ANNUAL REPORT

PIDS 2020 Annual Report: Bouncing Back Together: Innovating Governance For The New Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic did not deter the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) from pursuing its mission of providing relevant, reliable, and timely policy research to guide policymaking in the country. In 2020, the Institute completed 60 research projects, released 80 publications, and conducted 31 events, 27 of which were webinars. Its senior researchers continued giving technical assistance in the crafting or deliberation of proposed bills in both houses of Congress. The Institute also continued forging strategic partnerships and linkages with various local and international organizations. It also maintained its ISO certification and was awarded the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) Bronze Award by the Civil Service Commission-National Capital Region. Click here to download the annual report.

RESEARCH PAPER SERIES

RPS 2021-05: The 4th Philippine Graduate Tracer Study: Examining Higher Education as a Pathway to Employment, Citizenship, and Life Satisfaction from the Learner's Perspective
by Melba V. Tutor, Aniceto C. Orbeta Jr. and James Matthew B. Miraflor

This study reports on the 4th Philippine Graduate Tracer Survey results, covering graduates from academic years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011. The results show that graduates are motivated by earnings and career advancement in their choice of baccalaureate programs, and their choices are concentrated in a few courses. There are also telltale signs of job-education mismatch, with only 49 percent of graduates who took courses requiring a professional license employed in jobs that match their degree. Meanwhile, despite being concerned about their earnings and rating themselves low in financial condition, overall life satisfaction is high among graduates. In relating college experience to postcollege life, this study finds that positive college experience (in its multiple dimensions) is generally associated with better employability, a stronger sense of citizenship, less predisposition to political action, and better life satisfaction. Click here to download the research paper.

DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH NEWS

DRN 2021 Vol. 39 No.2: Asia to benefit most from rise of digital platforms amid pandemic
by PIDS Research Information Staff

This quarter's Development Research News (DRN) focuses on the opportunities and challenges of the digital economy. The banner story reports on how the growth of digital platforms benefits Asia and how the Philippines could unlock its digital potential. Other stories delve into the socioeconomic condition of Filipino online workers, highlighting the need for skills training, a sustainable and inclusive social protection system, and digital infrastructure upgrades. The need to address the digital divide in the country to create more economic opportunities for all and the urgency of investing in science and technology human resource development are also tackled. Articles revisiting the national and global policy regulations on e-commerce and cross-border data flows are likewise included. Completing this DRN issue is an article about the lack of a standard definition and measurement of digital trade, which poses challenges for the government in developing tax measures for the digital economy. Click here to download the newsletter.

PIDS study to gov't: Revisit and improve SWM implementation

The Ecological Solid Waste Management (SWM) Act of 2000 or Republic Act (RA) 9003 is meant to protect public health and the environment while promoting resource conservation and recovery and public cooperation and responsibility. However, a study by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) discovered varying SWM implementation processes at the local level, reflecting the need for the government to revisit its policies.

In a webinar recently organized by PIDS, Senior Research Fellow Sonny Domingo, who co-wrote the study with Research Analyst Arvie Joy Manejar, presented the findings of their research that analyzed the country's SWM regulatory policies. READ MORE

LGUs must be 'consistent', 'persistent' in implementing SWM law, says local MENRO

Local government units (LGUs) must be consistent and persistent in implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act 9003.

Engr. Marlon Pielago, municipal environment and natural resource officer of Teresa, Rizal, emphasized this at a webinar recently organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Pielago, a discussant at the webinar, noted that some LGUs fail to implement the law because they do not have a focal person handling their solid waste management (SWM) programs. READ MORE

Upskilling crucial for Filipino online professionals--FOPSCo chairperson

Filipino online professionals need to be provided with continuous education and training, according to Filipino Online Professionals Service Cooperative (FOPSCo) Chairperson Rochefel Rivera.

As a discussant in a webinar on crowdwork jointly organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the International Development Research Centre recently, Rivera provided recommendations on how the government can help online professionals in the country.

For one, she emphasized the need to use the term “online professionals” instead of “freelancers” when referring to people working in the online industry for better representation. READ MORE

PIDS, NEDA ink MoU to pursue collaboration on socioeconomic research

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on research collaboration.

The MoU was signed early this month by NEDA Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua and PIDS President Celia Reyes.

Under the MoU, both parties agreed to share data and expertise in the conduct of joint research projects. PIDS and NEDA shall also coordinate in the publication of the outputs as research papers. The outputs may also be presented in research conferences with the consent of both agencies. READ MORE

Platform economy can create jobs for women--DOLE official

Gender gaps in the labor market have persisted as evidenced by the low labor force participation of women.

This was according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Institute for Labor Studies Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba during a recent webinar organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

According to Satumba, who served as a discussant, the Philippines was one of the first countries in Asia to ratify several international conventions in support of women, enact gender-specific legislation, and formulate policies promoting gender equality. READ MORE

BIR official urges gov't to craft appropriate policies, laws for digital taxation in PH

The government needs to adopt a well-thought-out strategy and policy package in taxing the digital economy.

Atty. Marissa O. Cabreros, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) Legal Group, emphasized this at a recent webinar organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Titled "Taxation of the Digital Economy and Costs and Benefits of Customs Duties Moratorium on Electronic Transmissions", the virtual event featured two PIDS studies, namely, “Emerging Tax Issues in the Digital Economy” and “Costs and Benefits of New Disciplines on Electronic Commerce”. READ MORE

Improve workers' skills, social protection systems to bridge gaps in platform work--PIDS experts

Gender and other related issues in platform work in the country are likely to remain, if not widen, due to the lack of policies and programs for skills development and social protection.

Senior Research Fellow Connie Bayudan-Dacuycuy emphasized this at a recent webinar organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) titled "Gender and Other Issues in Platform Work and ICT Use in the Philippines".

In the study “Decent Work in Crowdwork: Gendered Takeaways from an Online Survey in the Philippines”, Dacuycuy noted that information and communications technology (ICT) paved the way for the development of digital labor platforms, providing economic opportunities to Filipinos. READ MORE

Free flow of data across borders crucial to PH's digital economy dev't--digital advocate

The digital economy's cross-border nature is crucial to its success.

This was one of the key points raised by Jeremille Raton, a digital advocate and business development manager for the Asia Pacific Region of Tiaxa, a Chile-based technology and data science company.

Raton, who served as a discussant during a webinar on digital taxation recently organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), noted that the digital economy presents opportunities for Filipinos as it can create new sources of revenues, particularly for the government. READ MORE

FACT FRIDAY

Every Friday, PIDS releases nuggets of research results culled from different PIDS studies. Here are some of the latest #PIDSFactFriday issues.

INFOBITS

Get to know more about our research findings through our newest infographic series--#PIDSInfoBits. Here are our latest issues.

Like us on Facebook for more #PIDSFactFriday and #PIDSInfoBits issues.

Webinar Bites

Watch these videos and get a glimpse of the highlights of our webinars on "Gender and Other Issues in Platform Work and ICT Use in the Philippines" held on May 27, "Paving the Road to the Philippines' Digital Integration with the Asia-Pacific" held on June 3, "Examining Philippine Regulatory Policies on Solid Waste Management" held on June 10, and "Improving the Land Tenure Security of Farmers and the Role of Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations in Enhancing Agricultural Productivity" held on June 17.

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