DOST-NRCP, CPD Western Visayas Partner to Bridge Research and Policy
PAVIA, ILOILO – To enhance the translation of research into policy and advocacy, the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), through its Enhanced Research and Development Leadership to Foster an Inclusive Research Ecosystem (RDLead FIRE) Program, partnered with the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region VI to strengthen local capacity for evidence-informed governance.
RD Leader Associate Professor Cristabel F. Parcon of the University of the Philippines Visayas spearheaded the one-day training held on April 21, 2026. The engagement brought together agency staff, planning officers, and research focal persons to streamline population and development (POPDEV) data into clear, actionable policy communication.
The event was organized in coordination with the RDLead Secretariat.
The initiative aligned institutional capabilities with CPD’s mandate to integrate data into local development planning. Through a combination of coordination sessions and technical training, the engagement ensured that both strategic direction and practical skills were strengthened simultaneously.
Practical sessions enabled participants to draft policy briefs for legislative use and design visual research infographics to make technical population statistics accessible to a wider audience. The activity concluded with an action planning workshop to sustain long-term training results.
Strategic alignment sessions with DOST-NRCP set accountability measures to keep population data at the forefront of local policymaking. By strengthening how research is communicated, the initiative lays the foundation for sharper program design, better-informed governance, and more impactful public policy across Western Visayas. (Ivy A. Sacapaño, Vince Estella Balahan / S&T Media Service)
