Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center

02/10/2026

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 72 faculty researchers get capacitated by global experts

The Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension headed by Dr. Jocelyn L. Absolor conducted a three-day Intensive Workshop on Research, Scientific Publication, and University Excellence at the RDETC Building, ISPSC Main Campus from September 29 to October 1, 2026.

The workshop featured experts from GHF University Excellence, led by Prof. Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III, Chief Scientific Officer; Jerico B. Ogaya, National Program Manager; alongside Prof. Joseph Kibombo Balikuddembe, Associate Professor, Sichuan University - Institute for Disaster Management; and Prof. Thijs Kouwenhoven, Associate Professor at Sichuan University - Institute for Disaster Management. It was attended by faculty researchers from the different campuses, as well as representatives from the various ISPSC research centers, who actively participated in the discussions, sessions, and hands-on activities throughout the workshop.

Anchored on the theme: “Strengthening Research Productivity, Scientific Publication, Institutional Reputation, and Global University Competitiveness”, the activity aimed to equip ISPSC personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to develop and enhance high-quality research outputs aligned with Scopus-indexed publication standards.

ISPSC President Mario P. Obrero underscored the importance of strengthening the institution’s research culture and publication performance as the College continues to advance toward universityhood.

“As a higher education institution, our research is not meant to sit idly on library shelves; it is a catalyst for real-world change” Dr. Obrero emphasized.

During the intensive workshop, participants were guided on strategies for developing a research-intensive, globally competitive, and impactful university. Sessions covered the role of research in university excellence, the development of a globally competitive research agenda, strategies for strengthening research productivity, and approaches to increasing publication outputs in reputable and internationally recognized journals.

As part of the workshop, research concept papers underwent hands-on assessment and review, providing participants with expert insights and recommendations to further improve their studies and align their research outputs with Scopus-indexed publication standards.

The initiative reflects ISPSC’s continuing commitment to advancing its goal of becoming a research powerhouse in the Philippines, complementing its efforts to become the University of Ilocos Philippines.

Recently, the institution ranked second among state colleges nationally in overall Scopus Output for September 2026 according to research analytics data released by GHF University Excellence.

Through activities such as this workshop, the Office of the Vice President for Research Development and Extension continues to support and empower faculty researchers in producing high-quality, relevant, and impactful research that contributes to the global body of knowledge, while strengthening the institution’s research ecosystem and advancing its pursuit of universityhood.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘰 𝘑𝘶𝘢𝘯, 𝘌𝘳𝘺𝘭𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘦 𝘘. 𝘛𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘰, 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘩 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘯, 𝘋𝘳. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘪𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪 𝘘. 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘨

07/07/2026

06/07/2026

𝗔 𝗢𝗡𝗘-𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗡𝗢 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣: 𝗔 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘-𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
This celebratory post documents the annual commemoration of the birth of 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗣. 𝗢𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗼, SUC President III of the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College. Employing a descriptive-celebratory design, the study examined the occurrence of a presidential milestone within its institutional context. Findings confirm a one-year increase in chronological age, consistent with the expected annual temporal progression. Despite this observed increase, leadership, commitment to public service, and institutional stewardship remain positively evident. The findings further indicate a continuing trajectory of service toward advancing the mandates and aspirations of the College.

The post concludes that the occasion merits PAGPRC recognition and celebration. Accordingly, the researchers recommend the immediate administration of birthday greetings, well wishes, and celebratory messages. Continued annual observation is likewise recommended to document succeeding milestones and emerging longitudinal trends.

𝗞𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀: birthday, leadership, public service, institutional stewardship, presidential milestone

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center. (2026). A one-year increase in chronological age with no observed decline in leadership: A descriptive-celebratory study of a presidential milestone [Unpublished celebratory study]. Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College.

Decision: ACCEPTED AS IS. No revisions required.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼! (𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗣𝗥𝗖, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲)

15/06/2026

As the new list of Scopus-indexed journals are out now, I made a non-exhaustive list of Scopus-indexed journals based in or published by institutions in Southeast Asia that have no article processing charges/publication fees. I have not included Indonesian and Singaporean journals yet as they have so many journals to explore.

To access the list, scan the QR code below or press the link in the comment section.

14/06/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗿. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗚. 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿!

Your dedication to advance research and strengthen public administration continues to contribute significantly to the growth and development of our institution and the communities we serve.

On this special day, we extend our warmest greetings and sincere appreciation for your contributions to Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College. May this year bring you continued success, good health, and fulfillment in all your endeavors.

Greetings from ISPSC President Mario P. Obrero and the ISPSC community.

04/06/2026

𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗣𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔 | 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗬: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

The Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center (PAGPRC) of Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College proudly presents its institutional research agenda anchored on the 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗬 Framework—a strategic governance research framework that guides the Center's pursuit of relevant, responsive, and transformative knowledge production for public administration, governance, and policy development.

The TARABAY Framework serves as the intellectual foundation of PAGPRC's research, extension, innovation, and policy initiatives through seven thematic pillars:

𝗧 – Transformative Governance
Advancing research on good governance, ethical leadership, institutional reform, transparency, accountability, and responsive public institutions.

𝗔 – Adaptive Innovation
Exploring digital governance, emerging technologies, public sector innovation, organizational resilience, and future-ready governance systems.

𝗥 – Responsive Policy Research
Generating evidence-informed studies that support policy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

𝗔 – Accountable Institutions
Promoting institutional integrity, performance excellence, compliance mechanisms, transparency, and responsible public service.

𝗕 – Bayanihan Partnerships
Strengthening collaboration among government, academe, industry, communities, and development partners toward collective action and shared responsibility.

𝗔 – Advocacy for Social Equity
Advancing research on inclusion, human rights, gender equality, accessibility, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized sectors.

𝗬 – Yielding Sustainable Impact
Focusing on sustainability, resilience, environmental stewardship, SDG localization, community empowerment, and long-term public value creation.

Through TARABAY, PAGPRC reaffirms its commitment to producing research that transcends academic inquiry and contributes directly to governance innovation, institutional development, and sustainable community transformation.

Guided by research.
Driven by service.
Committed to governance excellence.

04/06/2026

26/05/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗣𝗥𝗖.

The Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center (PAGPRC) of Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College stands as the University’s policy and governance research hub committed to advancing responsive public administration, institutional development, and evidence-based governance.

Established through 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟭𝟳𝟱𝟱, particularly Section 20(g), PAGPRC is mandated to focus on the generation of knowledge and the creation of policies aimed at improving the public service sector of society.

Grounded on research, transparency, innovation, and institutional collaboration, PAGPRC aspires to become a dynamic platform for governance discourse, policy development, and transformative public sector initiatives in the region and beyond.

Research that informs.
Policies that matter.
Governance that serves.

𝘈𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦!

26/05/2026

𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧
𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗚. 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗠𝗣𝗔
Director, Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center (PAGPRC)

Young leadership, when grounded on purpose, research, and public service, becomes a powerful force for institutional transformation. Leading the Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center (PAGPRC) is Mr. Kenedy G. Flores, whose vision for the Center is anchored on responsive governance, policy innovation, and research that genuinely serves communities.

As Director, he oversees the overall direction, strategic partnerships, research initiatives, extension engagements, and institutional development efforts of PAGPRC — ensuring that the Center remains committed to producing relevant, evidence-based, and people-centered governance solutions.

Under his leadership, PAGPRC continues to position itself as a platform for policy discourse, governance innovation, and transformative public administration grounded on the values of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and service.

Because research becomes more meaningful when it moves beyond publication — and begins creating real impact for institutions and communities.

𝘈𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦!

26/05/2026

𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧
𝗖𝗹𝘆𝗱𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗖. 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗠𝗔𝗘𝗱-𝗦𝗦
Chief, Governance, Transparency, & Accountability Division

Good governance thrives where transparency is practiced, accountability is upheld, and public trust is protected. Leading this important mandate in the Public Administration and Governance Policy Research Center (PAGPRC) is Mr. Clyde Jesly C. Santiago, whose work centers on strengthening ethical governance and institutional integrity.

As Chief of the Governance, Transparency, & Accountability Division, he helps oversee initiatives related to governance monitoring, transparency mechanisms, accountability systems, compliance strengthening, and the promotion of responsible public administration practices across programs and partnerships.

Through his leadership, the division continues to advocate for governance that is not only efficient, but also principled, participatory, and grounded on public trust.

Because institutions become stronger when governance remains transparent, accountable, and people-centered.

𝘈𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦!