The Annual Public Policy Conference (APPC) is the highlight and culminating activity of the Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) celebration led by PIDS pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 247 signed in 2002. Held every September, the DPRM aims to promote, enhance, instill, and draw awareness and appreciation of the importance and necessity of policy research in development planning and policymaking. 
 
The 2019 DPRM and APPC share the same theme, which is“Navigating the New Globalization: Local Actions for Global Challenges”or in Filipino, “Paglalayag sa Bagong Globalisasyon: Lokal na Pagkilos sa mga Pandaigdigang Hamon”. Launched by PIDS in 2015, the APPC aims to convene experts and researchers to flag to legislators’ critical issues that must be addressed in the immediate term. It is envisioned to serve as a platform to further bridge research and policymaking, and enhance evidence-based planning and policy formulation in the country. Themes featured in previous APPCs include “Institutions and Human Capital”, “Building Resilience”, “Critical Perspectives on Federalism”, and “Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. 
 
To take place alongside the conference is a one-day exhibit featuring the knowledge products of the DPRM steering committee and APPC sponsors. The conference took place at the Sofitel Hotel Plaza Manila at September 19, 2019 and LPU RIC representative was Ms. Joanna Juvyjoy Rojo, Senior Researcher. 

Morning Plenary Session 
 
Competing in the New Era of Globalisation by Calum Cameron, Account Manager and Digital Innovation Consultant, Proud Engineers, Republic of Estonia 
 
Defending Philippine Sovereign Rights in the West Philippine Sea by Antonio Carpio, Senior Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines 
 
Navigating the New Globalization: Local Actions for Global Challenges Discussion: Plenary Session by Erlinda Medalla, Member of the Eminent Expert Resource Committee of the Philippine APEC Vision Group, Former Senior Research Fellow of PIDS, and Former Project Director of the Philippine APEC Study Center Network 
 
The Future We’re Facing: Megatrends, Threats & Opportunities by Cielito Habito, Professor, Ateneo De Manila University 
 
Session 1: Worsening Inequality 
 
Technology and Inequality in Asia by Donghyun Park, Principal Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, Asian Development Bank 
 
Poverty and Inequality in the Philippines by Gabriel Demombynes, Program Leader for Human Development for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, World Bank 
 
What Do We Mean By Structural Change? A Village Perspective by Roehlano Briones, Senior Research Fellow, PIDS 
 
Session 2: Global Trade Restructuring 
 
The Impact of the Trade War on Developing Asia and the Philippines by Kristina Baris, Research Associate, Asian Development Bank 
 
Industry Promotion Strategies amidst Global Economic Restructuring by Ma. Corazon Dichosa, Executive Director, Industry Development Services, Board of Investments 
 
Global Trade Restructuring: How Technology Will Change Global Business and Local Work by Jove Tapiador, Co-Founder and Development Technology Consultant, Fintech Philippines Association 
 
Borderless World: Is Philippines Ready by Imelda Tiongson, Trustee, Fintech Philippines Association 
 
Session 3: Challenges to Provision of Global Public Goods—Undermining International Cooperation 
 
Global Public Goods and the National Climate Change Action Plan by Secretary Manny De Guzman, Climate Change Commission 
 
Regional Public Goods and the Philippine Blue Economy by Ronald Mendoza, Dean, School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University 
 
100 million solutions to health by Susan Pineda-Mercado, Special Envoy of the President for Global Health Initiatives 
 
International Law and the National Interest by Jeffrey Ordaniel, Assistant Professor, International Security Studies, Tokyo International University 
 
Session 4: Weakening of Social Cohesion and Trust 
 
How Blockchain Applications Can Improve Trust in Public Sector Institutions by Alan McQuinn, Senior Policy Analyst, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation 
 
Closing Plenary Session 
 
Leveraging on Fintech Innovations for Financial Inclusion by Francisco Dakila Jr., Deputy Governor, Monetary and Economics Sector, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 
 
Synthesis and Ways Forward: Navigating the New Globalization: Local Actions for Global Challenges by Arsenio Balisacan, Chairman, Philippine Competition Commission