The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) will hold a press conference on September 5, 2017, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm, to herald the start of the 15th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM). Spearheaded by PIDS, the DPRM is an annual nationwide celebration held every September to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of policy research in the formulation of development policies, programs, and projects.

This year’s DPRM, with the theme "Strengthening Decentralization for Regional Development" ("Pagpapatibay ng Desentralisasyon Tungo sa Kaunlarang Panrehiyon"), aims to promote a more inclusive and evidence-based discourse on decentralization issues and reforms, including the debates around federalism. It intends to emphasize the importance of policy research in the formulation of appropriate policy interventions to advance the development of our regions.

The press conference panel will be led by PIDS President Gilberto Llanto. Joining him are PIDS Senior Research Fellow Rosario Manasan who will present the Institute’s paper on “Designing the Fiscal Features of a Federal Form of Government in the Philippines", PIA Director-General Harold Clavite, NEDA Undersecretary for Regional Development Adoracion Navarro, and officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance, and Department of Budget and Management. 

This press conference will also be available via live streaming at http://livestreaming.pids.gov.ph.

For more information, please contact the PIDS Public Affairs at tel. nos. 877-4016 (Gizelle) and 877-4019 (Gwen), or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..