UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies

🌾 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Community-Driven Heritage Preservation in Mayoyao ⛰️🛖

How can indigenous communities balance the economic benefits of tourism while keeping the cultural and ecological integrity of their ancestral landscapes intact? When it comes to safeguarding landmarks like our majestic rice terraces, true sustainability begins with a community-initiated approach.

We are pleased to announce the release of Discussion Paper, "Preserving Mayoyao Heritage: A Community-initiated Approach to Sustainable Heritage-Tourism and LGU Cultural Policy Development in Safeguarding Rice Terraces."

Authored by Io M. Jularbal, Ph.D., this study is published under our Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) X Cordillera Studies Center UP Baguio. It provides a vital look into how local governance and grassroots indigenous initiatives can work hand in hand to protect Ifugao heritage.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🌾 Community-Initiated Preservation: Shifting from top-down conservation models to grassroots strategies where the community takes center stage in safeguarding their ancestral domain.
🗺️ Sustainable Heritage-Tourism: Analyzing frameworks that promote responsible tourism without eroding the sacred traditions and traditional knowledge systems linked to the Mayoyao rice terraces.
🏛️ LGU Cultural Policy Integration: Exploring how local government units (LGUs) can institutionalize and fund sustainable cultural policies built on indigenous voices.
💡 Safeguarding Rice Terraces: Assessing the ecological, institutional, and socio-economic challenges of maintaining agricultural landscapes in changing modern economies.

By strengthening local heritage policy through community empowerment, we can protect our historical landscapes for generations to come.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/preserving-mayoyao-heritage/

🌾 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Security in Benguet 🥕🏔️

How can grassroots strategies and inward-focused policies reshape the future of food security in agricultural communities? Moving beyond global trade reliance, building sustainable food systems starts at the village level.

We are pleased to announce the release of Discussion Paper, "Food Sovereignty as an Inward Policy for Promoting Food and Nutrition Security: A Systematic Review for a Village-Level Case from Benguet, Philippines."

Authored by Reymond Denver Q. Buenaseda, Julieta A. Delos Reyes, and Lady Litz M. Aquino, this paper is published under our Food Security Program (FSP). It takes a close look at the localized dynamics of production, nutrition, and self-reliance in one of the country's premier highland agricultural hubs.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🌾 The Shift to Food Sovereignty: Examining why focusing on community-controlled food systems and localized resources offers a more resilient alternative to traditional, outward-market-dependent models.
🥗 Bridging Production and Nutrition: Analyzing a systemic review of a village-level case in Benguet to map how domestic crop diversity translates into actual household nutrition security.
🚜 Smallholder Challenges: Highlighting the distinct institutional, environmental, and socio-economic hurdles faced by upland farmers in maintaining control over their land and seeds.
💡 Policy Frameworks for Upland Agriculture: Concrete, data-driven recommendations to help local government units (LGUs) design comprehensive, inward-focused agricultural policies that empower local producers.

By strengthening the autonomy of our farming communities, we can ensure a more stable and well-nourished future for the entire nation.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/food-sovereignty-inward-policy-promoting-food-nutrition-security/

LOOK: UPD TTBDO with the UP CIDS Political Economy Program conducted FGD on Spinoffs and the Commercialization of University Research last June 3, 2026 at the SE-301, UP School of Economics.

🗣️ NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Strengthening Mother Tongue Education in Eastern Visayas 📚🏫

What are the real-world challenges of implementing Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), and how can grassroots innovations reshape linguistic policy in our schools?

We are pleased to announce the release of Discussion Paper, "Promoting Linguistic Diversity through Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education in Eastern Visayas: Challenges, Innovations, and Policy Directions." Authored by Voltaire Q. Oyzon and Antonino Salvador S. de Veyra, this paper is published under our Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) in collaboration with the UP Tacloban - Leyte Samar Heritage Center. It offers a critical evaluation of institutional hurdles and local triumphs in safeguarding regional languages within the education system.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🏫 MTB-MLE Implementation Realities: Examining the core institutional, structural, and pedagogical challenges faced by teachers and administrators in Eastern Visayas.
💡 Grassroots Innovations: Showcasing localized strategies, teacher-led adaptations, and community-driven initiatives designed to bridge instructional gaps.
🗺️ Safeguarding Linguistic Diversity: Analyzing how targeted, mother tongue-based frameworks prevent regional linguistic erosion and foster inclusive learning environments.
📋 Strategic Policy Directions: Actionable recommendations for education planners and policymakers to institutionalize better funding, specialized training, and sustainable resource allocation for regional language programs.

By addressing the foundational needs of multilingual classrooms, we can protect our diverse heritage while giving students a stronger start in their educational journey.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/promoting-linguistic-diversity-mother-tongue-based-multilingual-education

📢 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: Governing with Artificial Intelligence 🤖📊

As artificial intelligence and data science rapidly reshape governance, how can we leverage these technologies to build ethical, evidence-based public policies and drive digital transformation in the Philippines?

We are proud to announce the 1st National Conference on Data Science for Public Policy (NCDSPP 2026) themed "Governing with AI: The Role of Data Science and AI in Evidence-Based Public Policy, Ethical Leadership, and Digital Transformation", happening online this November 10–11, 2026.

Co-organized by the UP CIDS Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP), alongside Rizal Technological University's RTU-Center for Data Science and Smart Analytics and the Sen. Neptali A. Gonzales Research Center for Development Studies, this pioneer conference aims to serve as a premier platform for advancing high-impact research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy innovation.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit their abstracts and contribute to critical discussions on AI governance, ethical leadership, and digital transformation.

📅 Important Dates & Details:
Deadline for Abstract Submission: July 15, 2026
Notice of Acceptance: August 19, 2026
Registration Deadline: September 15, 2026

💰 Registration is FREE!

🏆 Perks & Opportunities:
Publication Opportunity: Accepted papers will have the chance to be published in the Philippine Journal of Public Policy (PJPP).
Recognition: A Best Research Paper Award will be presented during the conference.

📥 How to Submit:
Ready to share your research?
📲 Scan the QR code in the poster to access the participation form.
📖 Read the full call guidelines on the website: https://cids.up.edu.ph/call-for-abstracts-governing-ai-role-of-data-science-ai-evidence-based-public-policy-ethical-leadership-and-digital-transformation/

📧 For Inquiries, reach us at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

🐾 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Eradicating Rabies with AI and One Health 🐕📊

Rabies remains a significant public health threat in the Philippines, but what if artificial intelligence could help us eliminate it for good? Intersecting data science with animal, human, and environmental health offers a revolutionary path forward.

We are pleased to release Discussion Paper, "Data for Good: Advancing AI-Powered One Health Approach to Rabies Elimination in the Philippines." Authored by DJ Darwin Bandoy, this paper is published under our Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP). It explores how predictive modeling and machine learning can optimize localized interventions and accelerate the country's target for a rabies-free nation.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🌐 The One Health Approach: Understanding how integrated tracking across veterinary medicine, human healthcare, and environmental factors creates a stronger defense against zoonotic diseases.
🤖 AI-Powered Predictive Modeling: Harnessing machine learning to map out high-risk areas, predict potential outbreaks, and optimize the distribution of vaccines.
📊 Data-Driven Interventions: Transitioning from reactive containment strategies to proactive, resource-efficient disease surveillance at the grassroots level.
💡 Policy Frameworks: Recommendations for localized cross-sectoral collaborations among municipal health offices, veterinary units, and data analysts to institutionalize digital health innovations.

By turning raw data into strategic action, the Philippines can move closer to eliminating rabies and securing healthier communities for both humans and animals.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/data-good-advancing-ai-powered-one-health-approach-rabies-elimination-philippines/

🤝🌍 ACADEME-LGU COLLABORATION: Paving the Way for Sustainable Communities!

The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Malvar have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pioneer collaborative programs targeting solid waste management and public health!

Spearheaded by the Conservation and Biodiversity Program (CBP) of UP CIDS, this strategic partnership aims to deploy innovative, science-driven, and community-centered solutions directly into the Municipality of Malvar.

By merging academic expertise with local governance, UP and LGU Malvar are reinforcing their shared commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity protection, and sustainable public service.

🔗 Read the full story on the link below.

UP and Malvar LGU Sign MOU on Solid Waste Management and Public Health Collaboration - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Malvar and the University of the Philippines (UP) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of collaborative programs on solid waste management, and public health which will be spearheaded by the Conswervation and Biodiversity Progr...

🏥 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Informing Healthcare Choices with a Supply-Side Approach ⚖️📊

How can the Philippines make maximize the impact of its limited health budget? When evaluating whether a new medical intervention or technology is worth funding, establishing a robust, localized cost-effectiveness threshold is essential.

We are pleased to release Discussion Paper, "Estimating the Cost-Effectiveness Threshold for the Philippines: A Supply-Side Approach." Authored by Mac Ardy J. Gloria, Justine Marie M. Mercado, Edrian L. Abagat, and Anne Julienne Genuino-Marfori, this paper is published under our Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP). It offers a vital analytical framework to help health authorities systematically evaluate health expenditures.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚖️ The Supply-Side Approach: Shifting from arbitrary global benchmarks toward an empirical calculation based on the actual budgetary constraints and opportunity costs within the Philippine healthcare system.
📈 Setting the Threshold: Establishing a clear quantitative baseline to assess whether the health gains of a new treatment justify its financial costs to the government.
💡 Health Technology Assessment (HTA): Enhancing evidence-based decision-making for universal healthcare coverage and institutionalizing transparent resource allocation.
📋 Strategic Policy Insights: Actionable tools for health planners and policymakers striving to maximize population health outcomes without overextending national public health funds.

By refining how we measure cost-effectiveness, the country can build a more equitable, efficient, and sustainable healthcare system for all Filipinos.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/estimating-cost-effectiveness-threshold-philippines/

✍️🤝 NEW COHORT | DSPPP Welcomes Research Fellows and Interns!

The Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP) of UP CIDS recently hosted a multi-event milestone day dedicated to evidence-based governance and nurturing the next generation of data scientists.

🔗 Read the full event recap on the link below.

DSPPP Hosts Milestone Event: Internship Orientation, Fellowship Contract Signing, and AI Governance Forum - UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies Tuesday, 26th of May 2026, was an eventful day held by the Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP). In preparation for the June 22-26, 2026 DSPPP Bootcamp on Explainable AI for Public Policy (XAI4PP), DSPPP team started the day with an Internship Orientation attended by Ateneans, Thomas...

🚌 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Jeepney Modernization as an Industrial Strategy 🇵🇭🛠️

The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is often discussed in terms of transport management and environmental impacts. But could it also serve as a strategic catalyst for upgrading the Philippines' local manufacturing and industrial capabilities?

We are pleased to announce the release of Discussion Paper, "Jeepney Modernization as Industrial Strategy: Technological Pathways and Industrial Upgrading in the Philippines." Authored by Honey Bermudez Tabiola, this paper is published under our Political Economy Program (PEP). It shifts the conversation toward an industrial development framework, examining how local vehicle manufacturing can be revitalized through domestic modernization mandates.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚙️ Industrial Strategy Framework: Analyzing the PUVMP not just as a traffic or environmental policy, but as an opportunity for domestic industrial upgrading and technological learning.
🛣️ Technological Pathways: Mapping out the pathways available to local bodybuilders and manufacturers to transition from traditional assembly to advanced, standardized, and safer manufacturing processes.
🛠️ Local Manufacturing Capabilities: Assessing the strengths, structural constraints, and supply chain challenges faced by Filipino enterprises trying to compete with imported modular units.
💡 Policy Alignments: Concrete recommendations on how transport sector modernization can be tightly integrated with national manufacturing policies to generate high-skilled local jobs and foster economic self-reliance.

By aligning public transport needs with localized industrial goals, the Philippines can move toward a manufacturing sector that drives truly sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/jeepney-modernization-industrial-strategy-technological-pathways-industrial-upgrading-philippines/