University of the Philippines School of Economics

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14°39′21″N 121°4′24″E / 14.65583°N 121.07333°E / 14.65583; 121.07333

University of the Philippines Diliman
School of Economics
Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman
Kolehiyo ng Ekonomiks
Façade of the School of Economics
TypePublic University; Research University; Degree-granting unit of the University of the Philippines Diliman
Established1965
Parent institution
University of the Philippines Diliman
DeanMa. Joy V. Abrenica, Ph.D.
Academic staff
at least 47
Students646 (as of 1st Semester, AY 2023 - 2024)
Undergraduates571
Postgraduates57
18
Address
Guerrero corner Osmeña Streets, Diliman
,
Websitewww.econ.upd.edu.ph

The University of the Philippines Diliman School of Economics is a degree-granting unit of the University of the Philippines Diliman specializing in the study of economics. Established in 1965, the School of Economics was chosen as the first and only CHED Center for Excellence in Economics in the Philippines in 1999.

In April 2017, the School was among the top 5% (rank 244 among 7,408) of economics departments in the world based on the strength of its graduate students, as ranked by RePEc.[1]

Faculty research is particularly strong in the areas of health economics, public economics, and development economics. In collaboration with the Philippine Economic Society, the school publishes the Philippine Review of Economics,[2] a leading journal of economics-related research in the Philippines.

The 9th and current dean of the School of Economics is Prof. Ma. Joy V. Abrenica, Ph.D. She was appointed in 2021 for a term for 3 years.[3]

History

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Department of Economics

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The School of Economics traces its origins to the Department of Economics (under the then-College of Business Administration, now the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business), and the economic research wing of UP, the Institute of Economic Development and Research (IEDR, a former unit of the university). Though separate units of UP, instructors and professors under the department also held positions in the institute, which led to contention in administration that would later motivate the formation of a separate School of Economics.

The Department of Economics was financially and academically supported by institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Visiting professors such as Karl William Kapp and Vernon Ruttan from the Rockefeller Foundation, and John H. Power and Harry Oshima from the Ford Foundation were indispensable to the then-department.

Additional visiting professors such as Jeffrey G. Williamson and Leon Mears would offer their services to the department.

The Department of Economics initially specialized solely in baccalaureate programs in economics, immersing students with economic problems in the Philippines. Graduate studies in economics were often taken in foreign universities upon financial backing. Foreign exchange programs to universities like Harvard, Columbia, and MIT would be funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

In 1963, the then-Director of the IEDR, Amado Castro, and the then-Chair of the Department of Economics, José “Pepe” Encarnación, Jr., would push for a homegrown graduate studies program, up to the doctorate level, at the department.

In early 1964, a one-year UP-University of Wisconsin Program in Development Economics specializing in basic skills in development economics would be financed by the Ford Foundation.

Many of the graduates of the time would serve in what would become the National Economic and Development Authority and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

School of Economics as a Degree Granting Unit

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Recommended by the then-Dean of the College of Business Administration, Cesar Virata, and endorsed by then-U.P. President Carlos P. Romulo, the School of Economics was established in 1965 as a degree-granting unit upon the merger of the Department of Economics and the Institute of Economic Development and Research. Amado Castro would serve as the first Dean of the School of Economics from its founding, until his resignation in 1974.

In 1974, José Encarnación, Jr. became the dean of the school, and would serve until 1994, making him the longest-serving Dean of the school.

In the same year, the Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED) was established to provide research, training, teaching and other programs in support of the School of Economics.[4][5]

Financed by PCED, the School of Economics would move to its current location along Osmeña Avenue in 1977. The school’s two buildings, the Diosdado P. Macapagal Hall (often referred to as the Library Building) and the José “Pepe” Encarnación, Jr. Hall, were designed by renowned architect, Carlos Arguelles.

At some point in time, the AB Economics (AB Econ) program would be superseded by the BS Economics program.

After Encarnación, Felipe Medalla would serve as Dean of the School.

On January 30, 2015, the School of Economics would celebrate its 50th founding anniversary which was celebrated by the UP Economics Society (EcoSoc) and the UPSE staff, alumni, and students.[6]

As of the 1st Semester of AY 2018 - 2019, the BS Economics and BS Business Economics curriculum would be retroactively revised to streamline the courses for each program and to prescribe courses for each according to the General Education Program.

From May 15 to November 17, 2023, the School of Economics and the PCED would host a lecture series titled "PCED@50 Lecture Series: 50 Years of Economic Policy-making." to be delivered by former NEDA Directors-General Gerardo Sicat, Solita Monsod, Cielito Habito, Felipe Medalla, and Dante Canlas and former NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia and incumbent Arsenio Balisacan.[7]

On May 17, 2024, the Philippine Center for Economic Development would formally celebrate its 50th founding anniversary. Surviving PCED founding members Gerardo Sicat, Cesar Virata, and Jaime Laya joined the current PCED Chair, Arsenio Balisacan, the DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, UP President Angelo Jimenez, and PCED Executive Director and UPSE Dean Joy V. Abrenica in marking PCED's golden anniversary.[8]

Deans of the School of Economics

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  1. Amado Castro (1965 - 1974)[9]
  2. José Encarnación, Jr. (1974 - 1994)[5]
  3. Felipe M. Medalla (1994 - 1998)[10][11]
  4. Raul V. Fabella (1998 - 2007)[12][13][14]
  5. Emmanuel S. de Dios (2007 - 2010)[15]
  6. Arsenio M. Balisacan (2010 - 2012)[16]
  7. Ramon L. Clarete (2012 - 2015)[17]
  8. Orville Jose C. Solon (2015 - 2021)[18][19]
  9. Ma. Joy V. Abrenica (2021 - Present)[3]

Degree Programs

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Undergraduate Programs:

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Graduate Programs:

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Rules on Scholastic Standing

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The University of the Philippines implements a grade point scale with the requirement that all baccalaureate students achieve a General Weighted Average (GWA) of no less than 3.00 (on a scale of 1.00 to 5.00, with 4.00 as conditional failure, and 5.00 as failed) at the end of each semester.[21]

The School of Economics, meanwhile, sets the minimum grade to pass a course to 2.5. Additionally, students must achieve a minimum Cumulative Weighted Average of 2.5, or they are dismissed from the school.[4] Additionally, all BS Econ and BS BE students are required to pass Econ 106 (Elements of Mathematical Economics) and Econ 131 (Quantitative Economics) within 4 semesters of enrolling in Econ 101 (Macroeconomics I) or Econ 102 (Microeconomics I), inclusive of the semester they enrolled in Econ 101 or 102.

For graduate studies, the minimum Cumulative Weighted Average is 2 for MA Econ and MDE econ students, and 1.75 for PhD students, according to University rules.

University of the Philippines School of Economics Library

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University of the Philippines School of Economics Library
 
 
Location2nd and 3rd floor, Library Building, Guerrero corner Osmeña Street, Diliman, Quezon City
Established1965
Collection
Size109,112 Books, Non-books, and Serials
Access and use
Population servedUPSE Students, UP System and Diliman students, UP Alumni, and upon request, Government Researchers, Private Researchers, and Undergraduates
Other information
Websitehttps://selib.upd.edu.ph

The University of the Philippines School of Economics Library (SELib) is a closed-stack library established alongside the school in 1965. It traces its origins to the collection held by the former Institute of Economic Development and Research, whose collection was transferred to the School of Economics Library.[22]

Much of the collection held by the IEDR was financed by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1957. The early collection under the IEDR was housed in Benton Hall, the former site of the IEDR, and now present site of the Center for International Studies.

During the early years of the library, Belen Angeles served as the Head Librarian, and would later serve as the University Librarian.[9] Brian Lloyd B. Dayrit currently serves as the Head Librarian.

The School of Economics Library is open to all students of the School of Economics, students within UP Diliman and the UP System. On appointment basis, the library also accepts government researchers, private researchers, and graduates and undergraduates from other universities.[23]

As of 2021, SELib houses 108,511 books and non-books, and 601 serials,[24] across 4 sections:

  • Circulation and Reserve Books section
  • Reference section
  • General Circulation section
  • Filipiniana and Serials section

SELib also houses other facilities, such as:

  • OPAC and Datasets Terminals
  • Main Reading Area
  • Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Knowledge Center
  • Discussion Rooms
  • Archives Room
  • Workrooms for the School’s publications

As of September 2024, the 3rd floor discussion rooms as well as the Filipiniana and Serials Section housed on the floor are unavailable to give way to renovations.

Philippine Center for Economic Development

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Philippine Center for Economic Development
 
Established1974
MissionThrough the support of the Center, a University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) that is able to perform its academic functions at a larger scale, ultimately contributing to the country's continuing and accelerating efforts at national development.
ChairArsenio M. Balisacan
Executive DirectorMa. Joy V. Abrenica
Key peopleGerardo P. Sicat, Cesar Virata, Jaime Laya
AddressEncarnacion Hall, School of Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City
Websitehttps://www.pced.gov.ph

The Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED) was founded in 1974 to provide research, training, teaching and other programs in support of the School of Economics.

The idea for a supporting organization for the school was first conceptualized by Gerardo P. Sicat, an associate professor of the school and the then-Chairman of the National Economic Board, as a way of providing financial support to the school and to supplement its meager resources. Sicat's initial idea would be scrapped upon Encarnación's insistence that the faculty of the school be able to conduct their own research in their fields of interests. However, the concept of an organization supporting the school was revived through Stephen R. Lewis, a consultant recruited by Sicat, who proposed the PCED, which functioned more as a foundation that the typical research institutes and centers of UP.[9]

The PCED would be formed by Presidential Decree 453, signed on May 13, 1974 by President Ferdinand Marcos. The PCED was also established as a trust to maintain funds for the benefit of the school in the long term.

Presently, the PCED offers assistance to the school through research grants for faculty research and other research conducted within the school, support for working papers published in the Philippine Review of Economics, information dissemination through seminars, teaching fellowships, and maintenance and refurbishment of PCED and school facilities.[22]

The PCED is administered by its executive director and overseen by its Board of Trustees:

Notable alumni

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Among notable alumni of the School, or the Department of Economics preceding it, are deans of the School and officers of the university, leaders of the Philippines' largest companies, entrepreneurs, economics faculty in various Philippine universities, past and present government Secretaries and Undersecretaries, including officials of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), a member of the Commission on Elections, two Governors of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, members of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, two Justices of the Supreme Court, a Vice-President of the Philippines, and a President of the Philippines.

Images

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References

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  1. ^ RePEc
  2. ^ Philippine Review of Economics
  3. ^ a b Gamba, Bino C. (August 27, 2021). "Abrenica is SE dean". University of the Philippines Diliman. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b https://our.upd.edu.ph/files/catalogue/ECON.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ a b "Intro & History". University of the Philippines School of Economics. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "Econ Light it Up". Facebook. January 29, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "PCED@50 Lecture Series: 50 Years of Economic Policy-making". UP Alumni Website. 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  8. ^ "NEDA chief honors PCED's 50 years of economic impact". Daily Guardian. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-09-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b c Sicat, Gerardo P. (December 2017). "A memoir of the young UP School of Economics". Philippine Review of Economics. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey (June 30, 2023). "Outgoing BSP chief Medalla bids farewell to PBBM". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XXVIII, Number I, January-March 1997" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Felipe M. Medalla, renewal of additional assignment as Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 June 1997 until 31 May 2000
  12. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XXIX, Number 1, January-March 1998" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Raul V. Fabella, appointment as Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 August 1998 until 13 July 2001
  13. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XXXII, Number I, January - March 2001" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Raul Fabella, renewal of additional assignment as Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 August 2001 until 31 July 2004
  14. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XXXV, Number 1, January - March 2004" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Dr. Raul V. Fabella, Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 August 2004 until 31 July 2007
  15. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XXXVIII, Number 2, April - June 2007" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Dr. EMMANUEL S. DE DIOS, Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 August 2007 until 31 July 2010
  16. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XLI, Number 3, July-September 2010" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. ARSENIO M. BALISACAN as Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 August 2010 until 31 July 2013
  17. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XLIII, Number 5" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. ISSN 0115-7450. Retrieved September 6, 2024. RAMON L. CLARETE as Dean, School of Economics, 26 July 2012 until 25 July 2015
  18. ^ "Summary of Decisions 1307th BOR Meeting" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Appointment of Dr. ORVILLE JOSE C. SOLON as Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 May 2015 until 30 April 2018
  19. ^ "UP Gazette Volume XLIX Number 6" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the University. Retrieved September 6, 2024. Appointment of Prof. ORVILLE JOSE C. SOLON as Dean, School of Economics, effective 1 May 2018 until 30 April 2021 (second term)
  20. ^ "Master of Arts in Economics – UP School of Economics – Graduate Program". Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  21. ^ "GRADES" (PDF). Office of the University Registrar - University of the Philippines Diliman. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Brief History – UPSE | Library". Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  23. ^ "College and Unit Libraries". The University Library, University of the Philippines Diliman. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  24. ^ "Brief Statistical Profile". The University Library, University of the Philippines Diliman. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2024-09-04.