Washington Global Institute

Day 3 of Building Sustainable Communities: A Learning Program on Innovations in Local Governance for the Officials of the Quezon City Liga ng mga Barangay.

The QC Liga ng mga Barangay delegation conducted a learning visit at the Planning Office in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The delegation had the fortunate opportunity to meet the Planning Board and witness part of a Board’s meeting, during which public hearings on Record Plats and Regulatory Extension Requests, among others, were discussed.

Paul Mortensen, Senior Urban Designer from the Director’s Office, and Bridget Broullire, Acting Deputy Director of the Montgomery Planning Office, shared their department’s goals. These include enhancing community equity, economic health, and environmental resilience in Montgomery. They also aim to implement “Complete Communities” by planning for walkable and bikeable neighborhoods that are vibrant, liveable, accessible, and sustainable.

Capping the day at the Gaithersburg Police Department, the group received a brief overview of how the Gaithersburg Police actively engage with the community and are committed to delivering high-quality services promptly and efficiently. The Department also extends philanthropic support through charity fundraisers, participation in community meetings, educational lectures, security surveys, and various other services. # # #

Quezon City Barangay Officials Gain Insight at U.S. Capitol, Reinforce Commitment to Democratic Values

Day 2 of the Building Sustainable Communities: A learning Program on Innovations in Local Governance for the Officials of the Quezon City Liga ng mga Barangay.

On May 29, 2024, delegates from the Quezon City Liga ng mga Barangay visited the US Capitol and the exterior of the White House as part of a four-day international learning program. This visit provided them with a rich cultural and political immersion experience.

During their tour of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the delegation explored the heart of American government and politics. They had the opportunity to enter the Senate Chambers via the visitor’s gallery, gaining insights into the workings of this historic institution.

This cultural-political immersion motivated the barangay officials to reinforce their commitment to exemplary governance in their respective local communities, with the aim of upholding and strengthening democratic values in the Philippines. # # #

Day 1 of Building Sustainable Communities: A Learning Program on Innovations in Local Governance for the Officials of the Quezon City Liga ng mga Barangay.

On May 28, 2024, the Building Sustainable Communities program commenced its four-day learning journey with a focus on innovations in local governance for the officials of Quezon City's Liga ng mga Barangay. Delegates, including Liga officers, members, and select city government officials and functionaries, gathered for a series of insightful lectures.

Dr. Joseph Prud’homme, Founding Director of the Institute of Religion, Culture, and Politics at Washington College, and Ms. Sarah Wolek, Maryland State Delegate, provided an in-depth contextualization of the American government and political structure, including its Local Government. This foundational understanding set the stage for the program's broader discussions.

Delegate Wolek also led a session on Ethical Leadership and Good Governance, facilitating an exercise that encouraged participants to understand, prioritize, and reflect on their values. This exercise aimed to guide their actions and decisions as leaders in society.

Part of the day's activities allowed participants to reflect on their values and critically examine their roles and responsibilities as leaders, emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior in governance.

Hon. Jose Marie Rodriguez, President of the Quezon City Liga ng mga Barangay, leads the QC delegation. # # #

ICYMI: Culmination of the City of Caloocan officials’ training on Empowering Leaders for Resilient and Sustainable Communities Program.

The last discussant, Mr. Brent Woodworth, Chairman and CEO of the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation, shared insights on the preparedness measures implemented in Los Angeles, highlighting the top ten rules of crisis management.

DCH Maria Alnee Gamble, Deputy Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California, graced the graduation and closing ceremonies. She expressed her sincere happiness at seeing many Filipinos exploring the possibilities of replicating successful programs and strategies from cities in California. She expressed her hope for more learning visits in the future.

DILG-Caloocan City Director Atty. Rolynne Javier and LGOO VI Charlotte G. Publico provided comprehensive conference synthesis and key takeaways, respectively, sharing their personal learnings and the valuable lessons gained during the four-day event.

Honorable Mayor Dale Gonzalo R. Malapitan delivered an inspirational message, encouraging all participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from the training in their daily workplace operations.

Dr. Tahid Shad, President of the Washington Global Institute, delivered the closing message, expressing gratitude to all resource speakers, partners, and the City Government of Caloocan functionaries for their contributions to the success of the program.

Finally, twenty-four delegates were awarded Certificates of Completion, recognizing their exemplary performance and commitment throughout the program.

ICYMI: Day 3: Empowering Leaders for Resilient and Sustainable Communities: A Learning Program on Innovative Local Governance for Officials of the City Government of Caloocan

To gain a comprehensive understanding of governance in Long Beach, California, the group dedicated the entire day to absorbing insightful lectures on critical areas of local governance. These discussions took place at the Conference Room at Long Beach City Hall on May 23, 2024.

Key Sessions and Presenters:

Waste Diversion and Recycling: Presented by Waste Diversion and Recycling Specialist Christy Serrano and Analyst Dalia Gonzales, this session provided an in-depth look at Long Beach's strategies for reducing landfill use and promoting recycling. The presenters highlighted innovative approaches and community engagement practices that have proven effective in enhancing sustainability.

Economic and Business Development: Special Projects Officer Courtney Chatterson and Julian Cernuda from the Economic Development team discussed initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth and supporting local businesses. They shared insights on Long Beach’s economic strategies, business support programs, and the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic development.

Grow Long Beach Initiatives: This segment focused on Long Beach’s strategic initiatives to stimulate local growth and development. The presenters covered various projects designed to enhance the business climate, attract investments, and create job opportunities, underscoring the city’s commitment to sustainable economic expansion.

Climate Action and Sustainability: The session delved into Long Beach’s comprehensive climate action plans and sustainability efforts. Participants learned about the city’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy use, and promoting environmental stewardship across all sectors.

Mobility Update: This update provided an overview of Long Beach’s transportation and mobility projects aimed at improving connectivity and reducing traffic congestion. Discussions included advancements in public transportation, infrastructure improvements, and efforts to promote alternative modes of transportation.

The group from Caloocan City showed great enthusiasm throughout the day, gaining valuable insights into how Long Beach implements its governance strategies. They appreciated the opportunity to learn from Long Beach’s experiences and expressed a keen interest in applying similar innovative practices to enhance their own local governance.

By the end of the day, the team had a deeper understanding of how Long Beach addresses critical issues in waste management, economic development, sustainability, and mobility, reflecting a holistic approach to building resilient and sustainable communities.

Day 2 of the Empowering Leaders for Resilient and Sustainable Communities Program: Innovative Local Governance for Caloocan City Officials

On May 22, 2023, delegates from the City Government of Caloocan visited the Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility in Whittier, California. Here, the Supervising Engineer of the Solid Waste Operations and Engineering Section from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts shared efficient strategies for Solid Waste Management, Wastewater Management, and Converting Waste into Resources. The delegates gained valuable insights into best practices in these areas.

Following this, the group proceeded to Glendale City Hall, where they had the opportunity to meet and greet Mayor Elen Asatryan and council members.

Mayor Asatryan briefly explained the structure of Glendale's government to the group, shared her journey to becoming Mayor, discussed Glendale's progress in achieving excellence in local governance, and outlined the challenges she has faced while running the city.

Vladimir Soghomonyan, Executive Assistant of Management Services led the group on a tour of the Glendale Police Department Museum, showcasing various police-related exhibits. He also gave the delegates a firsthand look at the Glendale City Jail.

This visit was an enriching experience, equipping Caloocan officials with innovative ideas to enhance their local governance.

Day 1: Empowering Leaders for Resilient and Sustainable Communities: A Learning Program on Innovative Local Governance

The City Government of Caloocan's officials have commenced their 4-day learning program, "Empowering Leaders for Resilient and Sustainable Communities," in Long Beach, California, United States of America. The program began on May 21, 2024, focusing on innovative local governance.

The first day featured discussions on two key topics: "The Structure of the Federal Government" and "The Politics of State and Local Government in California," presented by Dr. Joseph Prud’homme, Founding Director of the Institute of Religion, Culture, and Politics at Washington College.

Delegates also engaged in a roundtable discussion led by Dr. Tahir I. Shad, President of The Washington Global Institute, alongside Dr. Joseph Prud’homme. The theme of the discussion was "When Ideologies Collide: America’s Election 2024."

The delegation is headed by the Honorable Dale Gonzalo R. Malapitan, Mayor of the City of Caloocan.

January 27, 2024 | Philippine Embassy to the United States in Washington, D.C.

The VIce Mayor’s League of the Philippines - National Capital Region and its National Executive Board conclude its International Learning and Exploratory Program on Smart Cities at the Philippine Embassy with hopes of building cities of tomorrow together.

Vice Mayor Monique Q. Lagdameo, Regional President of the VMLP-NCR, underscored the importance of global governance exposure of local officials and legislators as this widens their visioning scope in nurturing resilient communities. She committed their chapter to serve as a platform for collective learning and co-creation not just in the National Capital Region, but also at the national scale.

“There are higher levels I know we can achieve, and we can only do it if we work together”, VM Lagdameo underscored..

Mr. Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr., Deputy Chief of Mission of the Philippine Embassy, commended the League’s initiative in fostering local institutions through this program, in hopes of catalyzing positive change in the communities.

“The drive towards smart cities is a response to the complex challenges and opportunities of the Philippine contemporary urban and regional landscape. Smart cities offer practical solutions to make urban living more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive. It is important for our Local Government Units to be globally literate to be able to build networks and resources that could help leverage in building and future-proofing cities of tomorrow”, added Mr. Ascalon. # # #

On Day 4, January 25, 2026, the Vice Mayors had a parallel session with the Montgomery County Council, led by its President Mr. Andrew Friedson, to discuss the County political structure and processes, and how policy works are influenced by and work for the communities.

Capping the day at the National Landing Experience Center in Arlington County, Virginia, the group was given a brief account of the partnership between Arlington County government and the JBG Smith in realizing an upcoming smart downtown in the area. Malaika Scriven, Vice President of Planning and Development at National Landing, and Vardahn Chaudhry, Vice President for Investments and Digital Infrastructure at JBG Smith, shared their expertise on smart city development.

Praxis Convergence: Days 3 of the Building and Future-Proofing Cities of Tomorrow: An International Learning and Exploratory Program on Smart Cities in Washington D.C. and States of Virginia and Maryland, United States of America (USA) for the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines and its National Executive Board

In substantiating smart city concepts, the VMLP group visited the Virginia Smart Community Testbed ford County, Virginia on January 24, 2024 to study how the County Government and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) work together to foster a viable technology environment which provides solutions to community problems.

Day 2 of the Building and Future-Proofing Cities of Tomorrow: An International Learning and Exploratory Program on Smart Cities in Washington D.C. and States of Virginia and Maryland, United States of America (USA) for the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines and its National Executive Board

The VMLP delegates visited the US Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial on January 23, 2024 for a cultural and political immersion as part of the 5-day International Learning on Smart Cities.

The group was given a tour of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the bedrock of American government and politics. In an opportune time, the Vice Mayors were also able to witness the Senate election for the directorship of the Amtrak, America’s inter-city rail service, within the confines of the Senate Chamber.

This cultural-political excursion afforded the head legislators inspiration to become pillars of good governance within their localities, preserving and strengthening Philippine democracy. # # #