VISION

A society where human development focused legislation is enacted by democratically elected and functioning legislatures

The CLD vision has two elements: one for the society and the other for the organization. The first envisions a society where relevant, responsive, and gender-fair legislation is enacted by democratically elected and functioning legislatures to promote equality, development, and peace for all. Democratically elected and functioning legislatures are two components that must be present; because there are legislatures whose Members are democratically elected but the institution is nonfunctional and there are functioning legislatures whose Members are not democratically elected.

The second vision is directed toward the development of the CLD into a regional center for legislative development that will provide legislatures, other government organizations, and sectoral groups in both local and regional levels with the highest standard of research, training, and information development services

MISSION

Promote genuine people’s participation in legislative decision making and implementation of laws at all levels of governance

This mission will be attained by providing the public with sufficient information on developments in the legislature and skills on legislative advocacy.

OBJECTIVES

The CLD is guided by three objectives:

1. Enhance the capability of legislatures to service the people through the enactment of responsive laws

CLD identified three key result areas for this objective. The first is enhanced capability of Members of legislatures. CLD is guided by the following indicators to determine whether the objective was met: development of comprehensive legislative agenda, number of socially relevant bills/ordinances proposed and enacted into law, effective participation in committee and floor deliberations, responsiveness and accountability to constituents, and monitoring of the implementation of laws. The second key result area is enhanced capabilities of staff. This will be measured by the number of quality bills/ordinances drafted, number of quality speeches written, quality of information provided to the Members, and responsiveness and accountability to constituents. Institutional capability building also involves enhancing the capabilities of the Secretariat. This will be evident through their development of organizational systems and procedures, number of quality bills/ordinances drafted, provision of commentaries/analysis of bills, monitoring of implementation of laws, information dissemination to the public, and documentation of legislative proceedings.

2. Promote effective people’s participation in the formulation and implementation of laws

CLD seeks to encourage people’s involvement in the decision-making process and in monitoring the implementation of laws through their active participation in oversight activities. In line with this objective is the Center’s People’s Organization Internship (POINT) Program. This was conceived as a result of a multi-sectoral consultation forum conducted by CRTS in November 1990 where the farmers, fisherfolks, urban poor, transport workers, teachers, women, and environmental activists met with the Members of Congress and executive departments. It aims to provide a venue for the interns to be acquainted with the structures, processes, and dynamics of Congress for them to effectively push their sectoral agenda. The program was able to detail three batches of interns from the opening of the Ninth Congress in July 1992 to its adjournment in February 1995. These interns were placed either in a Member’s office or in a committee in the House of Representatives or in the Senate for six months.

Promoting effective people’s participation in policy formulation and decision-making will result into appreciable increase in the level of people’s participation in the legislative process. The first key result area will be measured by regular and meaningful participation in committee hearings; substantive position papers; and sectoral initiated bills/ordinances. The second one has the following performance indicators: setting up of evaluation criteria and monitoring mechanism by NGOs/POs; and NGO/PO partnership in monitoring the implementation of laws.

3. Strengthen linkages between governmental and nongovernmental legislative support service organizations

This involves promoting the solidarity between government and non-government institutions in addressing people’s concerns. In line with this objective, the Center was instrumental in the establishment of the International Legislative Support Services Association, composed of Members of legislatures, their staff, the Secretariat, and non-government organizations engaged in legislature-related work from twelve countries in Asia and the Pacific. It also initiated the Congressional Studies Association of the Philippines (CSAP), a network of individuals and groups engaged in Congress-related work. It aims to promote complementation of legislature work in such areas as research, policy advocacy, training, and information development.

The linkage between NGOs and GOs performing legislative support services will result into sharing of information and technology and human resources. Attaining the former will mean building an information network (data base of information), and improved information technology. The latter, on the other hand, will be manifested in the holding of regional legislative development programs and exchanges such as fellowships and internships.