UP CIDS Library and Resources

02/09/2026

📢 CALL FOR PROPOSALS | 2027 UP CIDS POLICY RESEARCH PROJECT GRANT 🔬📄

Are you a University of the Philippines faculty member or researcher looking to transform interdisciplinary research into actionable, policy-oriented solutions?

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) is now accepting proposals for the 2027 Policy Research Project Grant!

This grant program provides funding and institutional support to UP scholars conducting rigorous, evidence-based research aligned with key national development priorities and policy reforms.

💡 Focus & Grant Coverage:
🎯 Interdisciplinary Policy Impact: Funding research projects that directly inform national policy frameworks, public administration, and community-centered development.
🏛️ Institutional Support: Opportunities to publish through UP CIDS policy briefs, monographs, and discussion papers, alongside platform support for policy roundtables.
👥 Target Applicants: Regular faculty members and full-time research staff across all UP constituent universities.

Seize the opportunity to translate your research into meaningful public policy and national development impact!

🔗 View the full eligibility criteria, priority areas, and submission guidelines here: https://cids.up.edu.ph/call-for-proposals-2027-up-cids-policy-research-project-grant/

For inquiries, email us at [email protected]

01/09/2026

🌱 NEW POLICY BRIEF: AI-Enhanced Community Learning: Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Redesign Republic Act No. 7743 🌐📊

Over 30 years after Republic Act No. 7743 mandated the establishment of public libraries and reading centers across the Philippines, the system remains severely under-resourced, technologically lagging, and plagued by high rates of inactivity. How can data-driven governance and machine learning transform these stagnant repositories into future-ready learning hubs?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Policy Brief, "AI-Enhanced Community Learning: Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Redesign Republic Act No. 7743." Authored by Jonathan G. Medina, Brian Lloyd B. Dayrit, Maria Maura S. Tinao, and Corazon M. Gamboa, this policy brief is published under our Program on Data Science for Public Policy (DSPPP). It evaluates current public library directory data using machine learning classifiers to propose a performance-based, data-driven modernization of the law.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Policy Brief:
⚙️ Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning Models: Utilizing algorithms like Gradient Boosting and Random Forest to evaluate national library statuses, predicting active versus at-risk operations based on sparse features and regional data.
🏝️ Addressing Regional Inequalities & Inactivity: Highlighting major digital divides between urban centers like NCR and lower-capacity regions (such as BARMM and Caraga) where libraries face severe risks of closure.
🦀 Data-Driven Policy Solutions: Proposing the creation of the National AI-Enabled Library Monitoring System (NAELMS), an AI-enabled "Library Digital Readiness Index," and predictive funding allocations for at-risk facilities.
💡 From Static Mandates to Hybrid Community Hubs: Recommending the conversion of non-performing reading centers into active hybrid e-learning spaces that support digital literacy, public services, and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education.

By moving from a reactive infrastructure mandate to a proactive, AI-assisted governance model, the government can effectively close the digital divide and foster lifelong learning nationwide.

📖 Download the full policy brief for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/ai-enhanced-community-learning-machine-learning-algorithms-redesign-republic-act-no-7743/

01/09/2026

07/08/2026

Check out the new nook inside the UPCIDS Library and Resources!

23/07/2026

12/06/2026

LOOK: Discussion Paper, "Never Shall Invaders: Policy Options for Managing Invasive Species Risk with Scientific Information in the Philippines."

Authored by Benjamin M. Vallejo, Jr., PhD from our Conservation and Biodiversity Program (CBP), this paper evaluates our current biosecurity frameworks and outlines crucial policy pathways to mitigate biological invasions.

Read more and download FREE on the linked post below.

🌿 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Managing Invasive Species Risks with Science 🐌🚫

How can the Philippines shield its rich biodiversity from the ecological and economic threats of invasive alien species? Relying on robust scientific information is our first line of defense.

We are pleased to release Discussion Paper, "Never Shall Invaders: Policy Options for Managing Invasive Species Risk with Scientific Information in the Philippines." Authored by Benjamin M. Vallejo, Jr., PhD from our Conservation and Biodiversity Program (CBP), this paper evaluates our current biosecurity frameworks and outlines crucial policy pathways to mitigate biological invasions.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚠️ The Threat of Biological Invasions: Analyzing how invasive species disrupt local ecosystems, endanger native wildlife, and impact agricultural productivity.
🔬 Evidence-Based Biosecurity: Exploring how rigorous scientific data, risk assessments, and ecological monitoring can guide timely regulatory decisions.
⚖️ Policy and Governance Gaps: Identifying overlapping institutional mandates and areas where national biosecurity enforcement and quarantine protocols can be strengthened.
💡 Strategic Policy Options: Concrete recommendations for building an integrated, science-driven framework to prevent, detect, and eradicate invasive species effectively.

Protecting our natural heritage requires proactive policies that bridge the gap between ecological research and environmental governance.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE: https://cids.up.edu.ph/discussion_paper/never-shall-invaders-policy-options-managing-invasive-species-risk-scientific-information-philippines/

10/06/2026

LOOK: Discussion paper "Balancing Culture and Tourism: A Discussion on the Policy Standards for Heritage and Cultural Tourism in the Cordillera."

Authored by Jeffrey H. Javier from the UPCIDS Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) X Cordillera Studies Center UP Baguio, this paper examines the delicate intersection of economic development and cultural preservation.

Read more and download FREE on the linked post below.

🏔️ NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Balancing Culture and Tourism in the Cordillera 🌲🏛️

How can we promote tourism without compromising the rich cultural heritage of the Cordillera? As travel to the highlands increases, establishing clear policy standards is essential to protecting the indigenous traditions and landscapes that make the region unique.

We are pleased to release the discussion paper "Balancing Culture and Tourism: A Discussion on the Policy Standards for Heritage and Cultural Tourism in the Cordillera." Authored by Jeffrey H. Javier from the UPCIDS Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) X Cordillera Studies Center UP Baguio , this paper examines the delicate intersection of economic development and cultural preservation.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚖️ Policy Frameworks: Evaluating current standards for heritage tourism and how they align with the needs of Cordillera’s indigenous communities.
🗺️ Heritage Preservation: Identifying the risks of "commodifying" culture and the importance of maintaining the authenticity of local traditions and sacred sites.
📈 Sustainable Tourism: Strategies for managing tourist influx to ensure that economic benefits do not lead to environmental or social degradation.
💡 Local Agency: Emphasizing the role of community-led governance in defining how their culture is shared with and experienced by the world.

This paper serves as a critical guide for policymakers, tourism stakeholders, and cultural advocates committed to a sustainable and respectful future for the Cordillera.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/balancing-culture-tourism-discussion-policy-standards-heritage-cultural-tourism-cordillera/

08/06/2026

LOOK: Discussion paper "Agrarian Reform as an Unfinished Conversation: Reflections from Farmers’ Associations in Cebu and Bohol."

Authored by Alyssa Soler from UPCIDS Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) X UP Cebu Central Visayas Studies Center , this paper provides a localized look at the persistent challenges and the collective resilience of farming communities in Central Visayas.

Read more and download FREE on the linked post below.

🌾 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Agrarian Reform as an Unfinished Conversation 🇵🇭👩‍🌾

What does the promise of land ownership look like decades after the launch of national agrarian reform? For many farmers in the Visayas, the journey remains a complex "unfinished conversation" between policy and lived reality.

We are pleased to release the discussion paper "Agrarian Reform as an Unfinished Conversation: Reflections from Farmers’ Associations in Cebu and Bohol." Authored by Alyssa Soler from UPCIDS Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) X UP Cebu Central Visayas Studies Center , this paper provides a localized look at the persistent challenges and the collective resilience of farming communities in Central Visayas.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🚜 Ground-Level Perspectives: Direct reflections from farmers’ associations in Cebu and Bohol on the hurdles of land acquisition and distribution.
⚖️ Beyond Land Titles: Exploring why land ownership alone is insufficient without adequate support services, infrastructure, and climate-resilient agricultural policies.
🤝 The Power of Association: Analyzing how local farmers’ groups serve as vital support systems and platforms for advocacy amidst bureaucratic delays.
💡 Policy Reflections: Recommendations on bridging the gap between national mandates and the specific socio-economic needs of Visayan farming households.

This paper is a vital resource for scholars, activists, and policymakers dedicated to achieving genuine rural development and social justice in the Philippines.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/agrarian-reform-unfinished-conversation-reflections-farmers-associations-cebu-bohol/

05/06/2026

LOOK: Discussion paper "Beyond Cleanups: Stakeholder Roles and Institutional Gaps in Managing the Iloilo-Batiano River System."

Authored by Alan Moscoso, Rhodella Ibabao, and Brian Ventura from our Urban Studies Program, this research identifies the critical gaps that prevent holistic river management.

Read more and download FREE on the linked post below.

🌊 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Beyond Cleanups for the Iloilo-Batiano River System 🚣‍♂️🏙️

How do we move from seasonal river cleanups to long-term, sustainable water governance? Our latest publication explores the institutional complexities of managing one of Western Visayas’ most vital waterways.

We are pleased to release this discussion paper "Beyond Cleanups: Stakeholder Roles and Institutional Gaps in Managing the Iloilo-Batiano River System." Authored by Alan Moscoso, Rhodella Ibabao, and Brian Ventura from our Urban Studies Program, this research identifies the critical gaps that prevent holistic river management.

🔍 Key Insights from the Paper:
⚖️ Fragmented Governance: While numerous agencies are involved in river management, overlapping jurisdictions often lead to confusion and uncoordinated efforts.
🗺️ Stakeholder Roles: Mapping the influence of local government units, national agencies, and community groups in protecting the Iloilo-Batiano River.
🛠️ Institutional Gaps: Identifying the lack of a centralized management authority and the need for standardized data monitoring across the system.
💡 Policy Recommendations: Shifting the focus from reactive "cleanup" activities to proactive, science-based policies that address the root causes of pollution and degradation.

Effective river management requires more than just picking up trash—it demands a unified institutional framework that empowers local stakeholders and prioritizes ecological integrity.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE: https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/beyond-cleanups-stakeholder-roles-institutional-gaps-managing-iloilo-batiano-river-system/

03/06/2026

LOOK: Discussion paper "Using the Health Information System for Performance Measurement under the Universal Health Care Law".

Authored by Antonio L. Dans, Leonila F. Dans, Rafael Marfori, and the Philippine Primary Care Study Group, this paper from our Program on Health Systems Development dives deep into the critical link between health financing and information integrity.

Read more and download FREE on the linked post below.

🩺 NEW PUBLICATION: Bridging the Data Gap in Universal Health Care 📊💻

How do we ensure that the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law actually works for every Filipino? The answer lies in the data—but only if that data is accurate, transparent, and protected from political interference.

We are pleased to release the discussion paper "Using the Health Information System for Performance Measurement under the Universal Health Care Law". Authored by Antonio L. Dans, Leonila F. Dans, Rafael Marfori, and the Philippine Primary Care Study Group, this paper from our Program on Health Systems Development dives deep into the critical link between health financing and information integrity.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🛑 The Challenge of Documentation: Current designs for PhilHealth’s Konsulta/YAKAP programs often result in heavy documentation burdens that pull healthcare workers away from their patients.
🏗️ Strategic Purchasing: The paper argues that PhilHealth’s role as the "dominant purchaser" requires fiscal integrity—when funds are diverted or withheld, performance data becomes "structural noise" rather than a diagnostic tool.
🤝 From Quotas to Quality: A shift is recommended from volume-based targets to three core reforms: simplifying the Health Information System (HIS), building LGU transparency through data integration, and rationalizing performance measures.
💡 Proposed Solutions: Shifting to a "Year 1 to Year 2" evolution of performance measures, including biometrics for registration and automated patient-level data transmission.

Universal Health Care is a right, not a favor. Ensuring our information systems remain robust and transparent is the first step in defending that right.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE: https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/using-health-information-system-performance-measurement-under-universal-health-care-law/