Held in Tacloban City
TACLOBAN CITY – The 5th International Poverty Conference, hosted by Samar State University (SSU) in partnership with Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), brought together local and international experts, policymakers, researchers, and innovators to discuss strategies and solutions aimed at reducing poverty and fostering inclusive growth.
This year’s conference, themed “Empowering Communities through Sustainable Solutions and Innovations: Harnessing Change for Inclusive Growth,” was held here in Tacloban City from October 16 to 17, 2024.
It was attended by officials from various state universities across the Philippines, led by Tirso Ronquillo, president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, who served as one of the plenary speakers.
SSU president Redentor Palencia highlighted that this year’s conference marks a significant milestone, with the number of collaborators increasing to 17 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and higher educational institutions (HEIs), up from just one in 2017.
“We started alone in 2017. Now, eight years later, we have 17 SUCs/HEIs working together to combat poverty in the Philippines. We’ve also partnered with a university from Vietnam, six national government agencies, and two local government units as strong Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) partners,” Palencia shared.
Palencia also emphasized the crucial role of research and partnerships in achieving social transformation. “The power of research and collaboration cannot be undermined, as they create positive and lasting impacts, all focused on one goal—social transformation.”
In his opening remarks, Maximo C. Aljibe, regional director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED-8), underscored the importance of education in the fight against poverty.
“We encourage students to pursue careers that contribute to economic growth and create employment opportunities,” he said.
Aljibe added that CHED supports research and development projects, particularly those focused on innovation, by funding initiatives aimed at addressing poverty-related issues in agriculture, health, and the environment.
“These projects are not just academic exercises; they have real-world implications. By leveraging the expertise of HEIs, we aim to create sustainable solutions that empower local populations and promote inclusive growth,” Aljibe said.
The first day of the conference featured discussions on poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and the role of innovation.
Speakers included Professor Bryan Marson of the Development Academy of the Philippines and Senior Advisor at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, who spoke on “From Good to Better,” focusing on public service transformation.
The panel also featured Dr. Claire Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General at the Philippine Statistics Authority, who discussed “Understanding and Interpreting Poverty Statistics in Developing Countries,” Asec. Reynaldo R. Cancio from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), who covered “Monitoring and Evaluation of Poverty Reduction Programs,” and Ronquillo, who discussed the role of state universities as hubs for innovation and community empowerment.
The conference’s partner agencies included the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Commission on Population and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the city of Catbalogan.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
