ALABANG — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) helped set up a convention on measure whether or not science and technology tasks are working.
The 2nd Science and Technology Impact Assessment Conference (IACon) 2026 was held May 25-26, 2026, on the Acacia Hotel right here. It was led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Public Affairs and Development, along with the Department of Science and Technology via the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD). The theme was “Evaluating What Works in STI-led Pathways to Development.”
IACon 2026 introduced collectively native and worldwide researchers, authorities officers and practitioners. They shared strategies, actual examples and concepts on construct affect evaluation into common monitoring and analysis. Impact evaluation (IA) is the method of checking whether or not a challenge delivers long-term advantages for individuals, the financial system and technology. Sessions targeted on enhancing instruments used to trace these results.
Searca Center Director Mercedita Sombilla stated IA helps reply three questions: which applications work, which must be fastened, and which needs to be expanded.
“The goal is simple. Make sure science and technology give real, measurable benefits: better incomes, stronger food systems, a cleaner environment, and better opportunities for people,” she stated.
In a roundtable on placing IA into decision-making, Searca’s Rowell Dikitanan stated IA shouldn’t be handled as only a requirement for donors.
“It must be a main part of how institutions plan and decide,” he stated.
Dikitanan, head of Searca’s Project Development and Technical Services Unit, spoke for Sombilla as a panelist.
He defined that Searca builds IA instantly into its twelfth Five-Year Plan known as Sustain Southeast Asia. The plan goals for 4 outcomes: larger farmer incomes or “Pocket,” higher meals safety or “Plate,” stronger farms and assets or “Place,” and extra expert farmers and leaders or “People.”
Dikitanan additionally led a session on how IA offers information for main investments comparable to house technology, mapping and geospatial techniques, and business plans that assist long-term nationwide targets.
He stated these investments matter extra when backed by sturdy establishments, regular partnerships and sensible methods to make use of them. IA additionally helps make coverage choices clearer and holds companies accountable.
Dikitanan gave two examples of Searca’s IA work. For the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s farm college program, Searca labored with all teams concerned to agree on targets and design the survey.
This confirmed the place there have been gaps, duplicated work, unclear roles and areas the place methods wanted to be strengthened. It additionally confirmed that good evaluation begins when everybody understands and owns the targets.
For giant applications, Searca adjusts its strategies. In the nationwide overview of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program, or RCEF-RESP, which reached greater than 300,000 farmers, trainers and extension employees in 57 provinces. Searca used surveys, group discussions, interviews and authorities information to supply a complete image of results.
Dikitanan stated there isn’t any single method to do IA. He advised leaders to concentrate on studying from results, settle for findings even when they’re unfavourable, and make certain IA results are mentioned throughout funds planning and used in the following cycle of tasks.
Searca has supported IACon for the reason that first convention in 2023, led by UPLB’s School of Environmental Science and Management. The subsequent convention might be held in 2028.
As Searca works to be a coverage heart for Southeast Asia, it promotes cautious affect evaluation in science and technology to assist information choices with proof.
Guided by its mission of linking science, coverage and apply, Sombilla stated Searca helps IA so investments in areas comparable to biotechnology, renewable vitality and digital farming translate into sensible advantages that enhance the lives of farming communities.