Written by Cymon Kayle Lubangco
The Economics Work Package of the Coastal Cities at Risk Philippines (CCARPH), led by Dr. Ramon Clarete, CCAR Economic Sector team leader, and Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño, CCAR senior research associate and chair, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University, conducted the graduation ceremony for its workshop series on computable general equilibrium modelling on April 24, 2021.
The workshop series was held for nine Saturdays, from February 13, 2021 to April 17, 2021. The participants of the series were from various organizations, including: the CCAR cities of Naga and Iloilo City together with the respective academic partners (Ateneo de Naga University and University of the Philippines – Visayas), Institute for Labor Studies of the Department of Labor and Employment, University of the Philippines School of Economics, Asian Development Bank, Ateneo de Manila University, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, and Ateneo de Davao University.
The workshop tackled the economic methodology known as the computable or applied general equilibrium model to evaluate the impact of economic and natural phenomenon, including disaster risks. The models that were used for a project, the Coastal Cities at Risk (CCAR) project at the Ateneo de Manila University, from 2014 to 2020, were shown. Other models relating to fiscal policy (including reforms in taxation and public expenditure) and trade policy were also explored in the workshop.
As part of the culminating activity, the participants were asked to present their research plan which takes advantage of the tools taught during the workshop. Their topics range from labor issues to disaster risk and health issues, to natural resource utilization, to fiscal policy. Many of the graduate students agreed to finalize the topics of the research and write papers, which we can form the part of their MA thesis or PhD dissertations.
During the closing remarks, Dr. Ramon Clarete highlighted that the significant outcome of the workshop which is to produce a new generation of modelers. Meanwhile, Dr. Emma Porio, CCAR project leader and principal investigator, emphasized the importance of co-generation and co-creation of capacities and knowledge across various disciplines and stakeholders
“If we practice the two principles of co-generation and co-creation, then it will lead to co-benefits and co-ownership. And in the end, it will lead to what we call actionable science: doable and consumable by everybody.”
Cymon Kayle Lubangco is graduate student of economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is also the research assistant for the research on analyzing the economic impact of flooding in Naga and Iloilo cities which extends the CCAR project outside of Metro Manila.
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