This report reviews two facets of decentralization currently engaging policy-makers: 1) the sources of financing under decentralization, and, 2) cross-cutting processes to strengthen the accountability of resource use. It does not assess whether decentralization is justified in the Philippines -...

The paper highlights the importance of the design of the fiscal features of the federal system of government in ensuring that potential benefits from its adoption are realized. This economic literature on fiscal federalism posits a framework that delineates the potential benefits ensuing from...

The paper aims to consider potential benefits of federalism to the Philippines within the context of two major development constraints, namely, weak economic growth and poverty. The governance and institutional aspects of these development constraints point to how continued centralization of...

The global goal to attain gender equality, including ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls, and ensuring their safety, is central to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Its attainment means that every person, regardless of sex, is empowered to reach their...

This study provides a systematic review and summary of the extant knowledge on the impacts of decentralization on health in the Philippines. Despite the country's twenty-five years of experience in decentralization, little is known about the topic. Overall, our survey shows that the existing...

The study attempts to document the Philippine's experience in health devolution with focus on the Department of Health's efforts to make it work. It also aims to draw lessons and insights that are critical in assessing the country's decentralization policies and also, in informing future...

Despite the long tradition of decentralization in health care worldwide, there remains limited evidences on its impact on health outcomes. In this paper, we investigate how the expansion of local government incomes in the Philippines influences household demand for healthcare under a...

Two key recent events pushed forward the country's decentralization agenda. In 2019, the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court ("Mandanas") ruling increased the tax base for intergovernmental fiscal transfers in support of local governments' autonomy and revenue-raising capacity. In 2021, Executive...