SoLD Training in Bohol
On the 18th September 2015, the Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy (PCCED) held training on the project of Sate of Local Democracy (SoLD) assessment at Bohol office.
The SoLD assessment team composed of Dr. Clement Camposano, Reynald Trillana, Dean Leah Pilongo, Dean Alma Aparece, Atty. Myrfi Gonzalez, Dr. Monica Ang, Ms. Vida Gruet gave guidance and lectures during the training, with the attendance of all the staff members of Bohol office.
SoLD assessment is part of the new project Promoting Democratic Values launched by PCCED in the Municipality Jagna, Bohol and the Barangay of Barcelona, Sorsogon, which is a tool for stakeholders of a community to evaluate the quality of local democracy in their area by celebrating its successes as well as crafting a reform agenda to address some of its democratic deficits.
The frame of SoLD assessment, designed by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), has three pillars (citizenship, equal rights and justice, representative and accountable processes, citizen initiative and participation) with 86 specific questions. PCCED tailored these questions into local context, planned to adopt different methodologies as Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Information Interview (KII), survey and desk research to collect data, and to produce a comprehensive report on the state of local democracy of Jagna, Bohol, and Barcelona, Sosorgon.
The training was focused on the methodology of survey, FGC and key informant interview.
Dean Leah Pilongo and Dean Alma Aparece from the University of Bohol introduced the basic concepts and practical skills of survey while Ms Vida Gruet and Dr. Monica Ang from University of Asia and the Pacific gave a detailed presentation on how to conduct focused group discussions. Dr. Clem Camposano, also from the University of Asia and the Pacific and PCCED Chairperson presented the key areas to consider during interviews.
During the training, staff members from Bohol office held two simulative FGDs to practice their skills as facilitators facing tricky situations. Participants also got reflections from each other, and suggestions and tips from trainers.
Dr Clement Camposano said, SoLD assessment was the first research program of PCCED, which required high skills of the members to fulfill this project. “Capacity-building is crucial for our staff members.”
According to the schedule set during the training, the survey and FGD will start in October 2015, and the data collection will completed by November 2015.
