As part of the 16th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) celebration in September, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), in partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa), and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) held a policy forum on September 11, 2018 at the USTP Performing Arts Theater in Cagayan de Oro City. This year's theme for the Fourth Mindanao Policy Research Forum is "Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Mindanao: Creating Our Future Today".

Papers presented at the forum included a scoping study on "The Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe): Opportunities and Challenges for the Philippines" by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Ramonette Serafica and PIDS Consultant Dr. Elmer Dadios; "A Roadmap for Agro-Industrial Development in the Philippines" by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Roehlano Briones; and "Mindanao 2030 Peace and Development Framework and the Mindanao Development Corridors Strategy" by MinDA Executive Director Janet Lopoz.

Studies on agro-industrial technologies such as the "StatWeather: Technology Application for Weather Forecasting" by StatWeather Founder and CEO Ria Persad, "Robotics and Mechatronics: Agriculture and Industrial Applications" by Dr. Elmer Dadios, "FIRe Agriculture and Industrial Technologies" by USTP, and "FIRe Industrial Technologies" by PhilDev Chairman Mr. Diosdado "Dado" Banatao were also discussed during the forum.

This year's event convened decision makers, researchers, academics, and representatives from government, private/business sector, and civil society organizations to discuss how Mindanao and the rest of the country can best take advantage of the opportunities emerging from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, while also managing the risks and issues associated with its scope and complexity.

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