It is with pleasure that we share with you free access to Stratbase ADR Institute’s Third Quarter 2020 Spark, entitled “Embracing Digital Government in the time of COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities in the Philippines”, written by Dr. Sherwin Ona, Non-Resident Fellow of Stratbase ADRi and Associate Professor of Political Science at De La Salle University.… Read More

Prof. Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute The global pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of social, political, and economic institutions to the point that there is no other way but to evolve routine and traditional practice. During the time of COVID-19, our nation’s weaknesses were exposed, from our healthcare shortcomings, missing policy contingencies, the fragility… Read More

Dr. Renato de Castro, Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute In late 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte declared his goal to chart an independent foreign policy for the Philippines. He showed his hostility to the country’s long and only treaty ally, the United States, branding it as a colonial and imperial power that has failed… Read More

The recent deal between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Dito Telecommunity, a China-backed telco provider, has become a cause of concern due to the risk of Chinese intrusion in the country’s cyberspace. Although downplayed by the Philippine government, several security experts have warned the current administration about the possible implications of these… Read More

Prof. Dindo Manhit, President, Stratbase ADR Institute China’s emergence as a political and economic power has come with growing ambitions, including the attempt to position itself as a global leader and shape the international order. However, its rise is far from “peaceful,” with its questionable economic initiatives and aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Given… Read More

The emergence of China and its increasing role in the region have prompted a blend of anticipation and unease among Southeast Asian countries. Although the region has benefitted from China’s economic growth, its militarization of the South China Sea and its expansive economic agenda under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), among others, have raised… Read More

Dr. Renato de Castro, Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute Prior to the global outbreak of COVID-19, US-China relations had been in a state of dramatic change. At the onset of his term, President Donald Trump had described China and Russia as “rival powers” — that seek to challenge American influence, values, and wealth.… Read More