UPCIDS joins the celebration of the 23rd DPRM
The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UPCIDS) joins the celebration of the 23rd Development Policy Research Month (DPRM). DPRM is organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
The Philippines is looking to the future of public administration with a critical eye, as the nation’s 23rd Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) centers on the theme, “Reimagining Governance in the Age of AI” or “Muling Pagpapakahulugan sa Pamamahala sa Panahon ng AI.” This year’s focus addresses one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time: integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into public governance. The celebration aims to foster a strong culture of research and data-driven policymaking to navigate the complex landscape of this technological revolution.
Declared by Proclamation No. 247 in September 2002, the DPRM highlights the crucial role of policy research in the country’s socioeconomic progress. The proclamation underscores the need to “promote, enhance, instill, and draw awareness and appreciation of the importance and necessity of policy research” in development planning and policymaking. The annual event is designed to cultivate a strong culture of using data and evidence among national and local decision-makers. It also serves to raise public literacy on key socioeconomic issues.
PIDS serves as the overall coordinator for the DPRM. For over 45 years, PIDS has been at the forefront of policy research, assisting policymakers in crafting evidence-based development plans and programs. The institute has produced more than 800 studies on a wide range of topics and collaborates closely with government agencies, academic institutions, and international organizations. Their research outputs are widely disseminated through various publications, conferences, and knowledge portals like the Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines.
Throughout the years, the DPRM has focused on pressing national concerns and emerging issues. For example, the 2009 theme was on climate change, a topic that was just beginning to be recognized as a major challenge in the country. This tradition continues with this year’s theme on AI governance.
AI offers immense potential for transforming public services, from streamlining government operations to enabling smarter, more efficient policies. However, its integration also raises critical concerns that need to be carefully managed. Issues such as algorithmic bias, labor displacement, opaque decision-making, and deepening inequality must be addressed to ensure that AI serves the public good and does not exacerbate existing societal problems.
This year’s DPRM celebration will focus on rethinking current practices and strategies to harness the opportunities of AI while managing its risks. By fostering informed discussion and evidence-based policymaking, the Philippines aims to intelligently navigate the complexities of AI, ensuring its application leads to a more effective, equitable, and intelligent public sector.
UPCIDS is one with PIDS in celebrating this month-long event. UPCIDS has long been a partner of PIDS via its Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P). SERP-P is an online repository of socioeconomic materials where over 9000 materials are uploaded and accessible for free.
For more information about this year’s DPRM and activities related to it, visit:https://dprm.pids.gov.ph/