PCED Institute of Public Economics and Regulation (PIPER), in partnership with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), announces the First PIPER Policy Forum with the theme “Fiscal Decentralization after 20 Years:  What have we got to show?  What have we learned?  Where do we go from here?”  The forum will be held on 16 January 2012, 9 am – 5 pm at the Crowne Plaza Galleria in Ortigas.

The one-day forum will feature a review of the successes and pitfalls of decentralization in the last 20 years since the passage of the Local Government Code of 1991.

It shall be distinguished by a presentation of evidence-based, analytical assessments of key issues by top scholars.  An equally distinguished panel of experts and practitioners will then react to the presentation. Thus guided, the forum participants are expected to have more focused and informed debates, and reach wider, firmer consensus on the needed reforms.

The featured speakers are Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno of UP to provide a 20-year retrospective, Dr. Gilbert Llanto of PIDS to review the assignment of functions and intergovernmental fiscal relations, Dr. Paul Hutchcroft of ANU to discuss governance and accountability issues, and Dr. Jan Werner of the BITS University of Applied Sciences (Germany) to provide an international perspective.

There will also be a roundtable discussion of specific issues or topics to be hosted by Dr. Andreas Lange of GIZ over lunch.

The target forum participants and discussants will include policymakers, national and local government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, the academe, non-government organizations, and media.

The participation in the forum will be free of charge.  While  most participants will be invited, the organizers welcome limited number of participants from the general public on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you’re interested to attend, please register here.

The Forum Secretariat will confirm your invitation in due time.

Please click here for details.  You may also e-mail us at piper.secretariat@gmail.com or call us at tel.  (02) 9279686 loc 333 and look for Pam Lomaad.