‘TOL VIEWS

US President John F. Kennedy was once quoted saying: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” 

Last week, together with a number of local leaders and government officials, we concluded our Foreign Study Mission on Local Governance and Innovation for Economic Development in The Hague, The Netherlands.  Indeed, the week-long learning journey opened opportunities not only for acquiring knowledge and enhancing leadership skills. 

More so, the mission paved the way for building meaningful partnerships for innovative local governance and economic development.  Composed of governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, as well as key officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Development Academy of the Philippines, the study mission group was truly fortunate to have been educated by local governance, innovation and sustainable development experts. 

The study mission’s program schedule consisted of learning sessions and study visits.  We were indeed privileged to have learned from trainers and advisors who generously shared with our group their professional experience and expertise on inclusive and innovative local governance. 

Study visits included the Municipality of Westland which is very well known for its horticulture and is home to the World Horti Center, a facility dedicated to the promotion and development of international greenhouse horticulture. 

We were likewise given a tour of Koppert Cress where, as their website claims, “gastronomy meets horticulture.” Another very educational visit was the tour to the Biesbosch National Park which is one of the largest national parks in The Netherlands established in 1994.  The national park has an estimated area of 90 square kilometers which consists of rivers, creeks, forests, and islands. 

Overall, the foreign study mission, I can say, was a huge success. The local officials who participated in the study mission gained a wider perspective and a deeper appreciation of governance approaches that will encourage sustainable local development. 

Apart from the knowledge and experience gained in the learning journey, what remains crucial is the synthesis that participating local officials will be able to form after having finished the study mission in order to benefit their respective local governments. 

In the coming days, I am hopeful that more and more local officials will take interest in participating in study missions similar to the one we concluded in The Netherlands. 

In this way, we can begin to grow a richer culture of good local governance, fulfill our mandate to lead and serve, and prepare for our posterities a nation that is sustainable, healthy and happy.