Legazpi City, Philippines — Development Academy of the Philippines – Graduate School of Public and Development Management Dean, Dr. Lizan Perante-Calina, delivered a futures thinking lecture at the National Extension Conference 2025, “Futures Thinking in Extension: Fostering Resilient Communities in a Changing World” as the event’s keynote speaker. Held at the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, the event forms part of DAP’s continuing efforts to democratize and localize futures thinking and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across various regions in the country.

Dean Perante-Calina emphasized futures thinking as a crucial strategy in navigating today’s  volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. She highlighted the role of DAP-GSPDM in equipping co-learners with the tools  to craft forward-looking scenarios and design transformative futures, positioning futures thinking as a driver of sustainable and inclusive development. Meanwhile, Learning Manager Shirwood M. Faigmane gave a short presentation on the GSPDM program offerings.

Key speakers included Dr. Marcia Corazon Rico, Director, BU Extension Management Division and Interim President of  the Bicol Global Extension Network (BIGEN), and Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres III, SUC President IV of Bicol University. Both leaders shared their aspirations for the conference and expressed their appreciation to the participants from 30 higher education institutions and state universities and colleges, including delegates from Bicol University and BIGEN, who also received the DAP-GSPDM knowledge products. 

Through this initiative, the DAP reaffirms its commitment to advancing localized research, extending the reach of futures thinking, and promoting the integration of the SDGs in academic and community-based extension programs.