Over the course of the pandemic, there has been an accelerated dependence of Filipinos on digital tools and platforms for all aspects of life. Formerly face-to-face activities, including banking, health services, education, and shopping have all undergone a rapid digitization and transitioned to online platforms. In the face of a pandemic that requires social distancing,… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute As the country ushers in the dawn of the new normal, its leader’s actions in anticipation of health, economic, and social concerns will be essential to advancing fast and equitable solutions. With the 2021 national budget in mind, transparent and inclusive fiscal management will be crucial for our nation’s… Read More

Paco A. Pangalangan, Executive Director, Stratbase ADR Institute Having access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food has always been a concern in the Philippines. However, the pandemic and the impact it has had on food supply chains has further heightened these food security concerns. For a reminder of this heightened state of concern, just look… Read More

There has been growing evidence that the best way to improve the management of public finances is through budget systems that are transparent, open to public engagement and scrutiny, and that have robust oversight institutions and mechanisms. Launched in 2006 by the International Budget Partnership, the Open Budget Survey (OBS) is the world’s only independent,… Read More

Dr. Jaime Jimenez, Deputy Executive Director for Research, Stratbase ADR Institute Six and half months into the health crisis, all economic sectors and ecosystems, the very fabric of our daily lives, have been affected adversely. Moving forward to a new normal arrangement, however, entails the crafting of a roadmap for economic recovery and, in particular,… Read More

Venice Isabelle Rañosa, Research Manager, Stratbase ADR Institute Numbers have many stories to tell. When data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) bared a 16.5% contraction in economic growth during the second quarter of 2020, which was the steepest fall in decades, the decline itself was nothing new. All the economies in the world also… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute At the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Duterte surprised the audience when he strongly upheld the 2016 arbitral ruling that nullified China’s “nine-dash-line” claim in the South China Sea. This happened amid growing public debate at home about the entry of the third telco player, which… Read More