The integration of different levels of local health systems into Province- or City-wide Health Systems (P/CWHS) in the Philippines is a reform that is designed to help the achievement of a responsive and efficient health system, financial and social risk protection, and better health outcomes....

In low resource settings where it is challenging to obtain accurate weight-for-height Z-scores (e.g., equipment to accurately measure height and weight is not readily available, minimally trained community health workers, etc.), the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is a simple tool used to...

This report proposes a framework in tagging nutrition expenditures of national government agencies. The framework was developed through exhaustive literature review and validation sessions with government agencies. It comprised of five levels (5) of classification elements namely: major...

Joint programming, also referred to as convergence, in social protection and economic inclusion interventions has emerged as a critical strategy for addressing persistent poverty in the Philippines. Despite the government's ambitious target to reduce poverty from 18.1% in 2021 to 9% by 2028,...

ECCD discourse, policy, and research have understandably focused on parents: their roles, knowledge, practices, and lived experiences. However, it truly 'takes a village' to raise a child, perhaps particularly so in a very intergenerational, communal society like the Philippines where both of...

As part of the reforms introduced following the first Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) in 1994, the Teacher Education Council (TEC) was tasked with identifying and establishing Centers of Excellence (COEs) in teacher education in the Philippines, before it was relegated to the...

Amid the evolving U.S.-China tariff realignment and the broader restructuring of global value chains, this paper evaluates the vulnerability and strategic positioning of the Philippines alongside four other ASEAN economies-Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. For the ASEAN-5, the key...

The Local Development Councils (LDCs) feature a significant participatory governance function in local policy development, as local government units (LGUs) are mandated to constitute LDCs with members from civil society organizations (CSOs). While the Department of the Interior and Local...

The Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) is a capital investment grant administered by the Department of Health (DOH), designed to help local government units (LGUs) augment their health infrastructure, such as primary healthcare facilities, hospitals, and equipment. Over the past...

Teacher education and development in the Philippines face serious challenges, including underperforming teacher education institutions (TEIs), inadequate and often misguided professional development systems, and an unclear career progression track. A particular concern grows with the...