The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) has launched a program seeking to develop and strengthen the country’s agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector through the development of “more science-informed and foresight-driven" policies.
The PCAARRD initiative is dubbed as “PoliSiyensya” which was launched on Oct. 26.
“Responding to the need for a more aggressive policy advocacy, we are launching PoliSiyensya, an umbrella program integrating our Policy Analysis and Advocacy initiatives,” DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora said.
“Through PoliSiyensya, we aim to advance more science-informed and foresight-driven policy development. Using the wealth of knowledge generated from R&D, we will intensify our efforts in advocating science-based policy reforms.”
The PCAARRD chief cited as crucial the voice of the science community in developing policies not only in the AANR sector but also in other science, technology, and innovation policy concerns.
The nine components of the program are the following: environment scanning, policy advisory, policy research, policy advocacy, information management, publications, promotion and coalition building, foresight and strategic insights, and capacity building.
“Environment scanning includes systematic scanning of literature and news updates and engagements with other key agencies/actors to capture findings from other policy studies, current events, and the latest pronouncements,” the PCAARRD said.
Policy advisory, meanwhile, will mainly provide comments and recommendations on legislative documents and other policy documents, it said.
The Council said policy research will look into a policy problem affecting the AANR industries, assess different policy options, and recommend optimal policy solutions.
“Policy advocacy, on the other hand, will aim to put forward evidence-based policy reforms, particularly on recommendations provided to Congress and other key institutions for policy formulation.”
The information management component of the program is expected to capture all policy outputs and implications as well as package insights and information for different audiences, the PCAARRD said.
The Council said PoliSiyensya’s publications component will compile insights from the program portfolio for reporting, planning, and advocating policies, and promotion and coalition building will promote the DOST-PCAARRD policy portfolio and enjoin the current network to be part of a strong coalition.
The program’s foresight and strategic insights component intends to create a foresight culture in the Council and apply foresight to achieve anticipatory governance, science, technology, and innovation (STI) policymaking, and planning.
Lastly, capacity building component will ensure that the regional consortia and member agencies are trained and mentored on policy analysis and advocacy, the Council said.
“Through PoliSiyensya, DOST and PCAARRD, together with our partners, will champion science and evidence-based formulation of optimal policies for a more responsive and inclusive science and technology development,” Ebora said.