The University of the Philippines Cebu College of Social Sciences (UP Cebu CSS) and the UP Los Baños College of Public Affairs and Development (UPLB CPAf) officially launched the 5th International Conference on Governance and Development (ICGD 5) during its kick-off program on September 16 via Zoom, opening the call for abstracts for the international conference set for July 28–30, 2027 in Cebu City.
Carrying the theme “Inclusive and Resilient Futures through Transformative Governance,” ICGD 5 will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, share practices, and explore evidence-based approaches to governance and development.
The biennial International Conference on Governance and Development (ICGD) provides a platform for the exchange of ideas, sharing of best practices, and development of partnerships toward sustainable development through transdisciplinary action. For its fifth leg, the conference will be co-organized by UPLB CPAf and UP Cebu CSS in Cebu City.
The September 16 kick-off, titled “Reimagining Governance, Shaping Resilient Futures,” featured UP Cebu CSS Professor Weena Jade S. Gera as resource speaker and UPLB CPAf Associate Professor Henry M. Custodio as discussant. UP Cebu CSS Dean Regletto Aldrich D. Imbong and UPLB CPAf Dean Rhea L. Gumasing delivered the opening messages.
Rethinking governance for resilient futures
Gera’s presentation opened a discussion on the challenges of building more responsive and accountable governance systems amid increasingly interconnected risks.
Among the issues raised in the discussion were the limitations of existing governance frameworks, the need for more practical approaches to addressing development challenges, and the importance of strengthening accountability mechanisms across different levels of governance.
The conversation also connected local experiences in Cebu, including recent disasters, with broader regional concerns. Gera raised questions on how governance systems can respond to crises at different scales and pointed to the need for stronger regional approaches, including in addressing emergency governance and energy policy within ASEAN.
The discussion further touched on accountability in the Philippine context, including the role of governance in responding to climate risks and concerns surrounding corruption. Gera referenced her paper, “Flood-Control Fiasco: A Policy Reckoning for Accountability in the Philippines’ Climate Risk Governance,” presented under the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies’ Urban Studies Program.
These points led to a broader question relevant to the conference theme: How can governance systems be strengthened to ensure accountability and build resilience for the future?
The presentation was followed by an question-and-answer session with Assoc. Prof. Custodio, allowing participants to further engage with the issues raised.
Building toward ICGD5
The kick-off set the stage for the 2027 conference, which seeks to challenge traditional governance silos and foster transdisciplinary approaches to community building and sustainable development.
From UP Cebu, Dean Regletto Aldrich D. Imbong serves as Convenor Co-chair, while Atty. Francis Michael C. Abadserves as ICGD 5 Conference Co-chair. Abad delivered the closing remarks, formally concluding the kick-off program.
With the conference officially launched, ICGD 5 is now accepting abstracts from researchers, academics, practitioners, policymakers, and other interested contributors whose work engages with governance and development.
The conference welcomes contributions that contribute to discussions on inclusive and resilient futures through transformative governance, particularly those offering grounded and evidence-based perspectives on contemporary governance challenges.
5th International Conference on Governance and Development (ICGD 5)
Inclusive and Resilient Futures through Transformative Governance
July 28–30, 2027 | Cebu City, Philippines
Learn more here: https://cpaf.uplb.edu.ph/icgd5/