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UP CIDS Wrapped 2024: Advancing Research, Strengthening Collaborations, and Enhancing Operations

The University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Core Staff has laid out its Strategic Plan for 2023-2029 in 2024, aiming to enhance research collaboration and institutional development under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Hall.

Key initiatives include the restructuring of UP CIDS to support multi-year research projects (2024-2026), fostering partnerships with national and local agencies, and streamlining operational procedures through an updated Handbook and Quality Management System (QMS). 

In 2024, three new programs were launched:

  • Conservation and Biodiversity Program (CBP)

This program aims to assess the policy impact of biodiversity in terms of meeting the principles of ecological integrity and sustainability through its framework under the post-normal science paradigm. The team is led by Dr. Benjamin Vallejo from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines Diliman.

  • Food Security Program (FSP)

Led by Dr. Maria Angeles Catelo as convenor, the FSP aims to address challenges in food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability over time. The program currently houses faculty and staff based in or affiliated with the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

  • The Urban Studies Program (USP)

The USP aims to compile a collection of urban research projects conducted by three constituent units of the University of the Philippines System from the Visayas and Mindanao. These projects, led by their respective project leaders and fellows, focus on addressing key urban issues and concerns in the cities of these regions.

Additionally, the Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) was revived, expanding to UP Baguio, Cebu, and Visayas. The network will also be joined by a team from UP Tacloban, and UP Mindanao this 2025.

UP CIDS also saw significant growth in its online database, adding 84 new publications, bringing the total to 1,126. It was recognized as a Top 5 Contributor to the Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) in 2024. The organization also improved its reach through its mailing list subscription with 6,542 members. 

These initiatives reflect UP CIDS’s commitment to advancing policy research, fostering collaborations, and strengthening its role as a hub for academic excellence.