The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose public health threats and strain both health and economy. Undeniably, in the Philippines, the pandemic has revealed and enlarged existing gaps in our public health system. At the same time, it has also presented opportunities to implement programs and reforms to improve the healthcare system in line with the… Read More

Alvin Manalansan, Non-Resident Fellow of Stratbase ADR Institute and Convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines After backtracking from its initial decision, the National Government recently announced that it will push through with the implementation of granular lockdowns. This is being piloted in the National Capital Region until Sept. 30. Since this pandemic began, the government has experimented… Read More

Paco A. Pangalangan, Executive Director, Stratbase ADR Institute A few weeks before it was set to shut down for preventive maintenance, the Malampaya gas field suddenly stopped supplying fuel to natural gas plants in Luzon. With natural gas output restricted, several large power plants were forced to switch to more expensive fuel sources, reduce output,… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute The pandemic continues to devastate our population and economy. Government response leaves much to be desired. This is where we are at during this budget season, when, more than ever, accountability and performance should be at the top of our minds. As Congress deliberates on the next national budget,… Read More

Paco A. Pangalangan, Executive Director, Stratbase ADR Institute Last week’s column discussed how the continued closure of schools in the Philippines due to the pandemic could be leading to an education crisis in the Philippines. With the country struggling to stop the surging number of COVID-19 cases, face-to-face classes are still prohibited, and Filipino students… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute Challenges to the Philippine educational system, brought about by the pandemic and the government’s less than desirable response to the public health emergency, are threatening to result in a human capital crisis. This was underscored by a recent study undertaken by the World Bank and Australian Aid (Department of… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute It’s been about a year and a half since the first hard lockdowns were enforced and the country is still struggling to stop the surging contagion of what is now a multiple number of COVID-19 variants spreading in many regions. Among the sectors hardest hit is the educational system,… Read More