De La Salle University - Manila

History

The Social Development Research Center (SDRC) grew out of a long-running effort to create a university environment conducive and rewarding to research. Preliminary efforts began in 1973 under the initiative of Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, then Academic Vice President, with seminars and workshops focused on research and materials publication.

In 1977, the Office of Research was created and structured to incorporate several research units in De La Salle. In 1979, this office was renamed the Integrated Research Center, and tasked to provide better coordination of research activities in the university. The IRC incorporated six research-related offices: the Center for Urban Studies of the Behavioral Sciences Department, the Economic Research Bureau, the Project Management Center of the Graduate School of Business, the Research Unit of the Educational Management Center, the Textbook Development Office, the Case Research Development Office, and the Industrial Research and Development Center.

The Center initially had two goals: to provide funding and support services for research, preparation and publication of materials for teaching within the university, and to serve as liaison between the university faculty and professionals in government, business and industry who require the faculty's consultative and research services.

In its first few years, the Center published teaching and learning aids such as textbooks, manuals, readings, journals, monographs, and brochures. The materials were to be used for teaching various natural and social sciences, including literature, accounting, and religion. The Center also organized seminars and forums on its research activities, which initially included internal university operations such as canteen services, administrators' workload and salaries, and the feasibility of a satellite campus. It also accomplished three industry projects: 10 cases in finance and a survey of academic training for finance managers for the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), a training program for Manila Machineries and a seminar on non-technical writing and oral communication for the staff of the Philippine National Oil Corporation.

To create a campus climate conducive to research, the Center implemented a Research Overload Program, allowing teachers carrying regular teaching load to diversify their sources of income by undertaking research for the Center. The incentive offered was paying equivalent to a teaching overload plus a 10% premium. It has since evolved into a Research Deloading Program, following the shift from a semestral to a trimestral university system in 1981, and a year later, into the Faculty Research Program under the University Research Office.

But a portent of things to come was its major project on Basic Services for the Urban Poor. Funded by the Asia Foundation, the project had two components: an action-research project in the Leveriza Community to provide basic urban services to residents through a cooperative system, and the preparation of a management model for the entire metro manila area, featuring a cooperative rather than a service-delivery system for providing basic urban services.

In 1981, the Center further refined its goals into two research thrusts: internally-funded research on the university's instructional service and support for the university's teaching functions, and externally-funded research on problems of development, mainly poverty and social equity. The latter was envisioned to include policy studies on employment creation, appropriate technology, energy, population and the environment. To accomplish these thrusts, the IRC was organized into two units: The University Research Office (URO) and the External Research Office (ERO). The URO managed internally-funded researches under the Faculty Research program while the ERO coordinated and monitored all externally-funded faculty research projects approved by the University. The ERO eventually evolved into what is now the SDRC.

In October 1981, the Ford Foundation awarded a grant to the Center's longest-running program, the Participatory Upland Management Program (PUMP), for training, research and experimentation in participatory approaches to upland management in the Philippines. The program has since helped disadvantaged upland communities, particularly the Hanunuo Mangyan in Mindoro, to develop and sustain their capability to manage upland resources like trees and water. For the past 17 years, PUMP has worked with upland communities, government and non-government institutions to promote a greater awareness of upland issues and concerns and the need for community-based participatory strategies to upland development. Through relevant research, PUMP helped the government to develop more responsive policies and programs that recognize and harness the capabilities of upland communities to manage their resources. It also helped to create niches for non-government organizations and researchers from academic institutions to collectively address upland problems.

Other significant projects undertaken at this time were:

The Upland Management Project (1981), funded by the Bureau of Forest Development Upland Program, which aimed to provide an inventory of all upland forestry projects in the Philippines and analyze the reasons behind the relative success of five of them.

The Participatory (Basic) Urban Services Project in Manila, Cebu and Davao (1981), which aimed to develop a model cooperative system that would involve urban poor residents in the management of basic urban services for their respective communities. It was part of a five-nation study sponsored by the International Development Research Center in Ottawa, Canada, and which included Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

The Pundasyon Hanunuo Mangyan School Project for Hanunuo Mangyan Chiledren in Three Sitios of Bulalacao Town, Mindoro Oriental (1983). The project, funded by the Ford Foundation, aimed to develop and implement a culture-based basic education program appropriate to the needs, experiences and aspirations of the Hanunuo Mangyan community and to help build the community's capability to manage the school. The community took an active part in running the school from the day it was created. Besides building and maintaining school facilities, monitoring pupil attendance and helping solve discipline problems, Mangyan leaders took full charge of various school operations, including the screening and selection of pupil applicants to the school, recruitment and hiring of teachers and presentation of reports on school and community issues at project steering committee meetings held every three months.

Effects of International Contract Labor (1981). Funded by the International Development Research Center in Ottawa, Canada, the research aimed to examine and analyze the effects of the migration of Filipino overseas contract workers on the economic, demographic and social conditions at the household and community levels. It focused on five communities: Barangay Vergara, Mandaluyong; Barangay Parian, Calamba; Poblacion, Batangas; Miag-ao, Panay; and Anini-y, Antique.

Health and Nutritional Problems and the Utilization of Health Services: The Situation Among Pre-Schoolers in Depressed Metro Manila Communities (1983). Funded by the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), the study investigated the health and nutritional status of Filipino children in depressed communities in Manila, Pasay City and Caloocan City and the community health services available to them.

In August 1983, the Center further refined its mission by describing the kind of research it had been doing and intended to do--relevant, appropriate, policy-oriented, responsible, and multi-disciplinary. It also upheld the values of excellence in carrying out research and the sharing of the fruits of its research with others. It was also renamed the Research Center.

In schoolyear 1984-85, a shift was noted in the Center's research orientation from basic diagnostic researches to more action-oriented strategies. The Center at this time identified three areas of concern: intensified activities in the fields of diagnostic and action-oriented research geared towards improving the economic and social conditions of the population, definition of priorities in research on poverty and social equity in specific areas of the country, and coordination with national and international institutions and other government organizations in conducting field research and action programs.

These concerns guided the Center in its activities during the tumultuous historic events that saw the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship by a peaceful people's revolution in 1986 and the ratification of a new Constitution and election of a new Congress in 1987.

Significant projects during this period include:

Case Studies of Selected Basic Christian Communities in the Philippines (1984). A collaborative undertaking by the Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, the study was commissioned by the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference and funded by the Asia Foundation. It aimed to look into the nature and quality of community participation in selected BCCs, and the then DLSU Research Center focused on those in Santiago, Isabela; Mendez, Cavite; Cabcaben, Bataan; Alcantara, Cebu; Palo, Leyte; and Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

Economic Exchanges Between Mangyans and Lowlanders: Implications for Upland Development (1984). The research, funded by the IDRC of Canada, aimed to investigate economic transactions between the Iraya Mangyan, an upland tribal group, and the "Tagalog" lowland residents of Barangay Caagutayan in San Teodoro, Mindoro Oriental.

Re-Integration of Returning Overseas Contract Workers: The Case of a Metro Manila Community (1985). Funded by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the pacific, this pilot study examines the psycho-social and economic dimension of the return of Filipino overseas contract workers to their homes in Barangay Vergara, Mandaluyong.

Women as Weavers: Female Artistic Production in Traditional Philippine Socio-Cultural Contexts (1985). The study, an analysis of Filipino female artistic production in the context of traditional Philippine societies, provides an in-depth view of traditional Filipino art. It aimed to add to the existing body of research on this subject by collating data on weaving and its creators, encompassing most indigenous tribes and a few lowland agrarian communities.

In July 1986, the Philippine Uplands Resource Center (PURC) was set up by a consortium of institutions that included the DLSU Research Center, the Institute of Philippine Culture of the Ateneo de Manila University, the College of Forestry and Institute of Environmental Science and Management of the University of the Philippines, and the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Funded by PUMP and the Ford Foundation, PURC aimed to systematically collect, classify and catalogue materials on the uplands; use the materials in developing instructional aids, identifying issues for discussion and action, and formulating better upland management policies; and organize a network of and strengthen linkages with individuals and groups involved in upland development.

At this time, efforts at institutionalizing research in the University were producing results, but with more project pouring in, there was a need to reorganize the Center. As a result, in 1990, the URO became the University Research Coordination Office, and was placed under the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Resources. The ERO, with its predominant social science research orientation, became the Social Development Research Center, and was placed under the College of Liberal Arts.

Significant projects undertaken during this period were:

Social Benefits and Costs: People's Perceptions of the US Bases in the Philippines (1987). Funded by Hanns Seidel Stiftung, the study aimed to review and analyze empirical literature on the social effects of and issues surrounding the presence of the United States military bases in the Philippines from 1978 to 1987, determine the perceptions of selected key informants about specific bases issues, and elicit some major policy implications for consideration in determining the future of Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in the Philippines.

Rapid Assessment of Depressed and High-Risk Communities in Caloocan, Taguig, and Pasig (1991). The project, funded by the Health Education and Welfare Specialists, Inc. (HEWSPECS), was to be the first phase of an assessment of depressed urban poor communities in Metro Manila. It identified the high-risk communities and came up with relevant baseline data on them.

Health and Nutrition Status of and Health-Seeking Behavior Among Families in Depressed Urban Poor Communities (1991). A continuation of the rapid assessment of urban poor communities, this study aimed to identify the major diseases that pose significant health risks to urban poor communities and, consequently, to identify high-risk population groups in these areas. Funded by HEWSPECS, it also aimed to explain health maintenance, management of illness and use of health services in these communities.

A Research Framework in Social Policy Development in Selected Countries in the Asian Region (1992). Funded by the IDRC, the study aimed to review the state of social policy formulation in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Vietnam, to delineate issues, priorities, needs and relevant methodologies that can e addressed in future inter-country researches. It proposed a research framework for a regional social policy strategy for Asia.

Socio-Cultural Determinants of Induced Abortion in Developing Countries: The Case of Manila (1992). The study, funded by the Overseas Development Administration of the British Government, sought to help policy makers achieve a better understanding of the reasons behind induced abortion among women and the consequent need for intensive education on sex and family planning. It compared the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of women who underwent abortion with women who did not.

During the period 1993 to 1998, a sharp rise in funding for SDRC research projects was observed, from P5.88 million in schoolyear 1993-94 to P`6-47 million in schoolyear 1994-95, and P23-57 million in schoolyear 1995-96.

Significant projects launched at this time include:

Task Force and Post-Graduate Program on Social Science and Reproductive Health. The Ford Foundation funded both activities. The Task Force was created in August 1992 to advocate improved reproductive health for women and men in the Philippines through greater access to better quality services, increase awareness of reproductive health issues from a holistic perspective through sustained interaction among social and health scientists from government and non-government agencies, and explore alternative education and information modes on sexuality and reproductive health based on women's experiences. Launched in June 1993, the Post-Graduate Training Program of the DLSU Behavioral Sciences Department, the only one of its kind in Philippine health science, offers a one-year diploma course and a two-year master's program. These aim to impart a holistic understanding of the cultural and social context of health research and program design, and the implementation and evaluation of health programs. They also aim to instill gender sensitivity among students.

Asia-Pacific Regional Network on Gender, Sexuality and Reproductive Health, and Forum on the Teaching of Health Social Science Conference, Cebu City, January 8 to 18, 1995. Funded by the Ford Foundation, the Conference was the culmination of a 12-month project aiming to product country situation analyses and case studies on the teaching of health social sciences in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. It also aimed to formulate an action plan for collaborative work among social and health scientists and representatives of women's groups from countries taking part at the Conference.

Research Practicum on Population and Health (1995). Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the practicum aimed to promote the use of research as a management tool within population and health programs, provide the mechanisms to enable health and population practitioners to develop effective programs based on their research findings, and enable program managers to select specific programs using research strategies to improve the operations of population and health programs. Sites include Manila, Davao, Muntinlupa, Dasmarinas, Tuguegarao, Sto. Domingo in Nueva Ecija, Cotabato, Iloilo, and Ormoc.

A Community-Based Conservation and Enterprise Development Program for Indigenous Communities in Palawan (1995). The Program aimed to develop and strengthen the capabilities of a federation of tribes, the Nagkakaisang mga Tribu ng Palawan (NATRIPAL), and its member associations to manage community-based enterprises, promote sustainable use of natural resources, and contribute to biodiversity conservation in Palawan.

Development of a Culturally-Appropriate Community-Based Reproductive Health Strategy in Selected Barangays of Balayan and Malvar Towns in Batangas (1997). This activity aimed to evolve sustainable community-based reproductive health and family planning strategies focusing on quality health care. This was done by eliciting perceptions and expectations regarding reproductive health services from local government leaders, rural health staff and non-government organizations; identifying community-based resources, including networks and community-based organizations, and examining the prospect of involving them in providing quality reproductive health services; and identifying quality reproductive health services at various stages of life, from adolescence to adulthood.

STD and HIV-AIDS Clearinghouse and Information Management Program (1997). This aimed to assist the Department of Health, Program for Appropriate Technology for Health (PATH) and Philippine AIDS Surveillance and Education Project (ASEP) to disseminate, implement and evaluate priority information, education and community activities for the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV-AIDS in the country. The program manages and disseminates information on STDs and HIV-AIDS and provides technical assistance to government organizations engaged in prevention work with and for risk-groups: adolescents, sex workers, and men having sex with men.

Among the researches completed during this period were the following:

Decentralization in the Social Sectors in Selected Countries in the Asian Region (1994). Funded by the IDRC, the study aimed to determine how to improve the effectiveness of the decentralization process unleashed by the 1991 Local Government Code.

A Metro Manila-wide Survey on Public Issues and Voting Behavior (1995). The project sought to determine the perceptions and opinions of the Metro Manila voting population on current critical issues, particularly the execution in Singapore of Filipino domestic helper Flor Contemplacion, and the impact of such perceptions and opinions on the 1995 elections.

Assessment of the Quality of Care in Family Planning Services in Selected Delivery Points in the Philippines (1995). Funded by the United Nations Fund for Population Assistance, the study aimed to assess the quality of care in family planning service delivery in selected sites of the Philippines.

From 1998 to 2001, the Center began to undertake a greater number of projects in the areas of institutional reforms and local government development. Such a shift was significant in the light of the country's celebrating its centennial, and the spirit of nationhood which prevailed at this time. Among the projects that were completed at this time were:

Civil Society and Governance (1999). Funded by the Ford Foundation, the project was the Philippine component of a simultaneous global research program that sought to assess the effectivity of civil society organizations in the delivery of social services. It aimed to show how the relationship between civil society organizations and government in the implementation of community programs leads to good governance, as indicated by greater community participation, transparency and accountability.

Conflict Management and Resolution Training Project (2000). The training course was a collaborative endeavor between the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and the International Conflict Resolution Center of the University of Melbourne International Pty Ltd and the SDRC. The course covered training in the core values, knowledge, and skills in the are of conflict management and action research methodology. The training consisted of two components, the first introducing conflict resolution concepts, processes models, and skills, and the second exploring how conflict resolution concepts and skills can be applied in local and international contexts.

Policy Monitoring and Assessment (2000). This project provided government officials with policy evaluation, analysis, and recommendation in aid of policy formation. The team produced daily analysis and evaluation of relevant issues for the day, as well as weekly analysis and evaluation of pertinent policy issues. Issues tackled included poverty alleviation, power reform bill, solid waste management, peace process, law enforcement and criminality, corruption, labor and overseas Filipino workers, and the coco levy bill.

Promoting Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility in Developing Countries (2001). The research, funded by the Ford Foundation, aimed to examine how globalization, economic liberalization and democratization, and corporate social and environmental responsibility relate to the implementation of voluntary initiatives; identify the conditions underpinning corporate social and environmental responsibility; assess the contribution of the voluntary initiatives to social and sustainable development and towards improving labor conditions and the environment; and consider whether corporate self-regulation and civil regulation constitute and effective alternative to mandatory regulation.

The years 1999-2001 were also productive in that new initiatives for the Center's advocacy and commitment, such as the Domestic/Family Violence Health Curriculum and the Women, Work and Development in an Urban Poor Community projects, were pursued. The Center likewise forged an academic link with a UK university to foster collaboration work and exchange.

After two decades of research activities, the SDRC has gained the reputation of a credible and policy-oriented research institution. In the areas of environment, health, population, indigenous education, and lately, in governance, the Center has sustained a strong presence in the country. In the Asia-Pacific Region, it is earning a credible track record in reproductive health and health social science graduate training. It is hoped that the administration and the funding agencies will continue to express confidence in the Center, to enable it to continue to produce research in the service of the country and its people.