WBA starts Training on Legal Requirements for Alliance Building

Online coaching session with provincial and municipal groups
facilitated by the consultant. 

Zamboanga City (October 21, 2020) – Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) starts today its training on legal requirements for alliance building as part of capacitation for personnel of member-LGUs. Participants from the provincial and municipal governments include Sangguniang Panlalawigan, administrative, planning and agriculture personnel.

In his opening statement, MILAB 2 Project manager Noor Saada explains to the participants that this morning's online session is the first in a 3-part training program that includes on-site group planning, online coaching and output validation. This training program aims to level off understanding among personnel of WBA member-LGUs as to what constitute critical legal ingredients in building and sustaining interlocal alliances or cooperation like the WBA. 

In her introductory session, content expert and training facilitator Kareen Oloroso-Miels explains the three (3) major phases of alliance building and together with the participants asssess where the WBA currently stands. Together, they went through these critical legal ingredients starting with adoption of a binding agreement to concurrence and mandatory review by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of member-LGUs, from adoption of joint resolutions by the alliance to ratification by SBs of alliance agreements, harmonization of local policies by member-LGUs to creating legal mechanisms. 

MILAB project team facilitates the availability of learning materials online so that participants can learn and review on their own pace. There is an online assessment using Google Forms for individual participants to insure there is comprehension about the subject matter and also a guide to tailor coaching based on the comprehension level of the participants in a given group. 

After this introductory session, Ms Oloroso-Miels put out schedules for team planning and online coaching. At the end of this on-site team planning, every LGU group is expected to submit their proposed work plan as to how they can comply with the legal requirements at their respective level. From this initial coaching and submission of workplan, there is follow through on their proposed activities with close supervision from the WBA office, headed by Zia Ulhaq Basa, and MILAB project team for the succeeding month. The idea is as they level up to the training expectations, they are also contributing to the building and sustaining of their alliance. 

Given the nature of this blended learning and attuned to the 'new normal', Ms Sheila Marie Acquiatan, project coordinator, leads in organizing the administrative functions, from contacting the participants via phone and social media, setting up the Zoom meeting, follow through on attendance, schedules and outputs. 

Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province.