Pasig City, May 2024 – The 91���� (DAP) and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) are set to host a groundbreaking Training Course on Gainsharing in Agribusiness Enterprises from May 20-24, 2024, at the Citadines Millennium Ortigas. This dynamic event aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement effective gainsharing strategies across agricultural value chains.

Gainsharing, a strategy where employees and supply chain partners receive incentives for boosting productivity, will be the focal point of the training. By leveraging the insights and suggestions of all involved parties, gainsharing fosters a collaborative work environment and enhances overall organizational effectiveness.

The five-day training will bring together 25 delegates from 18 APO member economies, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, and Vietnam. These participants, comprising senior practitioners, agribusiness enterprise managers, community leaders, and government officers from agricultural and SME development agencies, will benefit from intensive lectures, workshops, and hands-on learning experiences.

A highlight of the course will be a visit to a local agribusiness enterprise that successfully implements gainsharing. This visit will provide participants with real-world insights into the best practices and challenges associated with gainsharing programs.

This training initiative underscores the commitment of 91����and APO to enhance capacity-building and operational performance in agribusiness enterprises. By fostering productivity and profitability through innovative gainsharing approaches, 91����and APO aim to drive inclusive engagement and sustainable growth within the agricultural sector.

The 91����through its Productivity and Development Center offers capability building, technical assistance, and research interventions related to productivity and quality improvement. For inquiries and requests for assistance, visit www.dap.edu.ph, call 8-631 09 21 local 140, or email pdc.pdro@dap.edu.ph.

The intensive workshop convened 23 participants who were equipped with tools and techniques essential for ideating and developing innovative solutions tailored to enhance public services. Among the methodologies used were Crazy 8s, collaborative Design Charrettes, the inventive SCAMPER technique, strategic Affinity Diagrams, and compelling Storyboards.

The participants hailed from six government agencies and state universities and colleges including the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Siniloan Water District, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Eastern Samar State University, and Negros Oriental State University.

The 2024 Fastbreak: 100K Transaction Hours Reduced initiative stands as a beacon within the Productivity Challenge Program. Spearheaded by the 91����COE-PSP, this multi-year project is designed to raise awareness and enhance the productivity and innovation of public-sector organizations nationwide. Moreover, it aims to foster a culture of innovation and improve productivity, ultimately elevating the quality of service delivery.

For more information on the Productivity Challenge, please visit: https://productivitychallenge.dap.edu.ph/

The 91���� (DAP), serving as the Asian Productivity Organization’s (APO) Center of Excellence on Public Sector Productivity (COE-PSP), successfully completed the Development of Public-Sector Productivity Specialist (DPSPS) Course last April 1-5.

91����President and CEO, Dr. Majah-Leah V. Ravago, in her closing remarks commended the participants from different APO member-economies for their dedication in completing the course. She urged them to remain steadfast in their commitment to improving public sector efficiency and to leverage their training as a catalyst for a stronger Asia Pacific Region.

The five-day event saw the presence of National Economic and Development Authority Secretary and APO Director for the Philippines, Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, who delivered the welcome remarks, and Program Officer Santi Setiawati of the APO Multicountry 2 department.��

Key speakers included: Dr. D. Brian Marson, president of Public Service Excellence Institute Canada; Peter Dan Baon, DAP-COE-PSP director; Dr. Shin Kim, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute of Public Administration-Division of Regulatory Innovation Research; Maria Rosario A. Ablan, director of the DAP-Center for Governance; and Ronel S. Clariza, section head of the�� University of the Philippines Diliman’s Supply and Property Management Office-Property Utilization Section.

Pasig, Philippines, February 19 – The 91���� (DAP), recognized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) as the Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity and the country’s National Productivity Organization (NPO), ��took a significant step towards fostering international collaboration as it warmly welcomed a distinguished delegation from Mongolia on February 19, 2024. This historic meeting marked the initiation of a bilateral cooperation between National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) on Public-Sector Excellence and Performance Evaluation, with the aim of promoting mutual learning and the exchange of best practices among Asian Productivity Organization (APO) members.

Led by Dr. Majah-Leah V. Ravago, 91����President and CEO, and APO Alternate Director for the Philippines, the gathering included esteemed representatives from Mongolia’s National Productivity Organization (MPO) and Authority of Government Supervisory. Notable among them were Ms. Batbileg Tsagaan, Deputy Director of MPO; Mr. Anar Bayarsaikhan, Chief Officer and Head Researcher of Authority of Government Supervisory; Ms. Munkhtsetseg Gongorjav, Chief Officer of Department Authority of Government Supervisory; and Sukhbaatar Dagvasuren, Chief/Journalist of Mongolian National Broadcaster.

In her address, Dr. Ravago emphasized the significance of this cooperation, stating, “This collaboration between NPOs serves as a vital platform for mutual learning, knowledge transfer, and collaboration. Over the next four days, we will engage in the exchange of best practices, successes, and challenges.” She expressed optimism that the partnership between the Philippines and Mongolia would illuminate the path for advancing public sector productivity across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Ravago was also joined by 91����Senior Vice President for Programs Ms. Magdalena Mendoza; APO Liaison Officer for the Philippines Mr. Armand Tristan Suratos; Productivity and Development Center Vice President Mr. Arnel Abanto; AO25 Secretariat Director Ma. Rosario Ablan; and Center of Excellence on Public Sector Productivity (COE-PSP) Program Manager Mr. Peter Dan Baon.

The visit included a comprehensive tour of the 91����Pasig building,�� led by 91����Administrative Department Manager, Engr. Nelson Casalan. Delegates gained insights into the history, architecture, and operational functions of the facility, enriching their understanding of the host organization.

Beyond the DAP, the delegation’s itinerary includes visits to key Philippine government agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) from February 20-21. This opportunity will provide firsthand exposure to the best practices in public sector service delivery within the Philippine context.

The four-day engagement will culminate in a final discussion on long-term collaboration between the DAP, MPO, and Mongolian Authority of Government Supervisory on February 22, 2024, at the 91����Pasig building. Before departing the Philippines, delegates will also visit the 91����Conference Center in Tagaytay City, further strengthening ties and knowledge exchange between the two nations.

This momentous initiative underscores the commitment of both the Philippines and Mongolia towards enhancing public sector efficiency and performance, setting a precedent for collaborative excellence in the region.

IN PHOTO: RESOURCE PERSONS, 91����OFFICERS, AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE APO COURSE ON DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF INNOVATION POLICIES POSE FOR A PHOTO DURING THE EVENT’S OPENING CEREMONY.

The 91���� (DAP), through its Productivity and Development Center (PDC), and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) trained participants from APO- member economies on Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policies at the Citadines Millennium Hotel, Pasig City from October 23-27, 2023.

The 25 delegates from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, and Vietnam engaged in a five-day training to enhance their competencies in designing and evaluating innovation policies.

The training also equipped the participants with understanding of the challenges of complex innovation ecosystems, methods and tools for designing and assessing the impact and effectiveness of innovation policies, and best practices of innovation policy design and implementation.

The training was led by APO resource persons Dr. Eva Diedrichs from Germany, Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana from Thailand, and Dr. Francis Mark Quimba from the Philippines who talked about systemic and experimental innovation approaches, the importance of data in evaluating innovation policies and decision making, buy-in and communication to stakeholders, and facing and overcoming disruptions in implementing innovation policies.

Apart from the learning sessions, the participants visited the DAP’s Center for Strategic Futures to gain insights on innovation programs and initiatives that are in line with the Philippine Innovation Policy. They also visited the PhiliFintech Innovation Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to gain an understanding of financial innovation, its best practices, and challenges. SEC Commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee personally welcomed the participants and engaged in the open forum where he shared SEC’s innovations particularly on regulatory reforms on the use of fintech or financial technology to further promote financial inclusion and at the same time, protect investors and other financial consumers.

��IN PHOTO: APO OFFICER, RESOURCE PERSONS, 91����OFFICERS AND STAFF LED BY ATTY. ENGELBERT CARONAN JR., AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE APO COURSE POSE FOR A PHOTO DURING THE EVENT’S CLOSING CEREMONY

Socioeconomic and Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Agency Director-General, Dr. Arsenio Balisacan, emphasized the importance of capacity building in his message. “It is indeed crucial for APO-member economies to be equipped with instruments and procedures for developing and evaluating innovation policies that propel economic development and contribute to socioeconomic development in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

The participants showed their appreciation of the learning opportunity and gratitude to 91����and APO through a vote of thanks. Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Associate Professor, Dr. Anothai Ngamvichaikit, from Thailand and Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Supervising Science Research Specialist, Ms. Melissa Bulao, from the Philippines delivered the vote of thanks. Aside from thanking the organizers, they mentioned that they look forward to engaging and collaborating again with their fellow participants.

“Be champions of innovation! By working together, we can create, nurture, and sustain a culture of innovation in the area of policy making through cooperation and shared goals of improving productivity across Asia and the Pacific,” 91����President and CEO, and APO Alternate Director for the Philippines, Atty. Engelbert Caronan Jr., said in his closing message as he encouraged the delegates to collaborate and apply their learnings in innovation to improve productivity.

The 91����and the APO are committed to devising innovative approaches to promote innovative and inclusive productivity. For more information, visit www.dap.edu.ph, or email mgr@dap.edu.ph.

-Arvie Joyce Cayabyab

The delegates came from APO member economies including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, showcasing a diverse and international group with a shared interest in advancing smart agricultural practices.

The training course highlighted the benefits of infusing smart technologies such as the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and communications technology in agribusinesses. In particular, it showcased the application of digital technologies and innovations to enhance efficiency of food processing and sustained quality across the supply chains; minimize food wastage by guaranteeing quality maintenance and optimal production quantities through the use of data analytics; and, reduce production costs by substituting manual labor, preventing excessive production, and promoting greater efficiency through the IoT technology leading to a competitive edge for agribusinesses.

The course also served as a venue among private and public sector leaders to discuss the challenges agricultural entrepreneurs face in the adoption of smart agribusiness as well as to explore the concepts, principles, and benefits of smart agricultural transformation.

Participants, course secretariat, and MX3 representatives pose for a group photo at the Dynamic Medical International (DMI) Medical Supply Co., Inc. office in Pasig City

Mr. Dok Luon, a delegate from Cambodia, inspects the quality bell peppers from the Netherlands produced by the Turbulent Greenhouse Demo Farm in Tagaytay City.

Resource experts included Dr. Rodney Wee, chief executive officer, Asia Cold Chain Centre (Singapore), Dr. Werrachet Jittanit, associate professor, Faculty of Agro-Industry at the Kasetsart University (Thailand), and Dr. Janette Toral, director, i-Metrics Asia-Pacific Corporation (Philippines). Study visits were also conducted to further provide the participants with valuable insights on transforming their agricultural enterprises into smart agribusiness. They visited educational sites at the DMI Medical Supply Company, Inc. in Pasig City, the maker of the MX3 products, and Turbulent Greenhouse Farm in Tagaytay City.��

The 91����and APO aim to further pursue crafting innovative approaches across all sectors of the economy and strengthen infrastructure needed for productivity improvement. ����������

��The APO contributes to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the region through policy advisory services by acting as a think tank, and undertaking smart initiatives in the industry, agriculture, service, and public sectors.

For more information, visit , or email pdc.pdro@dap.edu.ph.

The 91���� (DAP) earlier announced that the entry titled “Weave to Web” of Danilo O. Victoriano, Jr., who’s affiliated with the Samahang Litratista ng Rizal and the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, won first place in the APO Vision 2025 Photo Contest with the theme, “Innovation for Higher Productivity.” Victoriano’s entry features women traditionally weaving banig using the Internet to improve production sourcing, promote their products, and reach the global market.

The second place went to the entry “Golden Harvest” submitted by Zanel John Dumayag of the Mariano Marcos State University which features the use of a tractor as an innovation to easily harvest the “nation’s golden reserves.” Meanwhile, the entry titled “Integration of Automated Student Identification System for Heightened Security and Easy Campus Entry” by Maxidy Bianca F. Sumera of the Far Eastern University (FEU) features a student using a simple innovative solution such as the ID system to improve security within the university.

The contest received 136 entries from 84 individuals composed of students, government employees, and private sector employees across the Philippines.

The other nine finalists include the following: “Gulayan sa Paaralan, Solution to Ease Malnutrition” (Christopher Fajardo); PUP Education on Wheels” (Christopher Andres); “Tapping into Technology for Safety” (Milliesa L. Flores); “Tamaraws Tap” (Alexia Julieanne P. Fernandez); “Tuloy ang Daloy para sa Bayan” (Amelia N. Paulate); “Information Gathering across Different Mediums,” (Mary Vel S. Custodio); “Convenient and User-Friendly” (Michael Rey S. Baniquet); “Accelerating Talent Development in the Knowledge Economy Era using Learning Experience Platform” (Adrienne Valerie M. Valdez); and “Innovation through Wellness Recreation Program” (Maxidy Bianca F. Sumera).

The first, second and third place winners will receive PhP15,000, PhP10,000, and PhP7,000,�� respectively, worth of gift certificates. Likewise, the other finalists will each receive PhP2,000. The 12 finalists will also receive certificates of recognition from the DAP. Moreover, the winning photo entries will be featured in the 2023 91����and APO desk calendar.

The winners or their authorized representatives may claim their prizes at the 91����main office in Pasig City until January 20, 2022 from Lalaine Bonagua or Laiza Ordonio at the 91����Public Affairs Desk.

The photo contest, which ran from October 19 to November 11, 2022, was conducted by the DAP, as the Philippines’ National Productivity Organization, to support the promotion of the�� Vision 2025 which is the Asian Productivity Organization’s (APO) strategic plan for 2021-2025 that aims to achieve a “more inclusive, innovation-led productivity growth in the Asia-Pacific”. The��APO is a nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory intergovernmental organization that was established in 1961 to advance the socio-economic development of the Asia-Pacific region through productivity. Composed of 21 member economies, the APO endeavors to attain this mission through research, capacity building efforts, and policy advisories.

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Through this workshop, participants will be able to understand the emerging challenges facing regulators and the possible scenario of regulatory governance in the future; learn about the latest tools and approaches to regulatory governance; and, share practical examples of new tools and approaches for improving regulatory governance.

Participants include planning chiefs, policy-makers of government agencies in charge of regulatory development, implementation and review, and public sector productivity professionals from different APO member countries.

Interested parties can view the sessions via YouTube, by registering through this link: , 5:00 P.M.

Certificates of Attendance will be given to the accepted YouTube viewers upon completion of all the necessary attendance and post-event evaluation forms.

The workshop will provide a platform for public and private sector leaders to examine the latest CSA techniques and practices in the Asia-Pacific region. It also intends to help decision makers develop plans for research and development investment in CSA as well as introduce adaptive technologies in APO member countries. Specifically, it aims to: a) share the latest technologies and practices to adapt to and mitigate climate change as applied in the agriculture sector; b) learn good practices in CSA to maintain and enhance crop productivity; and, c) discuss strategies and actions for advancing the adoption of CSA in the Asia-Pacific region.

Local and foreign senior government officials, policymakers, executives of farmers’ cooperatives and associations, senior academics, and consultants involved in promoting climate-smart agriculture from different APO member countries will attend the workshop. Likewise, experienced climate and agriculture science experts will serve as resource persons. They will present and discuss the CSA approach, techniques and practices, case studies from the Philippines and other Asian countries, and the key consideration enabling CSA such as policies, programs, technologies, and assessment. The workshop, scheduled at 1:00-5:00 p.m. (Manila time), will consist of presentations from international and local experts, group discussions and presentations, and other relevant learning methods.

To maximize opportunities for knowledge transfer, the workshop will be accessible to those who wish to view the sessions via YouTube Live. Interested viewers will receive the YouTube link to the workshop by registering through this link: bit.ly/WSonCSA. The DAP-PDC shall provide Certificates of Attendance to the accepted YouTube viewers upon completion of all the necessary attendance and post-event evaluation forms.

In advocating for innovative approaches across all sectors of the economy and bolstering the institutional infrastructure crucial to sustained productivity improvement, the 91����seeks to empower leaders, strengthen institutions, and build the nation through pioneering, value-adding, synergistic ideas, concepts, principles, techniques, and technologies addressing development problems of local, national, and international significance. The DAP-PDC offers capability building, technical assistance, and research related to productivity and quality improvement. For more information, visit www.dap.edu.ph, or email pdc.pdro@dap.edu.ph.