+ groups, civil society and non-government organizations, and the media and increase their capacity in lobbying for political and other electoral governance reforms.
La Salle Institute of Governance (LSIG) Director, Dr. Ador R. Torneo, acknowledged and thanked the resource speakers and participants from various civil society groups in his welcoming remarks. He also stressed that the training is meant to help us (advocates) review practices and basic concepts and implement policy agendas more effectively.
During the program overview, various participants mentioned specific topics, such as approaches and strategies in political and electoral reforms and knowledge in political communications, that they expected to learn from.
Through the Advocacy Process
In Session 1, Dr. Reyes tackled the framework for lobbying (advocacy) and power mapping: player, process, products, and impacts. A workshop was conducted where participants presented their quick assessment of the sources of their target advocacy, including influence and power.
Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, an associate professor at the Department of Political Science at UP Diliman, discussed the advocacy process of understanding the dynamics of the policy process. She highlighted that civil society groups must be involved in every policy and legislative process.
The discussion continued with RAPPLER Head of Regions, Ms. Inday Espina-Varona, in which she presented the advocacy process of political communication and negotiation. Ms. Varona highlighted that there must be short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals in the advocacy process.
"Our most important public is our partners. The first step to empowerment is giving space to people’s voices—their voice, not ours." She added.
In her discussion about the advocacy process of networking and coalition building, GABRIELA Vice Chairperson Ms. Joms Salvador said that "advocating for political reforms is not easy. It involves challenging and structurally upturning norms, social biases, and economic interests.”
She concluded that networks and coalition building are essential parts of advocacy and that movements create and sustain change.
The Products and Their Impacts
Day 2 began with the recapitulation of the Day 1 discussion. Mr. Lito Averia, NAMFREL National Chairperson, discussed the laws and policies accessible electoral process and improving electoral rules, including voter registration, accessible voting, especially for marginalized groups, campaign finance, substitutions, fair and reflective of democratic values, party subsidies for women candidates, and automated and hybrid voting mechanisms.
Ateneo de Manila University instructor Mr. Arjan Aguirre tackled political party development laws and policies, focusing on party development's practical and strategic elements. While Mr. Jess Paul Pasibe, PARTICIPATE Election Oversight and Reform Specialist, presented the laws and policies for electoral system reform,
At the end of the discussion, participants developed and presented a result-oriented action plan for their respective reform agendas. The training ended with a closing remark from PARTICIPATE Information Specialist, Mr. Christian Esguerra.
There were an estimated total of 16 participants from the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), Coalition for Bicol Development-Naga City People’s Council (CBD-NCPC), Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA), Alternative Planning Initiatives (PHILSSA-ALTERPLAN), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Samahan ng Kabataang Boluntaryo ng Pilipinas (SKBP), Hirayang Kabataan, Now You Know, and iDEFEND, who attended and participated in the training.
This event was organized by the La Salle Institute of Governance in partnership with PARTICIPATE.