Perceptions, prejudices, pragmatisms: ties and bridges at NEDA

Having witnessed firsthand the turbulence that could unfold within the ambit of government service, I remember sharing on my first journal entry how I veered away from going towards that path. More significantly, because of my education (and common sense), I learned to dislike the bureaucracy, the rigid hierarchy, and the slow pace of decision-making associated with it. What I didn’t tell you is the pretext of that (though I think you already know): I don’t like people in the government. The crabby registrars, grumpy secretaries, and questionable officials which, by the way are pretty fair generalizations, are cases on point (don’t get me wrong, there are still good people in the government; you get where I’m coming from, right?). Moreover, the sluggishness that is the result of inefficient infrastructures, misallocated — if not corrupted — funding, and obsolete technology hamper the government’s ability to promptly respond to the needs of its citizens.

But then you look at people (my parents excluded just so I’m less biased) who actually get the work done. I was surrounded by many of that kind this week; and more than gaining technical skills from them, it was the exposition of good character and work ethics that stunned me.

Monday ended and nothing unusual happened so I thought that the rest of the week will just be like that: uneventful. Came Tuesday, and lo and behold, Ericka and I were in a room filled with lawyers and doctors and economists and environmentalists — representatives from the Office of the House Speaker, Regional Directors, agency personnel from DOH, DPWH, DSWD, and EMB! It was during a small group consultation meeting on the conversion of Gov. Bejamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center (GBTRGHSC) into a Center for Infectious Diseases (CID), and on updates regarding the ongoing construction of the Samar Island Medical Center (SIMC) that I got to watch the early stages of project planning and development. There I saw how professionals schemed not only on the construction of the foregoing projects — considering the availability of lot, ownership, budget — but also how to work around foreseeable hindrances and limitations, thereby devising solutions.

Representatives from the Office of the House Speaker, NEDA, RDC, DOH, DPWH, DSWD, and EMB during a meeting on the conversion of GBTRGHSC into a Center for Infectious Diseases in the morning (L) and on updates regarding the ongoing construction of the Samar Island Medical Center in the afternoon (R) at the ADB Room, Tuesday, 18 July 2023.

My fellow intern, Ericka was tasked to present the mechanics and sequence of the proactive consultative sessions. As a Council member, Batch President, and now UP Politikons Supremo (not flexing, I swear), I was struck by how even experts and authorities allot time to clarify the scope of specific meetings to ensure an effective exchange of relevant ideas.

My co-intern and fellow UP student Ericka Quilos (standing in red) presenting the mechanics of the consultation meeting at the ADB Room, Tuesday, 18 July 2023.

There I saw my former Senior High School teacher and a DVOREF Law professor who now works as the Chief Political Affairs Officer of the 1st District of Leyte at the Office of the House Speaker, Atty. Mark Reyes! It has been so long since I saw Atty. Mark and it was truly an honor to reconnect with one of my inspirations for planning to pursue the study of law in the future.

Atty. Mark Reyes (R) representing the Office of the House Speaker at the consultative meetings, Tuesday, 18 July 2023. I took the opportunity of having our photo taken after three years of not seeing each other.

We wrapped that long Tuesday up with a comprehensive assessment of the two meetings, engaging in introspection about the processes, and sharing insights on how to enhance the upcoming gatherings. Immediately after, the Division Chief, Ma’am Gess, requested for all DRD interns to gather at the ADB room for a little catching up. We exchanged pleasantries and updates on how the internship was going. I was able to meet interns from Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and Visayas State University (VSU). I found myself in excellent company.

Interns from UP, EVSU, and VSU sharing their experiences and observation on their time at NEDA with Chief EDS Geselle Zeta and Senior Technical Focal Rommel Ceblano, Tuesday, 18 July 2023.

Soon after, I was assigned a task, second of its nature since my stint at NEDA: write a news article. Irrelevant but I just want to point out how tonic it was to write a straight news. I know that we are shoved into writing academic papers here and there and so we become attuned to its nitty-gritty. Media pieces like this, however, require a distinct tone and style making the experience truly refreshing.

The news article I wrote on the recently held small group consultation regarding the conversion of GBTRGHSC into a Center for Infectious Diseases, and updates on the ongoing construction of SIMC, Tuesday, 19 July 2023. Like the previous media release, Sir Ceb said that this will published on the NEDA website.

On Wednesday, 19 July 2023, the word reached us that the scheduled follow-up focused group discussion (FGD) concerning enrollment, drop-out, and attrition rates in Region VIII is going to be conducted at the ADB Room on that very day. Unlike the previous FGD, we weren’t invited to that session. However, we saw it as an opportune moment since the discussion held immense potential to significantly aid the policy paper that Ericka and I were currently working on. Humbly, we approached our handler, Sir Ceb, and the Division Chief, Ma’am Geselle, to request participation, assuring them that all gathered information would be used solely for the purpose of said paper. Fortunately, they agreed, allowing us entry into the room.

Representatives from NEDA, CHED, and DepEd during the follow-up FGD on the enrollment, drop-out, and attrition rates in Region VIII at the ADB Room, Wednesday, 19 July 2023.

The last task I did this week was to create a Google Form which will be sent out to all agencies, departments, and private-sector representatives in the region, soliciting inputs on the updating an EO, “Providing for the Reorganization of the Regional Development Councils [Repealing Executive Order No. 325, Series of 1996, as Amended by Executive Order №384, series of 1996].”

I feel like this entry is too long already but let me wrap this up by emphasizing how important it is to maintain relationships and foster a sense of community in the workplace. Work, just like academic load, could be so consuming, but it is through these people that you get to kick back, reorganize, and carry on.

Next week ulit!

Us at DRD! Interns from UP, EVSU, and VSU with Senior EDS Ma’am Geselle (L, sitting in red), Senior Technical Focal Sir Ceb (foreground, in red), and DRD officer Ma’am Gladys (R, sitting in red).

It was downtime at the office when us, interns, decided to go around the office. Yes, only UP interns have no uniform HAHA.

I was really serious when I said last entry that I will take and include more photos this week. I know this is so vain of me (I swear this is not my normal self) but while I’m at it, here are fun random pictures I took (of myself! LMAO who am I?). (L-R) The first one was in a café while I was working on some RDC documents, second was at McArthur Park when I decided to take a walk after staring at my laptop screen for the entire day, and lastly, JP in his commuter era (worst part of internship is the commute LOL).