Ateneo Inks Partnership on Conduct of Evidence-Based Research with House of Representatives

Ateneo de Manila University and the Philippine House of Representatives signed a memorandum of agreement and launched the partnership dubbed “Evidence-Based Research Project.” Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ateneo president Dr Roberto Yap sealed the deal on 7 February at an event held at the Romualdez Hall of the House of Representatives. Signing as witnesses were Dr Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu, Dean of the Ateneo School of Social Sciences, Dr Ser Percival Peña-Reyes, Director of Ateneo Center for Research and Development (ACERD), Tingog Party List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and Marikina Rep Stella Luz Quimbo, who is the prime-mover behind this innovative idea.  

The research studies aim to support the current administration’s 8-point agenda and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 towards achieving the Filipino aspirations of maginhawa, matatag, at panatag na buhay, or the Ambisyon Natin 2040.

The 11 research studies will focus on protecting the purchasing power of families, reducing vulnerability and mitigating the effects of the pandemic, ensuring sound macroeconomic fundamentals, and creating more quality, green jobs, government right-sizing, and peace and order.

The project will allow academic researchers to actively engage and participate in policy discussions and provide inputs based on evidence backed by theory.

Majah-Leah Ravago PhD from the Ateneo Department of Economics will lead the 11 research teams working closely with researchers from the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives.

Each team will be headed by Congressional Research Fellows including:

• Michael Abrigo, Ph.D. - Philippine Institute for Development Studies
• Alvin Ang, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University
• Jefferson Arapoc, Ph.D. - UP Los Banos
• Alex Brillantes, Ph.D. - UP Diliman
• Romelei Camiling-Alfonso, MD, MSc - Philippine Society of Public Health Physician
• Connie Dacuycuy, Ph.D. -Philippine Institute for Development Studies
• Lawrence Dacuycuy, Ph.D. - De La Salle University 
• Denese de Guzman, MD, MPM, MSc - Philippine Society of Public Health Physician
• Geoffrey Ducanes, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Luis Dumlao, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Kris Francisco, Ph.D. - Philippine Institute for Development Studies
• Robin Garcia, Ph.D. - University of Asia and the Pacific
• Karl Jandoc, Ph.D. - UP Diliman 
• Miharu Kimwell, MD, MA - UP Diliman
• Herman Kraft - UP Diliman
• Albert Lamberte, Ph.D.  - De La Salle University
• Leonardo Lanzona, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Ronald Mendoza, Ph.D. - IDInsight
• Benjamin Radoc, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Majah-Leah Ravago, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Charina Lyn Repollo, Ph.D. - UP Diliman 
• Ser Peña-Reyes, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Renato Reside, Ph.D. - UP Diliman 
• Asa Sajise, Ph.D. - UP Los Banos
• Marites Tiongco, Ph.D.  - De La Salle University
• Val Ulep, Ph.D. - Philippine Institute for Development Studies

The Senior Research Advisors include:

• Fernando Aldaba, Ph.D. - Ateneo de Manila University 
• Senen Bacani - Former DA Secretary
• Edilberto de Jesus, Ph.D. - Asian Institute of Management
• Christopher Monterola, Ph.D. - Asian Institute of Management
• Ancieto Orbeta, Ph.D. - Philippine Institute for Development Studies
• James Roumasset, Ph.D. - University of Hawaii Manoa