2022: An inflection point for our democracy
by Paco Pangalangan originally published in Philstar.com The last year has been a tough one for democracies. According to Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Report, it is the 15th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. Another recent report from the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance noted that the number of countries moving in […]
Don’t forget about the education crisis
Don’t forget about the education crisis By Paco A. Pangalangan, originally published in BusinessWorld The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is a constitutional obligation and yearly tradition wherein the President reports on the status of the country and unveils the government’s agenda for the coming year. Like clockwork, on every fourth Monday of […]
Commentary: Why Duterte’s recycled rhetoric is a winning strategy
Paco Pangalangan (Philstar.com) Many were disappointed by President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). Many had hoped that the president would use his sixth and final SONA, which lasted almost three hours, as an opportunity to go into detail on his government’s plans to address pressing issues such as the COVID-19 Delta variant […]
Commentary: E-governance readiness is critical for COVID-19 response
Commentary: E-governance readiness is critical for COVID-19 response Paco Pangalangan It was recently announced that some local government units (LGUs) have begun to partner with telecommunications companies to improve COVID-19 response capacities. These are welcome developments indeed, given the critical role of technology and e-governance in efficiently and effectively responding to citizens’ evolving needs […]
Commentary: The arbitral ruling five years later
by Paco Pangalangan, originally published in The Philippine Star New satellite images show that swarms of Chinese ships have been dumping sewage and waste in the West Philippine Sea, damaging coral reefs and threatening the food supply of millions in the region. During a recent international conference organized by Stratbase ADR Institute (ADRi), a […]
Commentary: Righting the course for Philippines’ COVID-19 resilience
Commentary: Righting the course for Philippines’ COVID-19 resilience Paco Pangalangan originally published in Philstar.com In a recent interview, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he was “pissed” at a recent Bloomberg study that ranked the Philippines 52nd among 53 economies in terms of COVID-19 resilience. However, the ones that should really be pissed […]
Commentary: Enabling digital transformation
Paco Pangalangan originally published in Philstar.com When people talk about the Philippines’ digital transformation, the conversation often focuses on improving the country’s digital infrastructure. And that makes sense. Over the past year, the continuous lockdown has forced us to become increasingly reliant on the internet for things like going to work, doing groceries, checking in with […]
Commentary: Another Labor Day in a pandemic
Paco Pangalangan (Philstar.com) On May 1, 1903, thousands of workers, under the Union Obrero Democratica de Filipinas (UODF), organized and marched from Plaza Moriones in Tondo to Malacañang to demand fairer working conditions. Over a century later, the Philippines continues to celebrate the day to commemorate hard-working Filipinos. This year, however, for millions of Filipino […]
Protect our Seas and Territory
Democracy Watch calls on the current administration to stop appeasing China and refrain from the habitual understatement of China’s obvious mal-intent in the West Philippine Sea. We must rightfully claim, and protect our stake in the islands of our seas.
Commentary: Why digital transformation needs the private sector’s spirit
by Paco Pangalangan originally published in Philstar.com The Stratbase ADR Institute recently launched a quarterly virtual roundtable discussion series highlighting the business sector’s role in addressing economic insecurity brought upon by the pandemic. Kicked-off last month, the inaugural session brought together thought leaders from the country’s most prominent business groups to talk about how the private […]