UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies

A Collaboration for a Deaf-Inclusive Tomorrow

Representatives from Deaf organizations, schools for the Deaf, FSL Advocates, and LGUs across Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, and Metro Manila gathered for the Stakeholders Meeting on June 22, 2026 at UPLB CAS LITE Function Room. The meeting aimed to introduce the project to key stakeholders, present participating organizations and advocates, contextualize local sociolinguistic dynamics, and foster networking and collaboration with the Deaf community.

The UPLB FSL Studies Team under the leadership of Asst. Prof. Nell B. Buenaventura, Asst. Prof. Liberty A. Notare-Balanquit, and Asst. Prof. Jonelle M. Nieto, was awarded a project grant by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies.

The UPLB FSL Studies Team, would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the following organizations, schools, and LGUs that participated in the Stakeholders Meeting:
- UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS)
- UPLB College of Arts and Sciences
- UPLB CAS Department of Humanities
- Lago Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association
- HearThrive Association of the Deaf
- Deaf Association of Quezon Province Inc.
- Federation of the Deaf—Cavite Province, Inc.
- Deaf Evangelistic Alliance Foundation Inc.
- Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO)- San Pedro City
- Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO)- San Pablo City
- Association of Laguna Disability Affairs Officers
- Life of Learning Organization for Peace (LLOoP)
- Filipino Sign Language Network
- Philippine Federation of the Deaf-Board of Southern Luzon
- Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section – Board of Southern Luzon
- Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
- Philippine National Association Sign Language Interpreter Inc.

🔗 Read the full event summary and initiative details on the link below.

FSL ADVOCATES AND DEAF ORGANIZATION ATTEND FIRST STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AT UPLB; FUTURE COLLABORATION ON THE WAY - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies by Mayumi Kristine Perez A Collaboration for a Deaf-Inclusive Tomorrow Los Banos, Laguna – The UPLB CAS LITE Function Room, was alive with vibrant silent conversations on June 22, 2026. Deaf Organizations, Deaf Schools, FSL Advocates, and LGUs around Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, and Metro Manila attend...

🌏 SCIENCE DIPLOMACY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: STRENGTHENING PHILIPPINE ENGAGEMENT IN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Conservation and Biodiversity Program (CBP) is convening a stakeholder forum to address institutionalizing science diplomacy as a cornerstone of Philippine environmental relations.

🔗 Read the full event details on the link below.

Science Diplomacy for Environmental Governance: Strengthening Philippine Engagement in Global Environmental Agreements - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies   “Bridging Science and Diplomacy for Strengthened Environmental Governance” About the Event The Initial Stakeholders’ Meeting marks the formal launch of the project Science Diplomacy for Environmental Governance: Strengthening Philippine Engagement in Global Environmental Agreements. The act...

🌱 NEW POLICY BRIEF: Accelerating Innovation: A Policy Framework for the University of the Philippines Spin-offs 🚀💡

The University of the Philippines possesses a robust research base and a growing portfolio of potentially commercializable technologies, yet establishing sustainable spin-offs remains constrained by institutional gaps rather than a lack of research excellence. How can the University bridge the gap between academic discovery and market-ready ventures?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Policy Brief, "Accelerating Innovation: A Policy Framework for the University of the Philippines Spin-offs." Authored by Magdaleno R. Vasquez Jr. and Leo Mendel D. Rosario, this study is published under our Political Economy Program (PEP). It examines the institutional hurdles of commercialization and proposes a comprehensive policy framework to strengthen UP's innovation and venture-building ecosystem.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Policy Brief:
⚙️ The Commercialization Gap: Moving beyond technology transfer and intellectual property protection to address the absence of an integrated framework for transforming research outputs into sustainable, investment-ready enterprises.
🏝️ Institutional Policy Bottlenecks: Identifying critical gaps—including the lack of a dedicated UP System spin-off policy, fragmented pathways, financing shortages across the "valley of death," and limited entrepreneurial incentives for researchers.
🦀 Venture-Building & Ecosystem Realities: Examining how researchers transitioning into founders navigate complex regulatory processes, pilot manufacturing limitations, and founder-equity uncertainties.
💡 Policy Directions for an Entrepreneurial University: Actionable recommendations centered on establishing a dedicated UP System Spin-off Policy, creating a technology maturation fund, adopting founder-friendly terms, and institutionalizing monitoring systems.

By strengthening these pathways, UP can maximize the public value of its research and contribute more effectively to national competitiveness, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable development.

📖 Download the full policy brief for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/accelerating-innovation-policy-framework-university-philippines-spin-offs/

📢 REPOST | CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: BASIC BOOTCAMP ON EXPLAINABLE AI FOR PUBLIC POLICY

Are you a policymaker, researcher, or public servant in Northern Luzon looking to build your data science and AI capabilities?

Here’s your chance! The UP CIDS Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP), in partnership with the Cordillera Studies Center (CSC), is hosting a 5-day hands-on bootcamp at UP Baguio this August 24–28, 2026.

Learn how to move beyond "black-box" AI models and harness explainable, human-directed data analytics to drive effective, transparent, and accountable public policy.

📍 Event Quick Details:
Topic: Basic Bootcamp on eXplainable AI for Public Policy: Introduction to Data Analytics and its Application to AI and Policy Analytics

Dates: August 24–28, 2026
Venue: UP Baguio
Deadline to Register: August 20, 2026 (or until slots are filled)

👥 Who Should Register?
Faculty, researchers, planners, IT technicians, and public servants from state universities, regional government agencies, and partner organizations across Northern Luzon.

🔗 Register now to secure your slot: bit.ly/2ndBasicBC2026

📧 Questions? Contact [email protected]

Check out the original announcement below for full details and eligibility! 👇

🤖 AI-INFORMED, HUMAN-DIRECTED POLICYMAKING: How can we use Artificial Intelligence to make governance more transparent, accountable, and effective?

The UP CIDS Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP), in partnership with the Cordillera Studies Center UP Baguio, is bringing its specialized 5-day bootcamp to Northern Luzon!

📍 Basic Bootcamp on eXplainable AI for Public Policy: Introduction to Data Analytics and its Application to AI and Policy Analytics
📅 Date: August 24–28, 2026
🏢 Venue: UP Baguio

This intensive training is designed to introduce the foundational mechanics of data analytics and unpack its direct applications to AI and policy analytics. Rather than treating AI like a "black box," participants will explore how to build explainable AI models that keep human oversight at the center of public sector decision-making.

Who is welcome to join?
We invite dedicated professionals across Northern Luzon state universities, regional government agencies, and multi-stakeholder organizations who are committed to strengthening their data capabilities:
- Professors, researchers, and academicians
- Policy-makers and planners
- Database and information technicians
- Public servants and government employees

⚠️ Important Registration Details:
⏰ Deadline: Registration closes on August 20, 2026, or earlier once the maximum participant quota is reached.
🔗 Secure your slot here: bit.ly/2ndBasicBC2026.

For full schedule inquiries and further details, reach out directly to the organizers at [email protected]. You can also scan the QR code in the attached image for quick access to the registration sheet.

🩺 BRIDGING THE GAP: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AI IN PHILIPPINE HEALTHCARE 🤖

As Artificial Intelligence tools begin to enter clinical spaces, how do we ensure that AI integration supports—rather than disrupts—the everyday realities of Filipino healthcare workers?

Healthcare leaders, public health experts, and key decision-makers gathered at the UP CIDS headquarters in Diliman for a crucial stakeholder consultation on an upcoming study measuring the Attitudes, Knowledge, Acceptance, and Perceptions (AKAP) of Filipino healthcare professionals regarding AI!

🔗 Read the full feature and learn more about the AKAP AI project on the link below.

Bridging the Gap: Stakeholder Perspectives on AI in Philippine Healthcare - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies Lisa Traboco, MD   On July 10, healthcare leaders, policymakers and public health experts gathered at the University of the Philippines (UP), Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) at the Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman. They came together for a crucial stakeholder consultation for an upc...

🏥 BRIDGING DIGITAL HEALTH GAPS: AI FOR HEALTH EQUITY 🩺

Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, Convenor of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Program on Health Systems Development (PHSD), was at the international Forum on Harnessing AI for Health Equity!

Organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the high-level regional forum brought together policymakers, health leaders, and academic experts across Asia-Pacific at ADB Headquarters.

🔗 Read the event recap on the link below.

Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan at the ADB-WHO Forum on Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Health Equity - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, convenor of UP CIDS’ Program on Health Systems Development, during the Forum on Harnessing AI for Health Equity, held on 25–26 March 2026 at the ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines. Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, convenor of UP CIDS’ Program on Health Systems Development...

🚀 The Katipunan Conference is here!

The future of the nation is being shaped right now—and you're invited to be part of the conversation.

The 8th Katipunan Conference returns on 22 October 2026 at Miriam College, bringing together top-tier scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, and practitioners to tackle the critical issues defining the Philippines' path forward.

🎟️ Admission is FREE and open to the public!

💡 This Year's Theme:
"Philippine Strategic Outlook 2030: Policy, Power, and Partnerships at the Business-Government Nexus"

As the global and domestic landscape shifts rapidly, we are zooming in on the strategies that matter most. Expect high-impact discussions on:
🛡️ Regional security & political warfare
📦 Supply chain & resource resilience
💻 Digital threats in a hyper-connected world
🤝 Public–private partnerships driving national strength

📌 Calling All Accepted Presenters!
The results for the Call for Abstracts are officially out!
Action Required: Please submit your first draft papers on or before 10 August 2026.

🌐 Powered by Collaboration
Proudly organized by Miriam College (formerly Maryknoll) , in partnership with:
- UP CIDS Strategic Studies Program
- Ateneo School of Government
- With support from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines

📬 Get in Touch
Have questions or need more info? Reach out to the Conference Secretariat at [email protected].

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and let’s shape Outlook 2030 together! 👇

🌱 NEW PROCEEDINGS: Forging a People's Alternative Regionalism 🌊✊

Mainstream regional integration models are often critiqued for prioritizing elite-driven corporate profits and market expansion over the actual needs of citizens. But how can grassroots movements and civil society organizations build a genuine, people-led alternative from below?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Proceedings, "Forging a People's Alternative Regionalism: Preliminary discussion on the history of the regional solidarity movement in Southeast Asia." Prepared by our Program on Alternative Development (AltDev), this volume traces the institutional history, strategic evolution, and conceptual framework of the Conference on Alternatives in Southeast Asia and the birth of the Movement for Alternatives and Solidarities in Southeast Asia (MASSA).

🔍 Key Highlights from the Proceedings:
⚙️ A People-Led Counter-Framework: Examining how civil society networks are challenging state-centric, market-driven regionalism through cross-border solidarities and the People-to-People (P2P) exchange model.
🏝️ Evolution of Regional Conferences: Documenting four landmark regional conferences—from mapping grassroots alternatives across economic, political, social, and cultural pillars to active movement-building and alternative practice development.
🦀 Core Societal Pillars & P2P Models: Exploring alternative practices rooted in social solidarity economies, communal food production, participatory local governance, and community-led mutual aid that put people and planet first.
💡 Pathways for Regional Solidarity: Actionable insights on shifting from conventional state lobbying to sustained cross-border collaboration, expanding regional databases of alternatives, and strengthening grassroots autonomy.

By documenting the historical foundations and practical strategies of regional solidarity movements, these proceedings offer a vital roadmap for communities striving toward transformative, inclusive development.

📖 Download the full proceedings for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/forging-peoples-alternative-regionalism-preliminary-discussion-history-regional-solidarity-movement-southeast-asia/

🌱 NEW POLICY BRIEF: Articulating Risk and Resilience: DRR Policy Implications at the Barangay Scale 🌊📈

Mainstream disaster risk reduction often treats hazards as isolated, episodic events, focusing heavily on technical compliance and physical infrastructure while overlooking the social inequalities that compound everyday risks. But how can local governance better align with the actual realities of vulnerable communities?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Policy Brief, "Articulating Risk and Resilience: DRR Policy Implications at the Barangay Scale." Authored by Ma. Simeona Martinez, this study is published under our Program on Alternative Development (AltDev). It examines how decentralized disaster governance under Republic Act No. 10121 can move beyond business-as-usual approaches to embrace equity, everyday resilience, and community-led solutions.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Policy Brief:
⚙️ Cumulative Risk vs. Episodic Hazards: Moving away from viewing disasters merely as isolated shocks by analyzing how land utilization, informality, and socioeconomic marginalization structurally produce risk over time.
🏝️ Barangay-Scale Realities & Constraints: Highlighting how grassroots frontliners face severe resource limitations, heavy administrative burdens, and structural inequalities that redistribute risk toward the most vulnerable.
🦀 Everyday Resilience & Organic Coping: Documenting how communities—such as densely populated urban neighborhoods like Barangay Tatalon—actively deploy grassroots survival strategies, informal communication networks, and local knowledge long before formal help arrives.
💡 Policy Directions for People-Centered DRR: Actionable recommendations on reframing resilience around systemic inequalities, institutionalizing participatory risk assessments, expanding barangay indicators to capture community-led practices, and allocating local funds for grassroots initiatives.

By bridging the gap between institutional mandates and everyday lived experiences, we can foster genuinely inclusive disaster governance that protects both our communities and marginalized sectors.

📖 Download the full policy brief for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/articulating-risk-resilience-drr-policy-implications-barangay-scale/

🤝 EXPANDING ACADEMIC SPACES & COLLABORATION AT UP

Strengthening inter-unit research synergies within the University system, the UP Korea Research Center and the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) have formalized a spatial agreement!

This partnership and co-location agreement optimizes physical research infrastructure within the UP System, fostering stronger interdisciplinary collaboration and shared academic resources between UP CIDS and UP KRC.

By bridging institutional spaces, this agreement paves the way for deeper research coordination and impactful public service across the university community.

🔗 Read the full feature on the spatial agreement below.

UP KRC and UP CIDS Formalize Spatial Agreement Under the OVPRI - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — Demonstrating a shared commitment to interdisciplinary research, academic collaboration, and institutional growth, the University of the Philippines Korea Research Center (UP KRC) and the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) officially formalized t...