The Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC) joins the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in celebrating the 8th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) with the theme “Pananaliksik at Talakayan tungo sa Pag-ahon mula sa Kahirapan.”

Poverty reduction has always been a priority in the Government’s public policy agenda. At the same time, the target date for the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), one of which is to reduce the 1990 poverty level by half by 2015, is fast approaching.

This therefore underscores the need to assess our progress in achieving the goal of poverty reduction based on careful study and active interaction and collaboration among different sectors of society.

The DPRM, with its broad-based and nationwide outlets for discussion, may present the needed venue for this active and rigorous discussion. The various studies to be presented and activities organized during the month-long celebration of the DPRM will hopefully provide the appropriate base and support in helping craft a roadmap for economic development and poverty reduction for the new administration.

The 8th DPRM will feature a half-day seminar-discussion on the assessment of the country’s poverty situation on the 28th of September 2010. The event will likewise showcase the results of the monitoring efforts made on the country’s economic policies in recent months.