FEDERALISM

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Title of the text:

PH laws on women lack teeth

Author/s of the text:

PIDS Research Information Staff

Title of the Journal/Publication:

Philippine Institute for Development Studies

URL or Web Address:

https://www.pids.gov.ph/publications/6036

Main Idea:

Through this DRN issue, PIDS joins the country in the celebration of the 2018 National Women's Month. Last March, the Institute spearheaded the multistakeholder forum, Making Change Work for Women: A Policy Dialogue, to analyze the government's thrusts in advancing the gender and development agenda. The

Evidence that supports the main idea:

banner story features the highlights of the said gathering. Aside from women's issues, this DRN also covers the recent congressional forum where Dr. Rosario Manasan discussed the fiscal issues of the administration's proposal to shift to federalism. It also includes articles featuring the Institute's milestones this first quarter of 2018, such as the assumption into office of Dr. Celia Reyes as first PIDS female president, the celebration of service and leadership of Dr. William Padolina as an outgoing trustee of the Institute, and the improved ranking of PIDS in the list of global think tanks. Completing this issue is a case study of Calamba City, which demonstrates the relevance of crafting good policies in instigating a city's industrial transformation.

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Title of the text:

PIDS Calls for 'Intelligent' Discourse on Federalism

Author/s of the text:

PIDS Research Information Staff

Title of the Journal/Publication:

Philippine Institute for Development Studies

URL or Web Address:

https://www.pids.gov.ph/publications/5870

Main Idea:

This issue of the Development Research News deepens the discussion on federalism, a hot topic in the Philippines today. During the 15th Development Policy Research Month, the country's leading public policy experts shared their views on the pros and cons of federalism and its implications for the Philippines.

Evidence that supports the main idea:

The banner article features the highlights of the said discussion and presents key questions on the adoption of federalism in the Philippine setting. This issue also covers the 50th year of the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Philippines' chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit. In line with these events, it features a study on the appreciation of the Philippine business sector of the country's ASEAN membership and the economic benefits that the regional bloc has brought to its member-states. It also includes an article urging the ASEAN to target the perennial problems of poverty and inequality, poor disaster management, inadequate protection of the environment, and the rising extremism, as part of its community-building efforts. Completing this issue is an article discussing the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill, particularly its implications for the poor.

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Title of the text:

Federalism: Prospects for the Philippines

Author/s of the text:

Miral, Romulo Jr. E.M.

Title of the Journal/Publication:

Philippine Institute for Development Studies

URL or Web Address:

https://www.pids.gov.ph/publications/5841

Main Idea:

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 fiscal powers and the resulting common resource pool problem have weakened government capacity to bring about inclusive development. Critical to the success of decentralization and fiscal federalism efforts is a strong middle level government, which is absent in the current setup. The establishment of regional governments, its powers and functions and its relation to the national government and local governments, is the most crucial element in the shift from a unitary to a federal form of government.

Evidence that supports the main idea:

It is recommended that the proposed shift be carried out in two stages. The first stage will deal with assignment of competencies and the relationship between the national government and regional government, with the power to organize the local governments being one of the competencies exclusively assigned to the latter. The second stage will tackle the regional government and its local governments. Each regional government should come up with its own regional constitution or organic act that could be drafted through a regional constitutional convention.

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Title of the text:

Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations, Fiscal Federalism and Economic Development in the Philippines

Author/s of the text:

Manasan, Rosario G.

Title of the Journal/Publication:

Philippine Institute for Development Studies

URL or Web Address:

https://www.pids.gov.ph/publications/734

Main Idea:

his paper discusses the policy regime that defines the revenue structure of the different levels of government during the period 1976-1991.

Evidence that supports the main idea:

It also analyzes the patterns of revenues and finances and the fiscal responsibilities assigned to LGUs. Several issues and prospects on fiscal federalism are also discussed.