NCPAG concludes 65th anniversary international conference

Awarding of plaques of appreciation to conference co-organizers and sponsors. (L-R) NCPAG Dean and Conference Chair Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, Mr. Chalres Owen of San Miguel Corporation, Ms. Lisa Alano of UNDP, Ms. Gay Castañeda of Mandaluyong City Government, Dr. Gambhir Bhatta of ADB, and Secretaries General Dr. Maria Faina Diola and Dr. Enrico Basilio.

The University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) concluded on August 25, 2017 the international conference Public Administration in Changing Times: New Norms and Sustainable Reforms.

The conference, which was held for four days starting August 22, 2017 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City, was attended by 287 participants from all over the world. 62 of the participants presented their researches and studies in plenary and parallel sessions organized into five themes: 1. New norms in governance; 2. Quality of institutions and services; 3. Sustainable development reforms; 4. Not leaving anyone behind; and 5. New Challenges, trends and Solutions: The Future of Governance.

Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones was designated by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to deliver the keynote address in his behalf in the conference’s official opening ceremony. Vice President Leonora Robredo, meanwhile, was the keynote speaker at the plenary on the second day.

The conference was co-organized by the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme while San Miguel Corporation, the Mandaluyong City Government, and the Quezon City Government served as major sponsors.

It has been a tradition of NCPAG to host an international conference every five years and this one in particular is part of the College’s 65th anniversary celebration.

Established on 15 June 1952 as the Institute of Public Administration, NCPAG was the first institution of its kind in Southeast Asia. Today, it is recognized as the country’s leading academic institution in providing instruction, research and extension services in public management and public policy.