QUEZON CITY -- To be able to cope with the ongoing pandemic and prepare for the next crisis, the country needs to reset and rebuild toward a better normal.
 
This is the overarching message of this year’s Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) celebration, which carries the theme “Reset and Rebuild for a Better Philippines in the Post-Pandemic World”, or in Filipino, “Muling Magsimula at Magtayo Tungo sa Mas Matatag na Pilipinas Pagkatapos ng Pandemya”.
 
The DPRM is celebrated every September to promote nationwide awareness of the importance of policy research in crafting evidence-based policies, plans, and programs, pursuant to Malacanang Proclamation 247 signed in 2002. The same proclamation designates the Philippine Institute for Development Studies as lead coordinator of the yearly DPRM celebration.
 
This year’s theme underscores the message that to be able to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic and create a better Philippines, we need to reset our paradigms and practices by balancing the interests of people, profit, and planet or by placing equal importance on economic, social, and environmental well-being and sustainability. Toward this end, the government, business sector, academe, civil society, and the general public should work together in pursuing a shared vision of an equitable, sustainable, and resilient post-pandemic Philippines.

To formally launch the DPRM celebration, a virtual forum will be held on September 2, where speakers from various sectors will share their insights on how to promote ethical business and green and inclusive recovery and develop a robust and healthy workforce to rebuild the country from the pandemic.
 
Among the presenters are PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Adoracion M. Navarro, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director for Corporate Governance and Finance Department Atty. Rachel Esther J. Gumtang-Remalante, National Resilience Council Technical Working Group Member and Manila Observatory Senior Research Fellow Dr. Rosa T. Perez, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay, and Jollibee Foods Corporation Chief Human Resources Officer Mr. Arsenio Sabado.
 
Other activities lined up for the DPRM month-long celebration are the Mindanao Policy Research Forum (MPRF) and the Annual Public Policy Conference (APPC).
 
The MPRF is an annual forum organized by PIDS and the Mindanao Development Authority, in partnership with a local university in Mindanao. This year, the 7th MPRF will be jointly organized by PIDS and MinDA in collaboration with Caraga State University. In unison with the DPRM theme, this year’s MPRF theme is “Reset and Rebuild for a Better Mindanao in the Post-Pandemic World”.
 
As in previous years, there will be a series of webinars for the APPC. These webinars will be held on September 14, 16, 21, and 23. The series will highlight presentations from foreign and local experts on topics such as ‘resetting capitalism’, ‘ethical business’, ‘green and inclusive recovery’, and ‘robust and healthy workforce’.
 
The APPC is the main and culminating activity of the DPRM. It convenes foreign and local experts, researchers, policymakers and representatives from government, private sector, and civil society in an evidence-based discourse of current and emerging development issues.

Moreover, government agencies, local government units, and the general public are also encouraged to participate in the DPRM celebration by displaying the physical banner of DPRM 2021 in their office premises or the electronic banner on their official websites and social media pages; reposting and sharing DPRM promotional videos, infographics, and related announcements on their websites and social media pages; encouraging their personnel to visit the DPRM website and the APPC subsite and to follow PIDS on its social media pages; joining all DPRM virtual events such as the virtual kick-off forum and the APPC webinar series; and organizing virtual activities/events (e.g., webinars) that may be relevant to the theme or to policy research.
 
Chaired by PIDS, the DPRM Steering Committee consists of various government agencies, with the National Economic and Development Authority, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Civil Service Commission, Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department, Philippine Information Agency, Presidential Management Staff, and the Senate Economic and Planning Office as permanent members. This year’s additional members include the Climate Change Commission, DOLE, and SEC.
 
Details of this year’s theme and activities are available on the DPRM website at http://dprm.pids.gov.ph. The public may also check PIDS’ social media accounts at https://www.facebook.com/ PIDS.PH/ and https://twitter.com/PIDS_PH for more information and updates.
 
Everyone is also encouraged to use the hashtags #DPRM2021ResetRebuild, #DPRM2021BetterPhilippines, #EthicalBusiness, #GreenandInclusiveRecovery, #RobustandHealthyWorkforce to promote the DPRM theme. (PIDS)