The increasing importance of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific has provided opportunities for states to pursue multilateral and inclusive cooperation. Security challenges such as China’s gray zone operations, maritime terrorism, and environmental degradation require a careful understanding of the region’s evolving security architecture. To realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, it is crucial to maintain… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute As the development of the energy sector was not at all part of the Duterte administration’s agenda or priorities, the looming energy crisis is giving goose-bumps to Filipino consumers, businesses, and the industry itself. To bring the energy predicament to the national attention, the Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership… Read More

Paco A. Pangalangan, Executive Director, Stratbase ADR Institute The season is upon us, and a lot of people are probably busy ticking items off their Christmas shopping lists. Over the past week, I am sure many of us made good progress on our Christmas shopping lists by taking advantage of the big 11.11 sales and… Read More

The power and energy sector plays a crucial role in the social development and economic growth of a nation. In the Philippines, such developments are hindered by high electricity prices and the reoccurring supply tightness experienced by the Luzon grid, especially during the summer months. Pandemic-induced community quarantines in the country resulted in a significant… Read More

Louie C. Montemar, Professor of Sociology and Political Science, and a Fellow for Education at the Stratbase ADR Institute The National Telecommunications Commission made a big to-do about the passage of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Act on Sept. 30 this year. This was going to be a game changer, they said. Imagine, if mobile… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute In our country, pressing dangers to democracy are exemplified by the pandemic response that has been heavily inclined to social control, the specter of the postponement or cancellation of elections, the witch hunt against opposing and critical voices, the repression of civil and political freedoms, the use of emergency… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute This smells like Pharmally all over again — only on a grander, longer-term scale. Sometime in September we were alarmed to note that the Malampaya gas field temporarily shut down its operations weeks before a scheduled preventive maintenance work. As a result, distribution utilities (DUs) had to switch to… Read More