by Ferry Bayu | Nov 2, 2026 | Business
Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan is a leading Southeast Asian development economist and public servant who received the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) Award in Research from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. Beginning his academic journey with a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 1982, he dedicated his career to addressing the socioeconomic challenges confronting smallholder farmers and vulnerable rural households. Rather than treating economic growth merely as an abstract statistic, he shifted the paradigm of poverty measurement across the Philippines and East Asia from simple headcount tallies to assessing the actual depth and severity of deprivation. By demonstrating the complex links between agricultural issues, income distribution, and regional inequality, his research provided crucial evidence for universities, development banks, and government institutions, earning him a dedicatory Festschrift in 2022. Dr. Balisacan successfully bridged the gap between academic scholarship and state governance, utilizing rigorous data in leadership roles such as Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) to enact targeted social protection policies, enhance market competition, and modernize agriculture.
Dr. Balisacan is widely regarded as one of the region’s leading development economists. He received the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) Award in Research from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). This award honors alumni whose work shows both academic excellence and a strong commitment to serving society.
Purpose-driven economics
Dr. Balisacan started his academic path with a SEARCA graduate scholarship at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), where he earned his Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 1982. During his time at UPLB, he developed a strong interest in the welfare of smallholder farmers and the complex social and economic issues facing rural households.
This early foundation shaped his later doctoral and postdoctoral research and led him to question traditional macroeconomic ideas. Rather than seeing economic growth as just a national statistic, Dr. Balisacan focused on how policy decisions directly affect the lives of the most vulnerable.
Redefining the metrics of poverty and inequality
Over many years, Dr. Balisacan changed how researchers study poverty in the Philippines and East Asia. He helped introduce new ways to analyze poverty that go beyond simply counting poor people, focusing instead on the depth and severity of deprivation.
By exploring how income distribution, regional inequality, and farming issues connect, his research gave policymakers the solid evidence they needed to create focused and effective programs. His work on inclusive growth, modernizing agriculture, and rural development became key references for universities, development banks, and government agencies across Asia. In 2022, a special Festschrift honored his lasting impact on development economics.
Translating research into national transformation
Dr. Balisacan stands out for his unique ability to connect academic research with government leadership. In his top public service roles, especially as Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), he has used data and careful analysis to guide laws and reforms. His research has directly shaped programs for modernizing agriculture, improving market competition, and creating targeted social protection policies.
One of the biggest examples of his research-based leadership was his key role in creating AmBisyon Natin 2040, the country’s long-term development plan. Built on solid data and the hopes of citizens, this plan set out a shared vision for a fair and poverty-free society where every Filipino can live securely and comfortably.
A living testament to scholarship in service of society
Dr. Balisacan’s journey reflects SEARCA’s full-circle commitment to cultivating agricultural leaders and professionals. From a young scholar mastering agricultural economics in Los Baños to leading SEARCA as its Director, and ultimately steering national economic planning, his career illustrates the transformative power of evidence-based policymaking.
His 2026 OSSA award honors a lasting legacy. It shows that when academic rigor meets strong values and public service, research becomes more than theory—it becomes the foundation for a fairer, more prosperous nation.
###
About Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is a non-profit organization established in 1966 by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). As SEAMEO’s center of excellence in agriculture, SEARCA is mandated to provide high-quality graduate study in agriculture; promote, undertake, and coordinate research programs related to the needs and problems of the Southeast Asian region; and disseminate the findings of agricultural research and experimentation.
by Ferry Bayu | Nov 2, 2026 | Business
Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. (CLFI) through Proyekto Custodia: The National Sacred Art and Church Heritage Initiative, is supporting the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in its efforts to safeguard the country’s religious art.
As part of this program, more than 100 antique religious artworks, devotional icons, and ceremonial church objects from the collection of Cebuana Lhuillier Founder and Chairman, Philippine Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, H.E. Philippe J. Lhuillier, will be shared with selected churches across the Philippines.
Proyekto Custodia aims to help the CBCP care for the country’s religious and artistic legacy by bringing these objects to historic churches, missionary parishes, and rural chapels, where they can be appreciated in settings that reflect their religious significance.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, said the project reflects the family’s desire to support the Church’s work.
“My father, Ambassador Lhuillier, has long appreciated how religious art serves as an avenue to showcase history. It is meaningful for us to share part of his collection with the Church and support the CBCP’s efforts to look after these pieces. Through Proyekto Custodia, we hope these artworks will find a home in churches where parishioners and visitors can learn about and appreciate their significance.”
Under the partnership, the CBCP will help endorse Proyekto Custodia to more than 100 heritage churches nationwide and guide the identification of suitable recipients.
In his message for the project, CBCP President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera emphasized that safeguarding religious art is a shared responsibility. “The preservation of our sacred heritage is not the responsibility of the clergy alone. It is a shared mission involving the Church, the laity, cultural institutions, private foundations, artists, historians, and local communities,” he said.
For Jo-Ann Tacorda, First Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Cebuana Lhuillier, coordination with recipient churches will be important to the project’s implementation: “We want each piece to go to a church where it can be properly cared for and appreciated. Working with the CBCP helps us understand each church’s needs and ensure that the artworks are placed in settings suited to their purpose and history.”
Through Proyekto Custodia, CLFI is supporting the CBCP’s efforts to care for the country’s religious art and keep these works part of church life across the Philippines.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 31, 2026 | Business
As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, a critical question emerges: Is greater productivity coming at the expense of employee well-being? Premier Value Provider, Inc. (PVP), a Philippine-based workforce performance solutions company, explored the mental health risks and benefits of AI during its recent webinar, “Smarter Work, Healthier Minds? The Mental Health Impact of AI,” highlighting why responsible technology adoption, supportive leadership, and human connection remain essential to healthier workplaces.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform how people work, organizations are embracing its ability to streamline tasks, accelerate decision-making, and improve productivity. But amid the growing enthusiasm for AI, one important question remains: Are workplaces becoming more efficient at the expense of employee well-being?
This question was at the center of Premier Value Provider, Inc. (PVP)’s recently concluded mental health webinar, “Smarter Work, Healthier Minds? The Mental Health Impact of AI,” held on October 28, 2026.
The session is facilitated by Jose Mari A. Hulleza, MA, RPm, RPsy, a Registered Psychometrician and Registered Psychologist, who explored the opportunities and potential psychosocial risks associated with AI adoption, highlighting why technology must support- not replace- human care, critical thinking, and meaningful workplace relationships.
The Hidden Mental Health Risks of AI in the Workplace
While AI offers opportunities to reduce repetitive tasks and simplify increasingly complex workloads, the webinar highlighted how excessive dependence on technology may create new challenges for employee mental health.
Among the concerns discussed were reduced opportunities for independent problem-solving, declining confidence in one’s abilities, and fewer meaningful interpersonal interactions.
Hulleza explained how constantly turning to AI for answers, ideas, and decisions could gradually limit opportunities for employees to exercise their own judgment and critical thinking skills.
The discussion also explored the growing use of conversational AI for emotional support, emphasizing that while these tools may provide accessible information and interaction, they cannot replace genuine empathy, personal relationships, or professional mental health care.
Can AI Really Reduce Employee Burnout?
One of the webinar’s most thought-provoking discussions centered on the relationship between AI, workload, and employee burnout.
Although AI can automate repetitive tasks and reduce administrative burdens, Hulleza emphasized that improving efficiency does not automatically address the organizational conditions contributing to employee stress.
Unrealistic deadlines, excessive performance expectations, unclear priorities, and unhealthy workplace systems may continue to affect employees even after AI tools are introduced.
The discussion challenged organizations to look beyond technological solutions and examine whether their policies, leadership practices, and work environments genuinely support employee well-being.
Putting People at the Center of AI Adoption
Beyond identifying risks, the webinar highlighted how organizations can use AI more responsibly to support healthier workplaces.
These approaches include developing clear workplace AI policies, protecting data privacy, providing continuous employee education, encouraging independent judgment, and evaluating how AI implementation affects workload and psychological safety.
The discussion also emphasized the value of establishing a baseline understanding of employees’ mental health before introducing workplace changes or increasing performance expectations.
As highlighted in the webinar presentation:
“AI and technology can enhance productivity, but protecting mental well-being remains a human responsibility.”
For PVP, the discussion reinforces the importance of evidence-informed workplace strategies that consider both organizational performance and the people behind it.
As The Philippines’ Data-Driven Workforce Performance Partner, PVP continues to promote conversations and solutions that help organizations better understand workforce experiences, strengthen leadership, and create healthier, more sustainable workplaces.
Explore the Full Webinar Insights
For a more detailed discussion of the webinar’s key takeaways, including the mental health risks and benefits of AI and practical considerations for organizations, read PVP’s feature article:
Smarter Work, Healthier Minds? What Organizations Need to Know About AI and Employee Mental Health
READ THE FULL ARTICLE – https://www.pvpi.co/stories
Watch the full webinar: https://youtu.be/Ka3Qxcdubys
To learn more about PVP’s workforce analytics, organizational mental health assessments, training programs, and organizational development services, visit https://www.pvpi.co.
About Premier Value Provider, Inc.
Premier Value Provider, Inc. (PVP) is a Philippine-based insights, solutions, and training company that helps organizations improve workforce performance through analytics, evidence-based strategies, and practical organizational solutions.
Positioned as The Philippines’ Data-Driven Workforce Performance Partner, PVP works with businesses, government agencies, and institutions to strengthen employee engagement, organizational mental health, leadership effectiveness, and workplace performance. Through workforce analytics, organizational assessments, training, and capacity-building programs, PVP helps organizations translate data into meaningful actions that support healthier people and stronger organizations.
Website: https://www.pvpi.co Connect with PVP: https://linktr.ee/pvp.co
You must be logged in to post a comment.