As part of its Capacity Building Program, the Bureau of Labor Relations conducted a series of learning sessions for the BLR employees. The learning sessions aimed at enhancing the skills of the BLR personnel in performing their duties and responsibilities towards efficient and effective delivery of services to the public. The topics include Basic Public Speaking and DOLE Code of Conduct.

Mr. Raymond Rodis of Aspire PH conducted a workshop on Basic Public Speaking. Mr. Rodis, a graduate of BA Public Administration with honors from UP Diliman and former Student Council Chairperson of the National College of Public Administration and Governance and former Councilor of the University Student Council, is the founder of Aspire PH, a start-up training company. Mr. Rodis discussed the basic principles of good communication skills e.g. confidence in delivering a speech, techniques and styles in presentation, connection with the audience, and handling of different questions. He emphasized the “Ethos, Pathos, and Logos”, which means “Credibility, Emotion, and Logic” respectively, as the three important factors in public speaking.

Meanwhile, the second learning session was on the DOLE Code of Conduct, facilitated by Ms. Jovelyn Basas and Mr. John Christopher Lapiz of the BLR. They discussed the guidelines and parameters for DOLE officials and employees to meet the highest standards of integrity and excellence in the performance of their duties as public servants. In her presentation, Ms. Basas quoted Benjamin Disraeli, “Circumstances are beyond human control but our conduct is in our own power”.

The learning sessions enabled the participants to gain additional knowledge and enhance their skills in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as public servants. (Kim Margarette B. Martinez)