
11/10/26
Mounting Political and Economic Crises Amid Intensifying Great-Power Rivalry
Political conflicts and economic challenges continue to deepen this month in the Philippines under the Marcos Jr. administration. There is, of course, the political intramurals between the competing ruling cliques of the Dutertes and the Marcoses. This continues to unfold amid the ever-worsening economic conditions and growing questions over government accountability.

10/22/26
MARCOS SHOULD RESPECT SC RULING, NOT DEFEND UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET PRACTICES
QUEZON CITY — The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) expresses serious concern over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the Office of the Solicitor General to seek reconsideration of the Supreme Court ruling striking down unconstitutional provisions involving the national budget. The Supreme Court declared the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts unconstitutional over congressional increases beyond the President’s recommended appropriations and also...

9/28/26
Pax Silica and the Philippines: Weighing the Economic Security Bargain
Prof. Noel Leyco discussed the economic security questions facing the Philippines under Pax Silica at the DEV@WORK Series held on September 24, 2026, at the Asian Institute of Management. Prof. Leyco is President and Chief Economist of CRISP. Prof. Leyco has shared his presentation for readers who would like to explore the topic further. Click the files to download

11/10/26
Mounting Political and Economic Crises Amid Intensifying Great-Power Rivalry
Political conflicts and economic challenges continue to deepen this month in the Philippines under the Marcos Jr. administration. There is, of course, the political intramurals between the competing ruling cliques of the Dutertes and the Marcoses. This continues to unfold amid the ever-worsening economic conditions and growing questions over government accountability.

10/27/26
DUTERTE DYNASTY FOREVER?
For decades, the feudal and despicable tribe of family dynasties like the Marcoses and Dutertes has dominated Philippine electoral politics. Their political rule has endured through the country’s systemic banes: Rulers are the harbingers of corruption. Their reign is a roadblock to solving deeply rooted class inequality, poverty, and social injustice.

10/22/26
The ASEAN, China, and the United States: Challenges to Regional Order
The ASEAN's continuing claim to “centrality” in helping dene the region's security architecture faces two important contrasting developments in the region: a strongly consolidated political leadership in China under President Xi Jinping and the unilateralist, divisive leadership style of President Donald Trump that has upended many of the established practices of American foreign policy. A continuing crucial test of ASEAN's centrality lies in its ability to push through a binding Code of Conduc

10/22/26
MARCOS SHOULD RESPECT SC RULING, NOT DEFEND UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET PRACTICES
QUEZON CITY — The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) expresses serious concern over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the Office of the Solicitor General to seek reconsideration of the Supreme Court ruling striking down unconstitutional provisions involving the national budget. The Supreme Court declared the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts unconstitutional over congressional increases beyond the President’s recommended appropriations and also...

10/20/26
HOME ALONE: THE PHILIPPINES IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD
After 80 years of independence, the Philippines is struggling with economic growth and security challenges. Today, the country is trapped in a multipolar world. It is caught between colliding global and regional powers - primarily the United States and China, alongside rising middle powers and shifting economic blocs, such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) bloc.

10/20/26
WILL THE U.S. PROTECT ITS ALLY IN A WAR WITH CHINA OVER THE MARITIME ROW?
The Philippine government should bury the idea that a war with China over maritime and territorial disputes in the South China Sea / West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS) will warrant an “iron-clad” American intervention to defend Manila.
