The “blue economy” is a version of the “green economy” made relevant to our seas and oceans. It is a model of economic development that focuses on the sustainable management and use of natural and other resources in the maritime sector. Given the Philippines' archipelagic nature and...

With the lifting of the quantitative restrictions on rice imports, the Philippines is expecting an inflow of rice to enter in the next few months. Although this is expected to lead to a decrease in rice prices, this could similarly put pressure on some farmers' incomes to the extent that they...

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was created under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054 ) which was signed into law in March 2019. One key feature in this law is the creation of a BARMM block grant which is intended to help resource the new autonomous region which will...

The aim of this study is to show the media's role in shaping, crystallizing and legitimizing a state­driven discourse of fear of illegal drug use, crime, and dehumanization of drug users. Drawing from a discourse analysis of news reports about the killings connected to the Philippine...

This paper reviews the empirical evidence linking political dynasties to the imposition of term limits under the 1987 Constitution. It finds evidence that political clans have found a way around this Constitutional constraint, by fielding more family members in power -- giving rise to more fat...

Build, Build, Build (BBB) is the ambitious P8- to P9-trillion infrastructure development program of the current Duterte administration, pledged to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure.” This paper aims to independently assess critical governance dimensions of BBB, focusing on the...

The growing complexity of government mandates means that roles and responsibilities between levels of government are no longer clear cut. Responsibilities overlap, policy areas interact, and many public issues cut across several levels of government and require multiple competencies. As such,...

The release of the final draft of the Consultative Committee (Con-Com) to Review the 1987 Constitution, officially designated as “Bayanihan Federalism”, has spurred vigorous debate, with much discussion focusing on the fiscal repercussions of moving towards a federal form of government. This...

Since the beginning of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, significant changes have been made to the Philippines' foreign policy regime. Ties with the Peoples' Republic of China have strengthened, while traditional allies like the USA and European Union have been antagonized. On a...

This research attempts to examine the legal mandate of Philippine local government officials, mayors and barangay captains, within the national government's anti-illegal drug campaign, notably the police-led Project Double Barrel and Oplan Tokhang. To determine their duties, the General Welfare...