The LGSP Regional Management Committee (LRMC) in Region XI has commissioned the Center to conduct a Mid-Term Evaluation of the Local Government Support Program (LGSP).

The study sought to provide both qualitative and quantitative assessment of the Program. Results of the evaluation have been documented and published by the Center under Compendium No. 1 (Working Papers).

The result of the study was used as policy basis for the expansion of LGSP coverage not only in Mindanao but in other parts of the Philippines as well. LGSP is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

In SY 1994-1995, the Center initiated and served as Technical Secretariat to the holding of the Strategic Planning Workshop for the three state universities and colleges of Southern Mindanao under the umbrella organization of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges in Region XI (PASUC XI) which included: The USEP, DOSCST, and SPAMAST. The Strategic Planning Workshop was designed to initiate and provide guidelines for the formulation of, at least, a Framework Plan for each SUC, and, eventually, for the formulation of a Comprehensive Development Plan for each SUC.

The Netherlands Government under its Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (HIS) invited the University of Southeastern Philippines and the RECORD Foundation to draw the “Terms of Reference” for the proposed training program.

The NFP, however, can only provide ten slots for the September 15 – December 15, 1994 session. And the IHS who will conduct the course will only do so if the total number of participants will be at least 15. Given this conditionality, the Mindanao Center for Policy and Development Studies was tasked by the University President to draft and submit the proposal to the IHS. In two weeks time, the IHS approved the proposal. A total of fifteen (15) fellows have been accepted and trained in the said program. Two (2) faculty members from University were sent on official time to the program: Dr. Thelma S. Ledesma and Engr. Eduardo S. Torrico, Jr. The rest came from the Local government units, regional agencies, and non-government organizations (NGOs).

1. International Planning History Society (IPHS) Conference at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Title of Paper: Urban and Regional Planning In the Philippines: Lessons from a Four-Decade Experience

2. Global Forum on Regional Development Policy at UN Center for Regional Development at Nagoya, Japan

   Title of Paper: Rhetoric and Reality: Decentralization, Planning & Development in Southern Mindanao, Philippines

3. Cities at the Millineum International Conference held at University of East London, UK

   Title of Paper: Decentralized Cities in Mindanao: Gearing Towards the Challenges of Globalization in the 21st Century

As a result of participation in the above-mentioned international conferences, two papers were selected for publication:

1. ‘Urban and Regional Planning in the Philippines: Lessons from A Four-Decade Experience’ was published in book of Conference Proceedings by Southwest Press, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2. 'Rhetoric and Reality: Decentralization, Planning and Development in Southern Mindanao, Philippines’ was published by Greenwood Press, USA.

   Note: Reference Copy is available at the Center Mini-Library.

Technical Assistance in the Coordination and Formulation of the Mindanao Framework for Peace and Development

The UNDP-Philippines, through the NEDA, commissioned Dr. Edmundo B. Prantilla, Dr. Sophremiano B. Antipolo and Prof. Pilar Bautista to coordinate the formulation of a Mindanao Framework for Peace and Development.

The output was used as a Resource Document in the formulation of Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), 2001-2004, specifically on Mindanao Chapter of the Plan.

The document provides Strategy / Policy Options for sustained peace and development in Mindanao.

USEP – through the MCPS - is an institutional member of the Mindanao Studies Consortium (MSC). Based on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the MSC agreed to undertake the following initial activities:

1. A Research Project on the “state-of-the-art” of Mindanao Studies;
2. A National Conference on Mindanao Studies involving Philippine Scholars/researchers particularly those from Mindanao; and
3. An International Conference on Mindanao

The Center has completed its assigned task to produce a set of Annotated Bibliography on Mindanao Studies covering Regions XI and XIII. Other member-institutions were assigned to cover the rest of Mindanao regions. A second level output is the production of Annotated Bibliography on Mindanao Studies particularly on Socio-Economy and Politics.

The Annotated Bibliography will serve as basis for the identification of policy study / research gaps concerning Mindanao.

To provide an immediate resource room for its research assistants and fellows, the center has established a reasonably equipped mini-library and conference room. The Mini-Conference room serves as a venue for discussion and presentation of research proposals and outputs and the mini-library to house Center publications.

1. Mindanao Economic Devt Council (MEDCo)
2. National Econ and Devt Authority (NEDA)
3. Housing and Urban Devt Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
4. Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)
5. Alternative Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM)
6. Kusog Mindanao
7. Davao Association of Colleges and Universities (DACUN)
8. San Pedro College (SPC)
9. University of Immaculate Conception (UIC)
10. Southern Philippines Agri-Marine College of Science and Technology (SPAMAST)

Under the leadership of then Presidential Assistant Sebastian Angliongto and Executive Director Jo-Anne de Belen, the Center assisted the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) improve the technical capability of its staff by conducting a seminar-lecture series on public policy analysis.