LAOAG CITY, Sept. 20 – – The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) inspired the Ilocanos to use their available researches as aid for development studies and policy formulation.
The PIDS, a research institution attached to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), is the state think-tank that organizes various activities to discuss the importance of policy research.
“Our main mandate is to conduct policy research, which is a special type of research focused on providing recommendations and insights for our policymakers and decision makers to use in their policymaking and program planning,” said Dr.Sheila Siar, the director of PIDS’ research information.
To intensify the advocacy campaign on the significance of policy research, the agency conducted a series of nationwide forum to highlight the celebration of the Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) in the month of September.
The annual observance of DPRM every September started in 2003 upon the issuance of Proclamation No. 247 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo upon the recommendation of some members of the research community in September 2002.
On September 16, 2015, a multi-sectoral forum for DPRM celebration in Ilocos region was held at the Northwestern University (NWU) with the presence of students, teachers, representatives from national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) and the media.
The forum for DPRM celebration with a theme: “Effective Regulations for Sustainable Growth” was successfully held through a joint effort of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the PIDS.
“The DPRM is a nationwide advocacy to be effective; to be more relevant for our policies and programs; and to be more responsive to the needs of our people, our policies must have proper evidence,” Siar explained.
She noted that the DPRM theme is very timely because the country needs to adjust its business environment to become more competitive in the impending ASEAN Economic Community integration.
“The regulatory failures and burdens go far beyond businesses, too; but collectively, it diminish the benefits of economic growth and render progress less inclusive and less sustainable by discouraging participation and leaving out potential investors,” she said.
“That’s why, we are advocating for greater; more proactive coordination between national agencies and the local government units in terms of crafting policies for harmonization of national and local policy and regulations,” she added.
Regulatory reform is one way to improve doing business, but it is equally important to invest in best practices at the very beginning of creating a regulation, she added.
The Regulatory Impact Analysis, which evaluates regulation before implementation; and the Regulatory Impact Statement, which communicates results of the evaluation, are the two key tools for systematic way for the government to create policies for regulations. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA- 1 Ilocos Norte)
