The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), in collaboration with Mindanao State University – General Santos City (MSU-GSC), hosted the 10th Mindanao Policy Research Forum (MPRF).
This year’s forum, themed “Navigating Global Trends, Mindanao’s Future: Opportunities and Strategies for Expanding the Middle Class”, seeks to explore the opportunities and challenges of expanding the Filipino middle class, with particular focus on Mindanao, in the context of emerging global megatrends such as technological advancements, climate change, and shifting economic power dynamics.
This forum is part of the annual Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) celebration, held every September to raise awareness on the importance of policy research in decision-making. The MPRF provides a platform for policy discussions, particularly those relevant to Mindanao's growth and development.
The MPRF will be graced by distinguished speakers, including PIDS President Aniceto Orbeta Jr., MSU-GSC Chairperson Usman Aragasi, and MinDA Chairperson Leo Tereso Magno, who will set the stage for an in-depth discussion on policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the middle class in Mindanao.
Key presentations from experts, including PIDS Senior Research Fellow Roehlano Briones and MSU-GSC College of Social Science and Humanities Dean Mario Aguja, will delve into various facets of the middle-class expansion and its implications for Mindanao’s socioeconomic development and the region’s agriculture and agricultural value chains.
Enriching the conversation are esteemed discussants from the House of Representatives – Committee on Mindanao Affairs, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, and Holy Trinity College of General Santos City will share their perspectives on the theme and presentations.
Interested participants can register for the event at https://bit.ly/MPRF2024reg. The forum will also be streamed live on the PIDS, Socioeconomic Research Portal of the Philippines (SERP-P), MinDA, and MSU-GSC Facebook pages.
For more details about the online forum, visit https://dprm.pids.gov.ph. ###
