Experts cite role of policy research in development 

Rey Anthony H. Chiu 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 7, 2012, (PIA) –With theft and robbery topping the list in the spate of recent crimes in Bohol, a research advocate would want to know if this is indicative of bottom-scraping poverty pushing helpless people to crimes or just the whim of no-sweat for money criminals. 

At the recent Kapihan sa PIA commemorating Development Policy Research Month in September, Bohol Center for Development Studies (BCDS) chief Romeo Teruel ably elucidated the role of development policy research amidst a lingering belief that development policy research is nothing but waste of local government time and resources. 

BCDS is the research arm of the Provincial Government of Bohol and has been largely played key role in backing with scientific date Bohol’s development plans in the past years. 

A development policy research on the profile of criminals facing suits against these crimes would be telling, Teruel said. 

If indeed it is extreme poverty that pushed these criminals here to commit atrocities, then we can recommend to the government the proper interventions, Teruel added. 

Holy Name University Center for Local Governance’s (HNU-CLG) Josefina Tortor-Cimene has earlier congratulated Bohol for initiating the move to establish the BCDS and leading by manifesting the necessity of [policy] research. 

Cimene also pointed out the recent springing up of consciousness on the need of worthy data gathering, participative processes and consultative activities, as methods of getting information, thus researching. 

HNU Research Center’s Maria Paz Espiritu, on the other hand rebutted common myths that research makes things costly. 

She explained that by research, instead of readily venturing out to start projects that end up not viable, a well founded research can save local governments the troubles. 

I personally admire [these] people who go to research before venturing out into projects, which is indeed costly but in the end, saves them time and resources, Espiritu quipped. 

On the other hand, Bohol island State University’s Dr. Anacleta Perez pointed out the local culture of superstition has made research somewhat unpopular among Boholanos. 

“We are behind beause of a cuture that we follow, which can be contrary to research,” Dr. Perez said. 

She however shared her elation at the recent development, that is, schools leading the way for research to be mainstreamed. (30/gg)