Kristoffer B. Berse

• Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Wana0022 (talk) 14:11, 6 September 2026 (UTC)

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Kristoffer B. Berse
Kristoffer B Berse.jpg Kristoffer B Berse.jpg Kristoffer B. Berse from the recent NCPAG photoshoot 2026
Born	(1978-06-14) June 14, 1978
🏫 Education	University of the Philippines (BA) The University of Tokyo (MA, PhD)
💼 Occupation	Dean, Professor, Public Servant, Scientist, Disaster & Risk Reduction Specialist

Kristoffer "Kris" B. Berse is Dean, Professor, and Scientist II at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) in Diliman, Quezon City. He earned his Ph.D. and master's degrees in Urban Engineering and Environmental Studies, respectively, from the University of Tokyo, and his bachelor's degree in Public Administration from UP. He works broadly in the intersecting areas of public policy, sustainable development, inter-local cooperation, crisis management, climate adaptation, and disaster governance.

Educational background

Kris earned his Ph.D. in Urban Engineering from the University of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan. He is a recipient of the Monbukagakushō Scholarship, an academic scholarship offered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and selected on the recommendation of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General. At the same university, he also completed his Master's degree in Environmental Studies through the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the National College of Public Administration and Governance at the University of the Philippines.

Career

Dean Berse began his career as a University Research Associate in UP NCPAG after his graduation, from July 1999 to March 2002. His first experience outside of the college was serving as a Legislative Staff Officer for the Senate of the Philippines from March 2002 to September 2002.

He then pursued higher education at the University of Tokyo through the ADB-JSP Scholarship in 2002. He worked as a Research Assistant for the Global Environment Information Center of United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan from August 2002 to September 2004. In the same year, he was a Programme Fellow for Communications and Development for the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research in Kobe, Japan until June 2006.

Going back to the Philippines in July 2006, he served as the Head of the Knowledge Management Team for the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative in Quezon City until September 2009. He began his Doctoral studies in Urban Engineering at the University of Tokyo shortly after. He worked as Technical Staff for the Urban Planning Group of the Project on Sustainable Urban Renewal for the Elderly in the Japan Science and Technology Agency from November 2010 to March 2013.

Upon completion of his doctorate, he went back to UP NCPAG as an Assistant Professor in November 2014. He became an Associate Professor in 2019 and was promoted to Professor in 2025. Kris was appointed as the Dean of NCPAG in February 2023 and reappointed for another three-year term in February 2026.

He teaches fundamental courses in undergraduate and graduate programs of NCPAG, such as PA 101 Introduction to Public Administration, PA 141 Public Policy and Program Administration, and even new courses such as PA 152 Urban and Metropolitan Governance. Dean Berse also serves as a mentor, adviser, critic, and panel member to graduate students of UP NCPAG.

Awards and achievements

Berse receiving 2019 Virginia A. Miralao Excellence in Research Award from Philippine Social Science Council

• 2019 Virginia A. Miralao Excellence in Research Award, Philippine Social Science Council
• Rafael M. Salas Professorial Chair in Public Administration, University of the Philippines Diliman (2018–2019)
• UP Diliman Centennial Professorial Chair
• UP Diliman Centennial Faculty Grant
• UP International Publication Award
• One UP Faculty Grant Award in Public Administration (Public Policy), Teaching and Research, Research and Public Service
• Senior Research Fellow, Development Academy of the Philippines (2020–2022)
• Senior Fellow, Council of Fellows, Philippine Public Safety College (2020)

• Young Scientist, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (2018)

• Best Paper Awardee, TIARA (Thammasat Institute of Area Studies) International Conference (2024)
• Best Paper Awardee, 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia in Mahasarakham, Thailand (2016)
• International Network for Government Science Advice-Asia Essay Writing Contest (2020)

• Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian, Batch 1999 of UP NCPAG
• Class Valedictorian, Batch 1995 of San Juan National High School
• Most Outstanding Public School Student of San Juan, Jaycees International 1995

Public service

Kris' public service and extension work involves his expertise in public policy, crisis management, climate adaptation, and disaster governance. He was Director of the Research and Creative Work Division at the University of the Philippines Research Institute from 2019 to 2023. Prior to that, he was a Residential Program Coordinator for the Center of Public Administration and Governance Education (CPAGE) in UP NCPAG from 2016 to 2019.

He serves the University of the Philippines through committee work and other activities. He is Chair of the Bachelor of Public Administration Curriculum Review Committee, NCPAG Student Electoral Board, and NCPAG Library Committee. He is a member of various committees such as the UP Diliman Disaster Risk Reduction Management Subcommittee and the UP Post-Yolanda Technical Assessment Team for UP Tacloban and Leyte, among many others.

His commitment to service and his profession extends to international organizations and committees. He is currently an International Advisory Council Member for the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation in Taiwan and a Member of the SEA-SAN International Network for Government Science Advice-Asia Working Group. He is also a member of various international organizations such as the International Public Policy Association and the Start Network, among many others.

His service to society also involves consultancy work and imparting knowledge as a resource person to various organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme, Asian Development Bank, ASEAN, USAID, World Bank, GIZ, Local Government Academy, Philippine Public Safety College, Climate Change Commission, Development Academy of the Philippines, Supreme Court, The Asia Foundation, Save the Children, One Meralco Foundation, Build Change, Cebu PLGU, UP OVPPA, National Engineering Center - Building Research Service, GHG, Philippine Society for Public Administration, PhilFutures, and more.

Kris also reviews international and local academic journals. He assessed proposals for the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research Development (PCIEERD) and Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), two out of three sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Berse in Politika All the Way of One News with Jojo A, discussing PBBM's State of the Nation Address, 2 August 2026

He has participated in more than 120 speaking engagements, mainly academic conferences and public lectures or training. Kris has been invited to more than media appearances in print, TV, radio and/or podcasts, mass media think pieces, and policy briefs. He led the project development of COVID-related public service innovations such as Yani the encdovbot, Sakunwari board game, K-Hub, Policy Sourcebooks, and social media flashcards.

Selected Publications

• Berse, K., J. Pulhin, and A.G. La Vina (eds.) (2024). Climate Emergency in the Philippines: Impacts and Imperatives for Urgent Policy Action. Singapore: Springer Nature.
• Berse, K. (2024). "Risk-Sharing: Exploring Mechanisms to Enhance Local Disaster Resilience". In: Lamberte, M. et al. (eds.). Living Well Under the Shade of the New Normal, Vol. 2. Quezon City: National College of Public Administration and Governance, pp. 553–580.
• Berse, K. (2024). "Interrogating Urban Resilience through Futures Thinking: Implications and Imperatives for Disaster Risk Management Planning in the Philippines". Compendium of Research Studies 2020. Pasig City: Development Academy of the Philippines.
• Berse, K., K.L.M. Dedase, and L.A. Depante (2023). "Autonomous Adaptation and Governmental Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Resilience of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Philippines". In: Kaneko, Y. (ed.). Changing Law and Contractual Relations under COVID-19 : Reallocation of Social Risks in Asian SME Sectors. Singapore: Springer Nature, pp. 55–78.
• Berse, K. and E. Evidente (2023). "Building Climate-Resilient Communities: A Cursory Review of Selected Local Climate Action Plans in the Philippines". In: M. Martinus, Q. Jiahui, and S. Seah (eds.). Cities and Climate Challenges in Southeast Asia. Singapore: ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, pp. 73–91.
• Couglan de Perez, E., L. Harrison, K. Berse, et al. (2022). "Adapting to climate change through anticipatory action: the potential use of weather-based early warnings". Weather and Climate Extremes.
• Coughlan de Perez, E., K. Berse, L.A. Depante, et al. (2022). "Learning from the past in moving to the future: Invest in communication and response to weather early warnings to reduce death and damage". Climate Risk Management.
• Berse, K., K.L.M. Dedase, and L.A. Depante (2022). "Autonomous Adaptation and Governmental Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Resillence of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Philippines". In: Kaneko, Y. (ed.). Changing Law and Contractual Relations under COVID-19: Reallocation of Social Risks in Asian SME Sectors. Singapore: Springer Nature.
• Sandhu, S.C. and K. Berse. (2022). "A System of Systems Approach to Managing Coastal Cities: Prospects for Enhancing Sustainable Tourism and Disaster Risk Management in the Philippines". Social Science Asia. 8(3):34–58.
• Cabotaje, C., E. Alampay, and K. Berse (2021). "Assessing the impacts of solar electrification program in rural schools: Experiences from the field". Philippine Journal of Public Administration. 65 (1&2): 135–163.
• Recio, R., M. Ordonez, K. Berse, et al. (2020). "COVID-19 Community Response Strategy in Local Governments: Lessons and Considerations for Planning". In: A.R. Torneo and I.J.R. Hecita (Eds.). Adaptive and Resilient Governance in Health Crisis Situations. Makati: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and DLSU-JRIG, pp. 30–62.
• Berse, K. (2019). "International Local Cooperation". In: A. Farazmand (ed.) Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer.
• Berse, K (2018). "Cities as aid agencies: preliminary prospects and cautionary signposts from post-disaster interurban cooperation in Asia". In: MA Miller, M Douglass and Garschagen (Eds.), Crossing Borders: "Governing Environmental Disasters in a Global Urban Age in Asia and the Pacific". Singapore: Springer, pp. 193–216.
• Berse, K (2018). "Capacity assessment". In: Llanes et al. (Eds), Sakunang Darating, Saklolo'y Tayo Rin, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Handbook for Academic Institutions. Dillman, Quezon City: UP Press, pp. 133–158. ISBN: 978971542876-7

References

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