Category Archives: News
Prof. Majah-Leah Ravago is Outstanding Young Scientist in Economics
Dr. Majah-Leah V. Ravago (3rd from right) is the 2016 recipient of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) – Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Award in the field of Economics.
Philippines among Top Performers in East Asia and Pacific – WB Report
SINGAPORE, OCTOBER 5, 2015—East Asia remains one of the main growth drivers of the world economy, accounting for nearly two-fifths of global economic growth, according to a new World Bank report. Overall, the region is expected to grow 6.5 percent in 2015, moderating slightly from 6.8 percent last year.
The Philippines is among the strongest performers in the region because of strong fundamentals. Economic growth is projected to improve from 5.8 percent in 2015 to 6.4 percent in 2016.
Visit this link to read the press release.
UPD has five new professors emeriti
By: Albino C. Gamba Jr. (UPDate Diliman)
(AUG. 7)—The UP Board of Regents (BOR) at its 1309th meeting on July 22, 2015 approved the appointments of five UP Diliman (UPD) faculty members as professors emeriti.
They are Dr. Grace J. Alfonso from the College of Mass Communication (CMC), Dr. Raul V. Fabella from School of Economics (SE), Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman from Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business (VSB), Prof. Nestor O. Vinluan from College of Fine Arts (CFA) and Dr. Rosario Torres-Yu from the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).
Professor Emeritus, a title for life, is conferred upon retired faculty members in recognition of their exceptional achievement and exemplary service to the University.
Alfonso, a professor at the Film Institute, is the current chancellor of UP Open University (UPOU) and president of the Philippine Society for Distance Learning. She also chairs the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Technical Panel for Transnational and Distance Education.
She is also a painter and a sculptor. Alfonso sculpted the UPOU Oblation erected in Los Baños, Laguna in 2005, as well as the trophies for the CHED Republica Award in 2005 and 2007. She is a recipient of the 2015 Concepcion Dadufalza Award for Distinguished Achievement and the UP Arts Productivity System as Artist 1 in 2011.
Meanwhile, Fabella whose fields of interest are in economic theory, agricultural economics and international economics, served as SE dean from 1998 to 2007.
For his pioneering works in “novel analytic constructs which turn out to be useful for problems in economics,” he was conferred the Order of National Scientist in 2011. The Order of National Scientist is the highest honor given by the Philippine president to an individual who has made significant contributions in the field of science and technology in the country.
Roman, on the other hand, served the UP administration in various capacities. She is the centennial and first woman president of the University (2005 to 2011). She also served as UPD chancellor from 1991 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2005, UPD Vice Chancellor for Administration from 1985 to 1988, and Secretary of the University and of the BOR from 1988 to 1991.
Roman received numerous awards, among them: the Lingkod Bayan Award (2007) from the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines; Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, au grade de Chevalier (National Order of the Legion of Honour, Rank of Knight) from the President of the Republic of France through the French Embassy in Manila (2009); and The Outstanding Filipino Award (TOFIL) in Education in 2011 from the JCI Senate Philippines and Insular Life.
Vinluan, a multimedia artist working on paintings, sculpture and installation works, served as CFA dean from 1989 to 1998. Vinluan is a recipient of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists award in 1974. He has represented the Philippines in various art festivals and exhibitions abroad such as Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and USA, among others.
Completing the awardees is Torres-Yu from the Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas. She is an award-winning author, editor and translator of books on language, literature, gender, labor movement and children literature.
Her creative writing and scholarly works in literature were recognized by the University through the following: UP Arts Productivity System Award (2009-2011), Gawad Chanselor para sa Natatanging Guro (2008), UP Centennial Professorial Chair (2008 and 2010), UP Centennial Faculty Grant (2009 and 2011), International Publication Award (2009 and 2010) and Gawad sa Natatanging Publikasyon sa Filipino (2001).
Torres-Yu served as CAL dean from 2000 to 2003. She was also appointed as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs from 1993 to 1996 and director of Sentro ng Wikang Filipino from 2012 until her retirement in October 2014.
Professors emeriti remain in the faculty roster of the University, thus giving the current students, junior faculty members and researchers the chance to be mentored by the esteemed teachers and scholars.
Professors emeriti receive one-time monetary award of P150,000. The honorees are also accorded lifetime library privileges, UP Health Service privileges and free admission to cultural shows in UP, among others.
Source: UPDate Diliman
SDSN Philippines Launched in Manila
Just a few hours after consensus was reached in New York on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outcome document, SDSN Philippines was launched in Manila on Monday, August 3, 2015. Over 300 participants from universities, civil society, the private sector, the Philippine Government, and the international community welcomed the new network which uniquely places universities and other research and knowledge institutions to contribute to the attainment of the SDGs in this rapidly growing Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 million people.
SDSN Director, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, drew attention to the historic agreement of 193 nations earlier that same day in New York. He said that the SDGs will mark “the end of business as usual” and guide a “change in direction” for the world. Professor Sachs noted that the Philippines would be hard hit by climate change, and is especially vulnerable to typhoons, floods, droughts, and sea level rise. He highlighted the special role and responsibilities of universities in leading innovation and problem solving, while preparing a new generation of sustainable development practitioners.
Representing the Philippine Government, Professor Arsenio M. Balisacan, Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning and Director of the National Economic and Development Authority, a former Dean and Professor of Economics at the University of the Philippines at Diliman, drew attention to recent impressive economic growth in the Philippines – averaging 6.2% per annum for the past 5 years. However, Professor Balisacan argued that “economic growth is necessary but not sufficient for sustainable development”. He called on the academe, civil society, and the private sector to work with government “to invest in sustainable solutions through closer partnerships”.
Numerous high-level participants from diverse sectors gave strong vocal support for the mission of SDSN Philippines and the need for the SDGs. Speakers included: Professor Solita Collas-Monsod, convener and former Chair of the Philippine Human Development Network and former Minister of Socio-economic Planning; Secretary Florencio Abad, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management; Mr. Jose Rocamora, renowned political activist and civil society leader and Lead Convener of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; Professor Leonor Magtolis Briones, head of the Alternative Budget Initiative of Social Watch Philippines; Mr. Metodio Maraguinot, Jr., a youth leader and founder and president of YouthLEAD Philippines; Mr. Ola Almgren, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines; and Mr. Roger Carlson, representing USAID, which provided generous financial support for the launch.
Immediately following the public launch, members of the inaugural SDSN Philippines Leadership Council (LC) signed a Pledge of Commitment and convened.
Coming from one of the lead convernors and one of the major organizers of the launch, UP School of Economics, was unanimously elected LC Chair Professor Emmanuel S. de Dios. Professor de Dios is Oscar M. Lopez Sterling Professor of Law and Economics and former Dean at the UP School of Economics. The LC further agreed to establish a Secretariat for SDSN Philippines at the UP School of Economics and to convene a multi-stakeholder planning meeting to develop and prioritize an SDSN action agenda within the next three to four months. UPSE welcomes taking an active role in initiatives towards the attainment of sustainable development in the country as it celebrates its 50th year anniversary.
Dean Solon challenges graduates to honor their parents and pay forward
Distinguished guests, graduating students, parents, ladies and gentlemen.
It is my privilege to welcome you to this recognition and awards ceremony for the graduating class of this 50th year of the UP School of Economics.
BS Economics graduate tops UPSE Batch 2015
Samantha Marie C. Sundiam, BS Economics, summa cum laude, graduated at the top her 2015 batch with a weighted average grade (WAG) of 1.18.
Justice Leonen guest speaker at the 2015 recognition program for graduating students
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen was the guest speaker during the Recognition Program of the UP School of Economics graduating students of 2015.
UPSE profs are NAST outstanding paper awardees for 2015
UPSE Professors Joseph J. Capuno, Aleli D. Kraft, and Stella A. Quimbo, together with PhD candidate Carlos Tan, Jr., are recipients of the 2015 NAST Outstanding Scientific Paper Awards.
Their paper, “Shocks to Philippine households: incidence, idiosyncrasy, and impact“, was published in the Philippine Review of Economics in 2013.
The School gets a new dean
Orville Jose C. Solon became the eighth Dean of the School of Economics effective 1 May 2015. His appointment was approved by the University’s Board of Regents during its 1307th meeting on 29 April.
Professor Solon is a well-known expert in health economics, public health issues, public economics, and the economics of regulation. Prior to his appointment, he led the Health Policy Development Program, a multi-year effort based at the School of Economics that provides support to the formulation of the country’s health policies.
Past and current versions of this program have allowed a team of economists and medical practitioners led by Professor Solon to provide impartial and research-based policy guidance across changing political administrations.
As both researcher and administrator, Professor Solon played a key role in setting up the country’s only laboratory in health economics. Collaboration with both Filipino and foreign scholars yielded a significant number of publications in journals that include Health Economics, Economics Letters, Social Science and Medicine, Journal of Pediatrics, and Medical Care.
Professor Solon received both his bachelor’s degree(1980) and his Ph.D. (1987) from the School of Economics.
Prof. Stella Quimbo is UPPEJA Fellow
UPSE Professor Stella Luz A. Quimbo is one of five awardees of this year’s University of the Philippines President Edgardo J. Angara (UPPEJA) Fellowship for her research on corporate income tax policy in the Philippines.
The other UPPEJA awardees are Prof. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Prof. Clarissa C. David, Prof. Caesar A. Saloma, and Prof. Lucia Tangi. The awarding ceremony was held on March 5, 2015 at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman.
The UPPEJA Fellowship Award was established during 1236th meeting of the UP BOR on September 29, 2008 to promote high-level policy discussions and research on a wide range of topics that address national development goals and imperatives.