Bangsamoro Youth Commission completes policy research and public policy development course at ASoG

The Ateneo School of Government through the Executive Education Program and in partnership with the Ateneo Bangsamoro Initiative (a program under the Ateneo Policy Center) conducted an in-person two-day training course on Policy Research and Public Policy Development last 22 to 23 April 2025 for the officials and staff of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC). The training aimed to enhance BYC's capacity to craft responsive, evidence-based policies to address the needs of Bangsamoro youth. The program was facilitated through a mix of lectures, discussions, and hands-on workshops that guided participants through the foundations of the policymaking process, research methodologies, and formulation of concrete policy proposals.

The participants include BYC Commissioners, officials, and staff members. Among them were Chairperson Nasserudin Dunding, Commissioners Pratima Sabal-Samsaraji, Muhammad Faizal Alih, and Hamdie Tanjil, Executive Director Zairnee Salic, and several staff members from the Offices of the Commissioners.

The sessions were led by Dr Janet S Cuenca, a faculty member of ASoG and an expert in policy research. With over two decades of experience in government and the academe, Dr Cuenca provided expert guidance on the policy cycle, research frameworks, and strategic use of data in policymaking. She also facilitated a write-shop where participants applied what they had learned by drafting policy proposals tailored to the Bangsamoro context.

Ms Sharon Grace S Yabut, Head of the Executive Education Program, emphasized in her opening message to the participants to apply three powerful lenses in their analysis during policy work: Anticipatory Governance, Ethical Leadership, and Futures Thinking. These are valuable in shaping their mindset as young policy influencers.

In his closing message, ASoG Dean Philip Arnold Tuaño encouraged the participants to bring with them the knowledge and tools they gained from the training and apply them within their organization. He emphasized that policy grounded in research and democratic values can help promote good governance, leading to better outcomes for the youth of Bangsamoro.