An academic who has worked for more than 30 years at the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) has been named the new director of the country’s only academic institution offering graduate-level training in demography and population studies.
Associate Professor Maria Paz Marquez, who holds a doctorate in education (research and evaluation), will serve as head of the institute from Aug. 1, 2026, to July 31, 2029, the UPPI said in a statement on Aug. 3.
Established in 1964, the institute has a three-pronged mandate of teaching, research, and extension. It plays an important role in analyzing population-related issues through its research and extension programs. According to the UPPI, Marquez earned her master’s degree in demography from the institute and her bachelor’s degree in statistics from the UP School of Statistics. She has been teaching at UPPI for more than 30 years.
‘Following the strong legacy of previous directors, the Institute is confident that under her guidance, UPPI will continue to shape future demographers and population specialists, sustain research on demography and population studies, and deliver meaningful public service through extension work,’ the institute said.
Throughout her tenure at the institute, Marquez has served in key roles involving quality assurance, data archiving, academic program coordination, training, and research.
The UPPI houses facilities for analyzing survey data and maintains an archive of surveys on population-related topics.
Marquez has published several research articles on reproductive health, adolescent sexuality, and fertility.
Last year, she participated in a United Nations Population Fund-sponsored research project that evaluated an out-of-school Comprehensive Sexuality Education program for young people involved in sex work. /mcm