MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is launching the 9th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) this September with the theme ‘Back to ABCs: Education for Development.’ The DPRM is a month-long celebration highlighting the vast contribution of policy research to the socioeconomic advancement of the Philippines. In line with the celebration of the DPRM, a number of activities such as workshops, seminars, exhibitions and other activities focusing on this year’s DPRM theme on education and development will be conducted throughout the country for the whole month of September. Among those activities lined up include: the PIDS-Asian Development Bank (ADB) forum on the “Philippine Economic Outlook and Development Challenges” on Sept. 14; the PIDS-DepEd Forum on “School Intervention and Gender Issues in Philippine Education” on Sept. 20; the PIDS-DOST-IDRC Discussion Forum on “Understanding Innovations: A Benchmark for Economic Growth and Competitiveness “on Sept. 27; and, the PIDS-DepEd-CHED-TESDA Forum on “Framework and Agenda for Philippine Education” on Sept. 28.