The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), through its Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD), co-organized the 2nd Science and Technology Impact Assessment (IA) Conference on May 25-26, 2026 at the Acacia Hotel Manila in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Organized in partnership with the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños - College of Public Affairs and Development (UPLB-CPAf), the conference gathered local and international researchers, policymakers, faculty members, development practitioners, and representatives from government and private institutions to discuss how impact assessment can strengthen science, technology, and innovation (STI)-led development.
With the theme, “Evaluating What Works in STI-led Pathways to Development,” the conference served as a platform for sharing emerging methodologies, lessons, and best practices in assessing the outcomes and impacts of research and development (R&D) investments.
As members of the conference Steering Committee, Ms. Genny G. Bandoles, Head of the Socio-Economic Evaluation and Impact Assessment Unit (SEEIAU), and Ms. Joville Andrea P. Foliente, Project Staff of SEEIAU, contributed to the conference program design’s conceptualization and implementation.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director, highlighted that the Council has integrated the impact assessment (IA) initiatives into its banner program since 2004.
He noted that findings from IA studies have contributed significantly in formulating evidence-based policies and guiding future S&T endeavors in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector. The results assisted the Council in accounting S&T investments, improving program design and implementation, optimizing resource allocation, and shaping strategic directions. These efforts, he emphasized, reinforce DOST-PCAARRD’s role as a key pillar of evidence-based governance, ensuring that impact assessment is institutionalized and translated into meaningful benefits for communities, policymakers, and the wider science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote message, Dr. Leah J. Buendia, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, reiterated the central message of the 1st Science and Technology Impact Assessment Conference in 2023, stressing that IA continues to serve as a compass that directs decision-making, strengthens accountability, and ensures that research and development investments deliver societal benefits. She also highlighted that the institutionalization of the National Evaluation Policy Framework reinforces the need to conduct impact assessment by establishing mechanisms that enable government organizations to measure results and continuously enhance their learning, adaptation, and monitoring processes.
“For this year's conference, we will learn more about the advanced methodologies, case studies, and strategic insights on embedding impact assessment into monitoring and evaluation systems. It will keep us abreast of what today's impact assessment looks like and how we can move forward and continuously enhance our impact assessment practices and policies,” Undersecretary Buendia expressed.
Representing DOST-PCAARRD in the plenary session, Ms. Bandoles discussed the topic, “A Cross-Generational Dialogue in Impact Assessment,” wherein she shared developments in IA of DOST-PCAARRD. In her presentation, Ms. Bandoles elaborated on the evolution of the IA methodology adopted by the Council since 2004, and presented several publications of the Council regarding methods. The presentation highlighted the formation of SEEIAU under SERD in 2008, a dedicated unit for the Impact Assessment Program. Additionally, she outlined the objectives pursued by PCAARRD for its IA projects. In discussing support for capability building, she mentioned PCAARRD’s IA training for researchers along with the topics covered.
Dr. Ebora participated in the roundtable discussion, “Embedding Impact Assessment in Institutional Decision Making,” together with heads of the partner agencies. The discussion centered on key talking points including the evolution of IA in each institution, the specific ways in which each institution integrated IAinto their core processes, whether each institution follows a particular IAframework or set of methodologies that are applied across projects, and the opportunities and challenges faced by each institution in institutionalizing IA.
Several project leaders and staff from various SUCs presented the results of their completed IA projects funded by PCAARRD, during the Parallel Session 2, themed, “Resilient Bio-Economies: Advancing Value Chains in Agri-Aqua R&D.” The presentations identified the significant changes experienced by industry stakeholders because of R&D initiatives, and provided recommendations for plans that may increase impacts while addressing challenges.
Lastly, Ms. Meliza F. Abeleda, SERD Officer-In-Charge, delivered key takeaways on what transpired during the two-day conference in the closing plenary session titled, “Aligning Innovation, Governance, and Societal Impact in Evaluating What Works.” She underscored three important directions that emerged in the conference: the values of cross-generational learning and frontier practices in IA, the integration of IA into institutional decision-making process, and the importance of assessing societal value and long-term real-world outcomes of science and technology, particularly in relation to the realities of the AANR sector. She emphasized that IA should be a strategic, learning-oriented function that addresses uncertainties and complexities, while also fostering communities of practice and strengthening institutions.
Moving forward, the Council continues to enhance its IA initiatives. With the IA Enhancement project under the SERD-SEEIAU, the Council supports the conceptualization, packaging, monitoring, and evaluation of IA projects annually. Training sessions are being conducted to build the capability of researchers on methodologies and approaches in developing project proposals and conducting IAs.