UP, NGOs launch FVR fellowship program

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), in partnership with non-government organizations the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and The FVR Legacy Initiative, yesterday launched a fellowship program on governance in honor of former president Fidel Ramos.

Dubbed “LEAD4R Fellowship Program on Advanced Governance and Leadership for Public Sector Reform,” the program is open to top executives and emerging leaders in the government, civil society organizations and private sector.

The fellowship program, which will run for 10 months, will be implemented by the UP-NCPAG’s Center for Leadership Citizenship and Democracy in collaboration with the MAP and FVR Legacy.

The program serves as an “advanced governance and leadership course” for continuing professional education, UP-NCPAG said in a press statement.

The UP-NCPAG said the program would include a comprehensive study of the leadership principles of Ramos, especially in terms of democratic stability and economic development.

“The economic growth that he thought to be the true foundation for democratic reform defined his presidency, both in his home country and internationally,” the UP-NCPAG said.

“The 10-month non-degree executive program will equip participants with results-oriented leadership tools, holistic and critical thinking skills, a collaborative mindset for problem-solving, and a ‘bibingka’ approach to policy and program implementation,” it added.

The “bibingka principle” was introduced by Ramos during his presidency in the 1990s, wherein he likened achieving economic growth to cooking the Filipino rice cake.

Ramos said that for the country’s progress or economic development, represented by the bibingka, the top and bottom fire of the oven are crucial – the top fire representing the government efforts and the bottom fire representing the private sectors’ cooperation and initiatives.

For more details about the program, interested applicants may contact NCPAG staff members Melissa Digo vial email at [email protected] or Trisha Serrano at [email protected].