(AUF-CRD TEAM. (L-R) Sherry M. Mendoza, AUF-CRD senior research officer; Dr. Roberto C. Pagulayan, former executive director of AUF-CRD and currently full-time faculty of the Biology Department; Madonna M. Valenzuela, AUF-Graduate School part-time faculty; and Patricia Joy P. Magsino, AUF-CRD statistician. Contributed photo)
THE Angeles University Foundation Center for Research and Development (AUF-CRD) research team won the “Best Research Paper” in the recently concluded 2019 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Academic Symposium. The symposium was held October 15, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City with the theme “Building Blocks for National Competitiveness”.
The winning paper titled “Do cities compete? An analyses of the Philippine Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index” was authored by Dr. Roberto C. Pagulayan, former Executive Director of AUF-CRD and currently full-time faculty of the Biology Department and co-authored by Sherry M. Mendoza, AUF-CRD Senior Research Officer, Patricia Joy P. Magsino, AUF-CRD Statistician and Madonna M. Valenzuela, AUF-Graduate School part-time faculty.
One of the highlights of the program was a question and answer portion by the distinguished panel of members composed of the following: Dr. Orlando S. Mercado, former Senator and now Secretary General of Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration, Dr. Alvin P. Ang, Director of Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development, Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto, President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Ms. Ofelia M. Templo, former World Bank – International Finance Corporation (IFC) Consultant, Dr. Lawrence B. Dacuycuy, President of Philippine Economic Society and Mr. Guillermo M. Luz, Associate Director of Ayala Corporation and Chief Resilience Officer and Advisor of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF).
Fifty (50) papers were initially selected where the ten finalists were shortlisted and invited to attend the event for paper presentation. The top three (3) best research papers were then selected.
The CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
AUF-CRD serves as the academic partner of the Department of Trade of Industry (DTI) Region 3 for the conduct of this survey in Pampanga.
