Rationale and Objectives

Rationale

As UP’s policy research unit, CIDS is tasked to deliver and contribute to current and pressing policy discussions as they arise. Integral to this is the ability to provide information to the UP President on matters of public policy, which has a bearing on UP’s standing as a premier public university. CIDS is also tasked to be UP’s foremost mechanism in connecting with legislators (Senators and House Representatives) on proposed bills, and with national government agencies (Secretaries or their equivalent) on policy implementation and initiatives. To this end, CIDS needs to establish a catch-all portfolio for projects which could not be accommodated under the existing 17 CIDS programs and place it under the Executive Director who can effectively bridge the unit with these important government stakeholders. In this case, the Executive Director acts like a Convenor for his/her own program.

The Executive Director Special Projects portfolio covers research, stakeholder engagement, and event organizing in the policy areas of security, civil-military relations, energy, water, and gender which are currently not accommodated in the existing CIDS programs. These include initiatives under the Declaration of Cooperation (DOC) agreement with the AFP Office of Strategic Studies and Strategy Management (AFP-OSSSM) and externally-supported projects directly undertaken by the Executive Director. This will also cover partnerships/collaboration with government agencies, SUCs, LGUs, and private entities as directed by the UP President and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Objectives

1. To enter into agreement and implement partnership activities in research, stakeholder engagement, and event organizing around the policy areas of security, civil-military relations, energy, water, and gender with national government agencies, LGUs, private sector, SUCs, and international donors.
2. To undertake policy research, stakeholder engagement, events, and capacity building projects with Senate, House of Representatives, and national government agencies as directed by the UP President and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
3. To implement activities covered under the DOC with AFP OSSSM.

Focal Research Areas

Project 1: Katipunan Conference

Activity Description

This is a 7th iteration of the Katipunan Conference and will be mounted as a 2-day international conference in partnership with Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA). The tentative date is October 2025.

The international conference will feature presentations by keynote and plenary speakers, and paper presentations of scholars and practitioners around the areas of security and economy.

The Katipunan Conference will have an active website for promotion, registration, and book of abstracts. Additional staff wok will be provided by a contracted copy/layout artist who shall work on the website and collaterals. The Strategic Program staff will also assist in secretariat work during the 2-day conference.

Project 2: Stakeholder Forum on the Philippine Self-Reliance Defense Posture Act (SRDP)

Activity Description

UP CIDS in collaboration with AFP OSSSSM will undertake two (2) stakeholder consultation events around Republic Act No. 12024, also known as the “Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act” enacted into law on October 8, 2024. Said law foster a national defense industry to achieve greater self-sufficiency in defense capabilities with provisions for local defense equipment manufacturing, technology transfers, and funding allocations to support its goal. The stakeholder consultations are meant to get a picture of how to reduce foreign dependency and enhance local defense capabilities in building a sustainable defense industry.

The stakeholder forum will invite representatives from the various local industries, DND and AFP units and UP experts on industrial policy and security. One forum will be hosted by AFP OSSSM with their funding; another will be by UP CIDS with funding under the ED Special Projects.

Project 3: Sulu Conference: Lupa’ Sug and the Path Ahlu s-Suluk: International Conference on Sulu History and Power

Activity Description

This is 2nd iteration of the Sulu Zone Conference and will be mounted as a 3-day international conference in partnership with the Office of the UP Vice President for Legal Affairs, UP College of Law, Mindanao State University (MSU) Sulu
and the Bangsamoro Development Institute-UP Mindanao.

The international conference will feature presentations by keynote speaker (Associate Justice Marvin Leonen), and plenary speakers who are scholars and local leaders in Sulu province. The presentation covers various aspects of Sulu’s history, culture, politics, governance and people. Its centrality in the Bangsamoro struggle and the creation of the autonomous government, and the implication’s of its exit from the BARMM will be tackled.

The Sulu Conference will have an active website for promotion, registration, and book of abstracts. Additional staff wok will be provided by a contracted copy/layout artist who shall work on the website and collaterals. The Islamic Studies Program staff will also assist in secretariat work during the 2-day conference.