Case Study - Philippines Metagora Pilot Project

CHAPTER 4: TRAINING FOR FIELD OPERATIONS (page 2)

4.1.3 Training Schedule of the Trainers’ Training

The Trainers’ Training proceeded followed the schedule below:

Date/Day/Time	Activity/Topic	Resoure Person/Trainer
Day 1: February 23, 2005
8:30 – 9:00	Registration
9:00 – 9:05	Invocation	Magdalena C. Bautista Provincial Statistics Officer, NSO Quirino
9:05 – 9:15	Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Participants	Mr. Alfredo D. Batoy Regional Director, NSO-Region I
9:15 – 9:30	Overview of the First-level Training	Ms. Paula Monina G. Collado Deputy Administrator, NSO
9:30 – 10:00	Overview of the Metagora Project	Prof. Rosario D. Jimenez, Metagora project Researcher, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines
10:00 – 10:30	Overview on CHRP and Human Rights	Atty. Edgardo C. Diansuy, Director, NGO and Media Cooperation Office, CHRP
10:30 – 11:00	Break
11:00 – 12:00	Overview on the Rights of IPs	Mr. Felinor Sajonia Chief, Technical Management Services Division, NCIP
12:00	Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:00	Objectives of the Survey Confidentiality of Information Survey Design Survey Organisation and Operations	Ms. Fe Vida N. Dy-Liacco SCO VI, NSCB
2:00 – 3:00	Conducting an Interview General Procedures for Completing the Questionnaire	Ms. Fe Vida N. Dy-Liacco SCO VI, NSCB
3:00 – 3:30	Break
3:30 – 4:30	Instructions on How to Use the Questionnaire – Awareness and Perception	Ms. Margarita Salutan SCO VI, NSCB
4:30 – 5:00	Instructions on How to Use the Questionnaire – Realisation of the Rights of IPs	Ms. Margarita Salutan SCO VI, NSCB
Day 2: February 24, 2005
8:30 –8:35	Opening Prayer	Ms. Villafe P. Alibuyog OIC-PSO, NSO-Benguet
8:35 –10:00	Instructions on How to Use the Questionnaire - Violations of IPs’ Rights, Mechanisms for Grievance and Redress, Customary Laws and Practices	Ms. Margarita Salutan SCO VI, NSCB
10:00 –10:30	Break
10:30 – 12:00	Instructions on How to Use the Questionnaire – Mechanisms and Measures	Ms. Fe Vida N. Dy-Liacco SCO VI, NSCB
12:00	Lunch Break
1:30 – 4:30	Review of the Revised Questionnaire Based on the Comments and Suggestions of the Participants during the first-level training
4:30 – 5:00	Closing Remarks	Atty. Anita B. Chauhan Director, CHRP-Region 1

4.1.4 Training Method

Group or classroom training was applied for the first-level training. This method enables the trainer to receive constant feedback as to how well the trainees are learning; that, in turn, allows the trainer to clarify any confusion as it occurs. This is considered an effective method when many concepts and procedures must be learned and uniformity of training is desired.

The materials and equipment used in the training included:

1. Training kit –(bag, pencil, ball-point pen, notebook)

2. Interviewers’ Manual

3. Sample Questionnaire (PSDIPRAD Form 1)

4. Translated Questionnaires

5. Field Operations Guidelines

6. Supervisors’ Forms (PSDIPRAD Form 3 & 3A)

7. List of Sample Households (PSDIPRAD Form 4)

8. List of Replacement Households (PSDIPRAD Form 4A)

9. Presentation materials (PowerPoint)

10. Laptop/computer and LCD/overhead projector

11. Whiteboard/blackboard, sound system, eraser and marker/chalk

There were exchanges of views, questions and answers, and conciliation between the trainer and the trainees. Conflicting ideas were settled before moving to the next topic. The first-level training was not only the venue for learning the questionnaire and procedures for the survey but also for improving the instruments used for the survey, specifically the questionnaire and the Interviewers’ Manual. As the trainer explained the questions item by item, the trainees reacted when there were obvious inconsistencies in the questions or in the choices of answers. The critique of the questionnaire was encouraged since the use of quality survey instruments will result in an efficient survey operation as well as in the collection of accurate information.

Normally, in training for field operations like the one conducted for the Metagora Pilot Survey, the trainer is the major resource person to share knowledge. But with NSO personnel as trainees, critiquing of the questionnaire and instructions became part of the discussion. The NSO follows standard procedures in preparing survey questionnaires and in pretesting those before use in any field operations. While the NSO was consulted in the preparation of the questionnaires for the pilot survey, it was not responsible for finalisation. Most of the NSO staff involved in the Metagora Pilot Survey, as trainees, were used to conducting surveys and orienting interviewers on how to fill out a questionnaire. Further, the NSO staff raised questions related to the questionnaire format, sequencing/phrasing of questions, and the choices of answers (whether or not they were appropriate or logical). Hence, these inconsistencies or suggestions were raised during the training.

Thus, instead of a mock interview on Day 2, as initially planned, the revised questionnaire was presented for final review by the trainees. Given the changes to the questionnaire, the Interviewers’ Manual also needed to be revised to reflect the changes made in the questionnaire.

A meeting between NSO and Metagora project staff on the schedule and logistics of the project was held on Day 1. During the break on Day 2, the CHRP presided over a dialogue between LGU officials of Kibungan (Municipal Mayor, Councilor Bobby Wayan and ABC President) and the NSO on the issues of recruitment and payment of wages to local interviewers.