The 13th Development Policy Research Month highlights the importance of regulatory coherence and quality to realize rapid, sustainable, and inclusive growth. For the Philippines to take advantage of increased trade and investment under the ASEAN integration, there is a need to address the factors that continue to bring down its competitiveness and that undermine efforts to achieve greater social inclusiveness. Regulatory burdens are one of those factors. They restrain competition, productivity, and innovation, which can snowball into causing a drop in business confidence, neglect of general welfare, build-up of corruption, and, ultimately, loss of public faith in governance.

The theme chapter of the 2014 Economic Policy Monitor, an annual publication of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), explains the relevance of this year’s DPRM theme. The chapter’s author, PIDS President Gilbert Llanto, examines the case for developing a sound and efficient regulatory management system (RMS) for the country. An RMS is the best step toward reducing regulatory burdens and improving the quality of regulations. The Philippines has a system that contains some of the basic elements of an RMS, but these do not represent a coherent and coordinated system nor are these elements regularly undertaken. The government has taken steps to fill the gaps in the system, but this is not enough. A commitment to reforms despite changes in political leadership and a mindset for continual improvement and innovation are a must.

Know what other PIDS studies have to say about regulatory reforms. For other related studies, visit the SocioEconomic Research Portal for the Philippines. Simply type “regulatory structure”, “regulatory framework”, and other related keywords in the Search box.

1. Economic Policy Monitor 2014: Effective Regulations for Sustainable Growth
2. Toward an Effective Regulatory Management System: Philippines
3. Regulatory Policies and Reforms in the Power and Downstream Oil Industries
4. Managing International Labor Migration: The Philippine Experience
5. The Pathway to ASEAN Energy Market Integration
6. Infrastructure Development: Experience and Policy Options for the Future
7. Competition Policy and Regulation in Ports and Shipping
8. A Competition Policy and Efficient Regulatory Framework for the Port Sector: Getting It Unberthed
9. Competition Policy and Regulation in Power and Telecommunications
10. Developing Principles for the Regulation of Microinsurance (Philippine Case Study)

30 SEPTEMBER 2015
DPRM Press Conference-Cebu City
Venue: PIA Regional Office, Cebu City

22 SEPTEMBER 2015
Inaugural Public Policy Conference 2015 (Theme: Harnessing Our Institutions and Human Capital for Inclusive Growth)
Venue: Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas Ave. corner ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Quezon City

17 SEPTEMBER 2015
Policy Dialogue on Effective Regulations for Sustainable Growth
Venue: C.P. Romulo Hall, NEDA sa Makati Bldg., Makati City

16 SEPTEMBER 2015
DPRM Press Conference-Laoag City
Venue: International House, Northwestern University, Laoag City

15 SEPTEMBER 2015
DPRM Press Conference- Tuguegarao City
Venue: PIA Regional Office, Tuguegarao City

9 SEPTEMBER 2015
DPRM Press Conference- Cagayan De Oro City
Venue: PIA Regional Office, Cagayan De Oro City

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13th DEVELOPMENT POLICY RESEARCH MONTH (SEPTEMBER 2015)

This September, PIDS leads the nation anew in celebrating the Development Policy Research Month (DPRM). This nationwide event, which state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) started in 2003, is aimed at promoting and drawing public awareness of the importance of policy research in nation-building.

POLICY NOTES

• PN 2015-15: More than Infrastructure and Equipment: Process Evaluation of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program
  by Oscar F. Picazo, Ida Marie T. Pantig, and Nina Ashley O. dela Cruz

The capital stock of public health facilities in the Philippines has been stagnant for decades. The number of hospitals remained the same since the mid-1990s and the ratio of hospital beds per 10,000 population has declined from 18 in the 1970s to 13 in the late 2000s. To arrest the deteriorating stock and quality of public health facilities, the Department of Health launched the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) in 2007. This Policy Note presents the key findings of field surveys conducted by PIDS between December 2014 and April 2015 in several provinces to assess the HFEP implementation. Click here for the full article

• PN 2015-14: Regulating Political Dynasties toward a more Inclusive Society
  by Jose Ramon G. Albert, Ronald Mendoza, David Barua Yap, and Jan Fredric Cruz

Political dynasties result when a family retains at least one elective position over successive election cycles, and/or when a family expands its number of family members in elective office. This Policy Note discusses why they need to be regulated and describes international practices on regulating political dynasties. It also summarizes the current efforts of legislators in passing an antidynasty law, and how such a legislation may facilitate a more inclusive society. An antidynasty law may be an avenue to improve the quality of political parties by increasing everyone’s access to political participation. Greater access by the people not only to growth processes but also to political processes by passing a legislation that regulates political dynasties will further strengthen our democracy and promote inclusiveness. Click here for the full article

DISCUSSION PAPERS

• DP 2015-41: An Assessment of the Community Mortgage Programs of the Social Housing Finance Corporation
  by Marife M. Ballesteros, Tatum Ramos, and Jasmine E. Magtibay

The Community Mortgage Program (CMP) is a financing scheme that enables organized residents of slums to borrow for land purchase and housing development. It is considered the most innovative and responsive government housing program in the Philippines. Nevertheless, the CMP has a number of weaknesses that have not been given much attention in the years of program implementation. These issues pertain to program targeting, service delivery, and organization. This study aims to review the current processes and overall performance of the CMP including its variants—the localized CMP and the High Density Housing Program. It also provides recommendations on how the identified problems can be addressed. Click here for the full article

• DP 2015-40: Property Damage Recovery and Coping Behavior of Households Affected by an Extreme Flood Event in Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines
  by Jamil Paolo S. Francisco
  

This study identifies the factors influencing household choice of coping strategy to an extreme flood event in Marikina City in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, as well as household recovery after the event, measured in terms of the length of time to repair, rebuild, or replace damaged property. A survey of 400 households was conducted to obtain data. A multinomial logistic model was used to analyze coping strategy choice among three possible alternatives. Results show that wealth, income, learning from past experience, advice from the media, and people's perceptions/attitudes toward natural disasters had significant influences on household choice. With regard to recovery, household income, access to credit (borrowing), the use of a flood alarm system, access to safe shelter, among others, significantly reduced the time it took for affected households to recover from property damage. Click here for the full article