We are pleased to share with you our fourth quarter Economic snapshots, which provides a glimpse into the country’s economic performance for the past year and takes a look at how it is expected to perform for the year ahead. President Duterte’s first full year in office ended in a positive note for several reasons.… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute The year 2018 is indeed a hopeful one, where the optimism for “tunay na pagbabago” — real change — runs strongly among Filipinos. Such optimism is animated by the latest survey results, which showed the net satisfaction ratings of President Duterte at 80 percent in Mindanao, 55… Read More

Atty. Lysander Castillo, Environment Fellow of the Stratbase ADR Institute; Secretary-General of the Philippine Business for Environmental Stwardship (PBEST) Last October, the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), recommended the lifting of the open-pit mining ban instituted by former DENR secretary Gina Lopez through DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2017-10 specifically prohibits the open-pit method of… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute The 2018 budget reflects this administration’s expansionist fiscal strategy, allowing more spending on priority expenditures such as infrastructure and social services. The total national budget amounting to P3.767 trillion is 12.4 percent higher than this year’s budget. While the 2018 budget may help propel the economy and… Read More

We are pleased to share with you our Occasional Paper for December, entitled “On the Right Track? Challenges Ahead of the TRAIN bill’s Journey.” Written by Ms. Weslene Uy, Senior Research Associate at Stratbase ADR Institute, the paper provides an overview on the administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), the first package of… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute The United States used to enjoy a central role in ensuring geopolitical stability throughout much of Asia. But with the changing landscape in regional security, a shift has taken place, and China has risen as an emergent power gradually pushing the United States aside. This waning influence… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute A common observation made by critics and noncritics alike of the mining industry is that the 2-percent excise tax on minerals is too low. To understand such a perspective, it will help to know that the last adjustment in the rates of the excise tax was made… Read More