Philippine Economic Society (PES)
Around 300 economists and allied professionals attended the 57th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Philippine Economic Society on 07 November 2019 at the Novotel Manila, Araneta Center, Quezon City, with the theme, “Rethinking Development Strategies: Integrating Technology, Promoting Competitiveness, Reinvigorating Industries.”
This year’s conference theme reexamined current development paradigms in light of advances in digitalization, computing, and artificial intelligence, which are expected to reverberate throughout the macroeconomy.
The keynote address, delivered by Usec. Rafaelita Aldaba of the Department of Trade and Industry, highlighted the country’s need for a new industrial policy to better adopt new technologies in the goal of achieving industrial development.
The keynote address was followed by a panel discussion on the conference theme, which featured Usec. Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Dr. Eli Remolona of the Asia School of Business, Ms. Marilou Uy of the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development, and Ms. Minette Navarrete of Kickstart Ventures, Inc.
The second plenary session was organized by NEDA as part of the celebration of the Economic and Financial Literacy Week 2019 with the theme, “Our Planet’s Health, The Future’s Wealth.” A presentation by Mr. Stephen Ling of the World Bank linked the impacts of climate change to the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, the De La Salle University (DLSU) organized a plenary session connecting the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the ASEAN Economic Integration. The discussions were led by Dr. Tereso Tullao, Jr. of the DLSU School of Economics and DLSU Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Dr. Raymond Tan.
The conference program included 16 parallel sessions where various papers were presented covering topics such as the economics of innovation, digital economies, agriculture and natural resources, household economics, poverty, human capital and social mobility, trade, finance and insurance, and the labor market.
The closing plenary session was organized by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) focusing on the role of competition policy in a globalized world grappling with the consequences of rapid technological progress, inequality, and heightened populism. The session was headlined by PCC Chairman Arsenio Balisacan, Marikina Representative Stella Luz Quimbo, Asian Development Bank Country Representative to the Philippines, Dr. Kelly Bird, and University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and National Scientist, Dr. Raul Fabella.