Weslene Uy, Senior Economic Research Analyst of the Stratbase ADR Institute The chorus of lawmakers and various groups calling for the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN)’s suspension amidst inflation rates peaking to four-year highs has only grown louder. The chief architects of the law have been put on the defensive, vehemently explaining that… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute In 2016, we witnessed power shifts around the world with the rise of populist, nativist, or nationalist politics on a global scale. Rebalancing themselves between change and continuity, the demands for radical social change have gotten more pronounced due to rising inequality amidst wealth, economic growth, and… Read More

Atty. Katrina Clemente-Lua, Executive Director of the Stratbase ADR Institute During the President’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), he raised a number of issues, that span political and economic reforms. The SONA seemed to be a hodge-podge report of events already well known to the Filipino people instead of a more strategic summary… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute Contrary to public expectations, the third State of the Nation Address was not ridden with tirade, outrageous ad-libs and cursing. Instead, it was the shortest in comparison with the previous two addresses. As it was delivered in a more presidential-like fashion and focused on perceived pressing issues,… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute Today, President Duterte would be delivering his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA). Compared to his previous speeches, the upcoming one needs to cover more substantives issues that have been borne out by three factors—the campaign promises that are yet to be fulfilled; the emergent concerns from… Read More

Dr. Go Ito, Professor at Meiji University and Director of Research at the Japan Forum on International Relations On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued a very significant award that the “nine dash line,” long claimed by China, has no legal foundation. The South China Sea was decided to be for all… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute As we commemorate the second anniversary of our nation’s victory in the Arbitral Tribunal, we reflect on how the Philippine government has used this landmark ruling to generate support from the international community and to uphold our claims over the West Philippine Sea. The Stratbase ADR Institute… Read More