PHILIPPINE COUNCILORS LEAGUE 10f DILG-NAPOLCOM CENTER, EDSA cor. Quezon Avenue, Quezon City www.philippinecouncilorsleague.org We cordially invite you to the ASIAN COUNCILS FORUM “Advancing Responsive Governance and Decentralization Through Local Legislation” December 4-7, 2016, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) is the organization of all City and Municipal Council Members of the Republic of the Philippines that was formally established in 1990 and created by authority of law- the Philippine Local Government Code. Among its primary objectives is the establishment of a nationwide forum on local autonomy and decentralization of powers. The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) was among the Global Parliamentary Alliance that were invited during the 2015 Global Councils Forum (GCF) hosted in Taipei City, Taiwan. It was accepted during the GCF that the regular holding of an international forum is very significant to the development of global development politics and the institutional growth of legislative organizations and associations. With this development, the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), the Taiwan Local Councils Representatives Community Forum (TFC) and the Japanese Local Councilors Alliance (JLCA) agreed to take turns hosting an annual international forum in the region to be known as the Asian Councils Forum (ACF). The President of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) also supported the ACF concept. The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) pledged to host the initial Asian Councils Forum this year. In this regard, PCL warmly invites you and the Members of your organization to the First Asian Councils Forum - to be held on December 4-7, 2016 at the Manila Marriot Hotel, Resorts World, Pasay City, Philippines. The Forum is the First International Conference of Local Legislators in Asia with the objectives of promoting greater understanding and building stronger linkages through technical exchange and international cooperation. The Forum would provide an opportunity for Representatives to share their practices and experiences with fellow public officials on the following important topics: • The Role of Local Legislative Assemblies in Governance and Decentralization; • The Implications of Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change to Local Governments; • The Issues in Inter-Local Government Relations and Cooperation; and • The Role of Local Assemblies in Promoting Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Asian Region. Through the Asian Councils Forum, may we continue to serve humanity as we contribute in building a better and brighter world. On behalf of the PCL, COUN. MAYBELYN DC FERNANDEZ COUN.ELMER O. DATUIN PCL National President PCL National Chairman Should your office need any further information, please contact our secretariat, thru Ms. Esther Cuadra, at contact no. +63918-9408652 or via email: [email protected] and we shall be more than happy to accommodate you. The conference registration fee is USD 500.00 per participant not including hotel accommodations. We hope that you would be able to confirm your participation, thru our secretariat, on or before November 30, 2016. PROGRAMME (Draft) DAY ONE (DEC. 4, 2016) 6:30 PM Welcome Dinner DAY TWO (DEC. 5, 2016) Opening Program 8:00 – 9:00AM Registration 9:00 – 9:15 Presentation of Participants COUN. JOAQUIN EMMANUEL G. PIMENTEL PCL National Secretary General 9:15 – 9:30 Conference Overview Dr EDERSON DELOS TRINO TÁPIA Dean, College of Governance and Public Policy University of Makati 9:30 – 9:45 Opening Remarks COUN. ELMER O. DATUIN National Chairman Philippine Councilors League 9:45 – 10:00 Welcome Address COUN. MAYBELYN DELA CRUZ - FERNANDEZ National President Philippine Councilors League 10:00 – 10:30 Keynote Address Honorable ISMAEL MIKE SUENO Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government Republic of the Philippines 10:30 – 12:00 Representatives from Local Legislative Assemblies will make their individual presentations introducing their respective Organizations 12:00 – 1:30 PM Lunch Break Representatives from Local Legislative Assemblies will speak on the following topics: 1:30 - 3:00 The Role of Local Legislative Assemblies in Governance and Decentralization: Country Experiences 3:00 – 3:15 Coffee/Tea Break 3:15 – 4:45 Implications of Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change to Local Governments 6:30 Dinner Program Keynote Speaker Honorable ALAN PETER CAYETANO Senator, Republic of the Philippines Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations DAY THREE (DEC. 6, 2016) 8:30 – 9:00 AM Recap of Presentations during Day 1 Dr EDERSON DELOS TRINO TÁPIA Dean, College of Governance and Public Policy University of Makati 9:00 – 10:00 State of Decentralization under the Local Government Code: Towards A Federal Form of Government Honorable AQUILINO Q PIMENTEL Jr. Former Senate President Senate of the Philippines 10:00 – 10:30 Open Forum Dr HELARIO T CAMINERO Executive Director Philippine Councilors League-Legislative Academy COUN. ROGELIO MONTESCLAROS Chairman, PCL Advocacy Committee Philippine Councilors League Representatives from Local Legislative Assemblies will speak on the following topics: 10:30 – 12:00 Issues in Inter-Local Government Relations and Cooperation 12:00 – 1:30 PM Lunch Break 1:30 – 3:00 Role of the Local Assemblies in Promoting Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Asian Region 3:00 – 3:15 Coffee/Tea Break 3:15 – 3:30 Imperatives of an Asian Councils Forum COUN. MAYBELYN DELA CRUZ - FERNANDEZ PCL National President 3:30 – 3:45 Imperatives of a Global Councils Forum Honorable LIN CHIN-CHANG President Taiwan Local Councils Representatives Community Forum 3:45 - 4:15 International Cooperation Through Technical Exchange Honorable ALEX B BRILLANTES, Jr, PhD Commissioner Commission on Higher Education 4:15 – 4:30 Closing Remarks and the Next Steps COUN. ELMER O. DATUIN PCL National Chairman 6:30 Dinner and Recognition Ceremony for Representatives from Local Legislative Assemblies DAY FOUR (DEC. 7, 2016) 7:30 – 8:30 AM Breakfast and Tour Briefing 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Immersion Tour - City of Manila for Country Representatives and their Staff .