Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero and AProf. Rhea L. Gumasing appeared in the 17th episode of DZLB Online’s Galing UPLB! program last June 11, 2021. They discussed their research project titled “Assessment of Policy Constraints to the Effective and Efficient Conduct of Public R&D in the Philippines,” which is funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
The research project specifically aims to investigate the specific provisions of the 2016 Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), which constrain the successful procurement of selected research and development institutions (RDIs) in the country. It also intends to examine the institutional operations related to procurement system and financial management such as the number of days of procurement documents processing. In addition, the project aims to describe the different procurement challenges experienced by institutions and research projects including the provisions of honorarium and incentive system to researchers, effects of cash-based budgeting, and limitations of hiring contractual staff. From the results of the study, the project team intends to propose policy recommendations to enhance research and development operations.
The project, which started in June 2020, has conducted surveys and online interviews with 48 RDIs. These include 30 state universities and colleges and 18 attached agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (8), Department of Agriculture (9), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (1). The project team interviewed procurement officers (bids and awards committee [BAC] members, BAC-secretariats, technical working groups), research project leaders and staff, research and accounting division heads, and suppliers. Data gathering and report writing are expected to be completed this year.
Likewise, findings of the study will be presented later this year.
Aside from Prof. Querijero and AProf. Gumasing, other members of the team are aProf Arlene Gutierrez of the UPLB College of Economics and Management and project-based staff namely, Ruth Anne T. Ruelos, Charina Krissel D. Tingson, and Erika E. Samson.
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