The Competition
The youth have always been lauded for their insatiable passion to imagine the possible. In responding to problems ranging from the traffic situation in the NCR to the worldwide refugee crisis, voices of this generation have not failed to give the most optimistic and cutting-edge alternatives to traditional solutions. It is in this spirit of idealism and ingenuity that the UP Political Society conceived Blueprint: A Public Policy Competition. Its past versions presented a wide-range of policy proposals from addressing the problems of sustainable economic development last 2015 to strengthening our electoral institutions in 2016.
To build our nation, our passion must be translated into plans, and our plans for nation building must begin with a Blueprint. This 2017, UP POLSCI remains in its vision of fielding innovators and game changers of the system. This year’s competition continues to encourage increased participation of the youth in the policymaking process as stakeholders and citizens, concerned foremost with the future we are collectively constructing for the Philippines. This is also an avenue for learning about the rigors of the policy process and the skill of analyzing policies. Often told that we have too many ideas and too loose a grasp on reality, we confront this charge with no less than concrete and critical propositions that prove our invaluable contribution to the strength vitality of civil society.
The Theme
Last year, we dared to change the rules of the game, on its third year, the competition will run under the theme: “Pushing Forward: Zeroing in on the Drug Problem.” Following along the crusade of the administration towards peace and order, we have witnessed how the drug war’s struggle against the problem has drastically transformed Philippine society and its very institutions. Many debates ensued regarding the most appropriate means towards fully eradicating drugs, and consequently, the criminality that ransacked this country’s concord along with it. The reality of the situation begs importance as we see bodies piling up and tokhang operations continuing blindly – without a future in sight. This year’s theme for Blueprint 3.0 seeks to confront this problem by engaging the ideas of the youth in creating policies that will best institutionalize solutions that will go beyond the administration’s promise of six years. Blueprint believes in the capacity of the youth to harness their observations in reality towards taking that brave step of action. The competition then aims to pursue the pioneering ideas that will actuate the promises of peace for every Filipino, whoever, and wherever they may be.
Mechanics
• Qualifications: Groups of three to five (3 to 5) representatives from senior high school to college may join the competition. There is no registration fee.
• Pitching the Policy Idea. Each group must submit a 300-500 word abstract of their proposed policies, answering the theme of the competition (Solving the Drug Problem). The abstract must contain the following: 1.) Title, 2.) Rationale. Examines the drug problem or a specific aspect (either of local or national application) the policy wishes to solve, 3.) Significance. Describes why the country need the policy, and 4.) Policy Recommendation. Briefly explains the main components of the policy.
• The Selection Panel. A panel will screen the abstracts and select the best twenty (20). This panel is composed of a professor of political science, a professor of public administration, and an official from a nongovernment organization focusing on the protection of human rights.
• The Top Twenty. The twenty selected teams will be given time to expand their abstracts into more substantiated policy pitches. The blueprint team will send an email to the teams for further instructions regarding the next round.
• #Blueprint Competition. Each group must defend their policy pitch before a panel and the audience during the conference day, May 6, 2017. The panel for the final round will be formed by a professor of public administration, an official from a local government unit and an official from a civil society organization.
For more information, please do not hesistate to email [email protected] or contact Ernest Mandap at +639274050827.
On its third year, the Blueprint Competition will run under the theme: “Pushing Forward: Zeroing in on the Drug Problem.” Submit your entries to [email protected] on or before April 29, 2017.
