DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A research center that would aid policy makers in decision making would be launched in one of the state universities here.
The Socio-Economic Research and Data Analytics Center (SERDAC), managed by the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) through the School of Applied Economics (SAEc), aims to establish facilities in socio-economic research that are essential in providing evidence and recommendations to policy makers.
SERDAC Project Leader and USeP Professor Jennifer Hinlo said, in a press conference on Wednesday, policies must be based on numbers and on evidence.
“We are advocating evidence-based policies,” she stressed.
SERDAC shall serve as a distinct hub for sharing, applying recent trends and techniques in socio-economic analysis for researchers, faculty, and students in the field.
The tools to be provided and can be accessed through the center are: Stata, Eviews, Stat/Transfer, SPSS for statistical analysis, GAMS for mathematical modelling, PlanBee for project management, ArcGIS for geographic information system, Plagiarism and Grammarly.
The center shall provide socio-economic research services, trainings, consultancy, and other technical assistance requests from researchers.
Hinlo said that, for now, the data they have are from the projects under the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
SERDAC is a national program funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) with a budget of 4.89 million.
There were only three state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines chosen to establish this center. One in Luzon [Central Luzon State University (CLSU)], Visayas (Visayas State University), and Mindanao (USeP).
The PCAARRD in collaboration with SERDAC will be organizing a seminar series on “Socio-economic Researchers in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources” on August 17, 8AM to 12 noon at USeP Social Hall. (davaotoday.com)
