An agenda-setting workshop on Archipelagic Studies and Oceans Policy was conducted on March 18, 1998 at the National Center for Transportation Studies, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The workshop objective was to identify the priorities of the University of the Philippines with respect to academic programs in the area of Archipelagic Studies and Oceans Policy. Moreover, the activity intended to highlight the concerns that should be brought to the attention of the Philippine government with respect to archipelagic and oceans-related matters.

Eleven papers were presented, describing what the various UP units are doing and defining what else should be done. The papers were on different fields, namely: (1) Legal and Security Issues; (2) Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf; (3) International Relations; (4) Governance; (5) Coastal Zone Development and Management; (6) Environmental Management; (7) Cultural and Community Studies; (8) Tourism; (9) Oceanographic Studies; (10) Extraction and Utilization of Ocean Resources, including Bioprospecting; and (11) Marine Transportation and Safety.

Representatives of 15 programs/units from the different campuses of UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Los Baños, and UP Open University participated in the workshop. There were also guests from the Marine Industry Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Succeeding discussions were held on April 2, 1998; May 8, 1998; June 29, 1998 and July 22, 1998 at the UP Institute of Small Scale Industries, UP Diliman to discuss project proposals from the different units of the University.

In August 1998, eight key program areas were defined based on the premises embodied in the resolution that formally created the Systemwide Network. These areas include: (1) Food Security; (2) Water Supply; (3) Transportation, Communication and Tourism; (4) Environmental Conservation; (5) Nonliving Resources and Renewable Energy; (6) Marine Living Resources and Biodiversity; (7) Formation of a National Community; and (8) Preservation of National Security. Then UP President Emil Q. Javier indicated that the creation of the Network elevates the relevant concerns of archipelagic and ocean studies to the national level.