September is Development Policy Research Month (DPRM). The issuance of Proclamation 247 in 2002 was a visionary move by the Arroyo administration, putting special focus on policy research and highlighting its critical importance in socioeconomic development.

For this year, the observance of policy research month pursues a timely theme – “Strengthening Decentralization for Regional Development” – as it coincides with the Duterte administration’s proposal to shift to a federal system of government.