The International Learning Course (ILC) is one of the components of the DAP’s CBILLS Program that provides a unique opportunity for legislative staff and officers to gain insights into best practices and current approaches to the legislative process and public sector leadership, as well as to the various innovative governance measures that the mission country is known for. It also serves as a platform for information exchange where participants can discuss and share best practices, innovations, and reforms, allowing cross-fertilization of ideas.

To meaningfully harness the knowledge generated during the course, the development of a discussion or analytical paper that delves into any topics and knowledge exchange sessions delivered, offers a valuable opportunity to capitalize on the course learnings and contribute to the area or field. This series aims to synthesize lessons drawn from the resource speakers’ presentations, dialogue with legislative counterparts, participants’ reports, and offer a critical analysis of the elements observed- whether in the legislative system and operations, policy reform, or innovative governance – that the Philippines may choose to adopt, adapt, or rethink.

This paper series not only validates the importance of the ILC as an educational and capacity-building initiative but also demonstrates its practical value in advancing legislative excellence and policy discourse. By bridging the gap between knowledge and application, it reinforces the ILC’s role as a catalyst for institutional growth and policy excellence.





Lessons from Japan: Reflections on Lawmaking under Parliamentary and Presidential Systems

Sheena Carmina V. Mateo
22 May 2026

In 2018, Japan was chosen as the pilot mission country for the ILC component of the CBILLS program. It was selected because it has a bicameral legislative system and has long been recognized for its political stability and good governance, making it a fitting model for study in Asian region.

Since then, Japan has remained one of the CBILLS Program’s mission countries, including three online runs during the pandemic years. However, given the differences in the program design and topic coverage between in-person and online ILC sessions, this paper focuses on drawing insights from eight mission reports from the three in-person ILC sessions in Japan in 2018, 2019, and 2023.

Drawing from the lectures shared by the resource persons and the reflections of participants shared in their mission reports, supplemented by academic literature, several recurring themes emerged that form the basis of this paper’s outline and provide the foundation for the comparative reflections in this paper.

As one of the key learning topics of the ILC, this paper reflects on the lawmaking process of Japan, compares it to that of the Philippines, and explores what the Philippines might adapt, adopt, or rethink. The analysis suggests that, despite the structural and systemic differences between the two countries, several elements of Japan’s legislative system offer valuable lessons that can inform and improve legislative practices in the Philippines. Continue reading…