Strenghtening Students’ Socio-Emotional and Self-Regulation Skills to Manage Mental Health

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 25 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The Policy Brief on Student Anxiety delves into the critical issue of youth mental health, focusing on trait anxiety. Trait anxiety, a predisposition to experience anxiety across various situations, can significantly impact functioning and well-being. This research sheds light on anxiety as a personality trait, distinguishing between characteristic trait anxiety and state anxiety triggered by specific events or stressors.

The document highlights the pressing requirement for improved mental healthcare services, acknowledging the scarcity of mental health experts. It stresses the significance of investing in education and taking action to tackle the substantial mental health challenges faced by students and youth. The development of the 2024-2028 Philippine Council for Mental Health Strategic Framework by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization is intended to steer mental health strategies and services to enhance mental wellness and manage the consequences of mental illness.

The Policy Brief highlights the role of school-based counseling services in providing comprehensive support to students navigating the challenges of hybrid learning and the 'new normal.' Programs like "Gearing up Lasallians for Optimal Well-Being" (GLOW) promote student well-being through social and emotional competencies, social connectedness, and positive mental health. The GLAD-R counseling program offers interventions to address academic concerns exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to enhance students' self-efficacy, academic motivation, and self-regulation learning.

Moreover, the policy brief promotes counseling interventions, mental health training sessions, and school socialization activities to enhance mental health awareness and support. It emphasizes the significance of research in gaining deeper insights into mental health among key stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and students. Guidelines from the Commission on Higher Education regarding guidance and counseling centers in higher education institutions are vital for fostering student welfare and delivering mental health assistance.

While legislative milestones like the Mental Health Act provide a legal framework for mental healthcare delivery,economic barriers to access must be addressed to ensure equitable mental health services for all. The Policy Brief underscores the importance of collaborative efforts, research-driven interventions, and policy initiatives to address student anxiety and promote mental well-being in educational settings.

Re-calibrating the Jeepney Modernization Program: Policy Issues and Recommendations

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 24 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) aims to modernize the Philippine public transportation system by providing regulations and mechanisms to enhance operational efficiency and environmental sustainability in the transportation sector. The program involves replacing old vehicles with modern technologies, rationalizing routes, and consolidating franchises into cooperatives and corporations. The PUVMP was supposed to have been completed in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and protests staged by Philippine transport groups in March 2023 have forced the government to postpone the deadline for franchise consolidation to December 31, 2023. This policy brief addresses the PUVMP's design and implementation issues. While the modernization program is necessary, its implementation has experienced challenges such as insufficient program resources, coordination and communication mechanisms between the national government agencies, local governments, and transportation stakeholders, and the lack of inclusive multistakeholder participatory spaces for program planning and implementation. This brief suggests that the government review and recalibrate the program to prioritize easing out the transition; pilot-test the program in smaller areas before pushing for nationwide implementation; enable inclusive multi-stakeholder participation in the program; provide incentives and capacity development to support the transition; and provide the resources and capacity needed to develop for long-term, sustainable performance of the program, keeping in mind that modernization is a long, continuous, and ever-evolving process.

Local Sectoral Representation: Legislation, Implementation, and Recommendations

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 23 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This policy brief aims to foster policy awareness on local sectoral representation - a means to promote the political participation of marginalized sectors as mandated by the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991. Despite its mandate, there has yet to be an enabling law that outlines the election of local sectoral representation, apart from the guidelines issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for the Indigenous people's mandatory representative in local councils. This policy brief tracks the attempts by Congress to pass an enabling law, the support of agencies such as the Philippine Commission on Women and the Department of Interior and Local Governance, and the few attempts at implementation by individual local government units. The policy brief ends with three different routes policy advocates can take to lobby for implementing local sectoral representation.

Social Media Use and Political Participation in the Philippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 22 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This policy brief focuses on the question: What is the effect of social media usage on the political participation of Filipinos? Using data from Wave 5 of the Asian Barometer Survey, the research measures the relationship between social media usage and political participation and the variables of support for democracy, political efficacy, and interest in politics. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and PROCESS mediation analysis revealed that social media usage positively predicts political participation. The study also finds a positive relationship between political efficacy, political participation, social media and interest in politics. Interest in politics was also revealed to mediate the relationship between social media usage and political participation. The policy brief underscores the need to examine policies on social media usage in the Philippines, given its power to influence political participation and the overall state of democracy in the Philippines.

Fake News among the Youth in the Philippines: The Case of the National Capital Region (NCR)

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 21 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Social media has enabled the youth to access information and participate in social and political processes easier. However, the prevalence of fake news endangers and curtails their informed political participation. This policy brief is based on a survey conducted to measure political values and artificial news consumption among youth in the National Capital Region (NCR). It was found that youths in NCR have relatively strong capabilities in identifying and distinguishing fake news from genuine articles. However, gaps in those capabilities remain, as some respondents identified satirical news as actual news. Therefore, several policy interventions could be considered, including the strengthening of the Philippine education system, especially around the subjects of history, current affairs, and digital literacy, partnerships with civil society, especially youth organizations and social media platforms, on anti-fake news campaigns and programs; the provision of mechanisms to support factcheckers; and a review of the current policy network on fake news.

Digital Resilience as a Sustainable Strategy for Social Enterprise Development in post covid-19 philippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 20 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected various sectors and key players in development, such as the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with social enterprises included. With conglomerates armed with resources to adapt technology solutions, MSMEs had to struggle to survive, especially social enterprises whose bottom lines are not limited to financial but also social and environmental. The absence of a policy that supports the growth of the social enterprise sector limits its ability to address societal and environmental problems. Although social enterprises are considered part of the MSME sector, which allows them to benefit from some of the incentives and programs of national and local government units, the fact remains that the absence of its concept and wording on significant policies and programs limits social enterprises to access appropriate funding and financial support based on their specific needs.

Social enterprises ensure that economic resources are equitably distributed with the community and other stakeholders as partners. This highlights the role of social enterprises that implement entrepreneurial activities for the public interest to achieve social, economic, and environmental goals (OECD, 2018). The overall objective of the social enterprise model is to balance the triple bottom line, namely social, economic, and environmental. Therefore, the efforts of these social enterprises to be socially and economically viable through technology as an enabler are very much consistent with the sector’s objective and that of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals— this requires a more enabling policy ecosystem.

Better Together: A Survey of the Participation of Business Associations in Philippine voter education

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 20 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Fence Sitters? A Survey of the Participation of Publicly Listed Companies in Philippine voter education

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 19 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The intent of the UN Sustainability Goals (SDGs) is to provide a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future”. The 17 listed goals are intended to be achieved in 2030. In 2017, specific targets were identified for each goal, along with indicators to measure and mark progress toward each of these goals. Achieving SDGs requires not only the commitment of the state but also the transformation of these commitments into actual results. This responsibility lies in the hands of those who run the states. This is governance.

An Analysis of the Twitter Discourse in the 2022 Philippine Elections

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 18 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Political Participation and Gender-Based Violence: Digital Activism and the Safe Spaces Act in the Philippines

(RESEARCH BRIEF - ISSN 2719-0145)

The intent of the UN Sustainability Goals (SDGs) is to provide a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future”. The 17 listed goals are intended to be achieved in 2030. In 2017, specific targets were identified for each goal, along with indicators to measure and mark progress toward each of these goals. Achieving SDGs requires not only the commitment of the state but also the transformation of these commitments into actual results. This responsibility lies in the hands of those who run the states. This is governance.

Sociopsychological Factors Affecting Political Participation

(RESEARCH BRIEF - ISSN 2719-0145)

Misogyny in Politics: A Gendered Fight for the Philippine Presidency 2022

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 17 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Confronting Anti-Politics Political Intolerance, Socialization, and Additional Considerations for Civic Education

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 16 - ISSN 2719-0145)

To construe politics as a necessary evil - the root of perceived social disharmony - that can be used to end itself in favor of political silence lies at the core of antipolitics. From a psycho-political perspective, anti-political tendencies gravitate around political intolerance and limited socialization; the former keeps citizens fixated on minimizing, if not eliminating, plurality, while the latter keeps them apart. Under anti-political conditions, citizens are bound not by reciprocity and collective life but by an individualistic need to place themselves and others under the overarching principles of acquiescence. Are Filipinos anti-political? This policy brief illustrates that they are generally not, but they have tendencies that might lead to stronger anti-political preferences. Civic education, therefore, also becomes a matter of confronting political intolerance and alleviating socio-political isolation if it is to contribute to democratization in the Philippines.

Enabling PWD Participation in Elections: The Case for the Philippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 15 - ISSN 2719-0145)

With the support of civil society organizations and international development partners, the persons with disability (PWD) sector successfully lobbied for the passage of Republic Act No. 10366, otherwise known as the Accessible Polling Places Act of 2013. However, Philippine elections are still impaired, given the complaints about insufficient designated spaces to make it easy for PWDs to vote. In the recent polls, PWD voters had been disenfranchised because election precincts lacked access and volunteers to assist them. The registration process was also cumbersome, leading to PWDs not registering as such and missing out on services dedicated to them, particularly the use of accessible polling places (APPs). This paper, therefore, argues for a significant review and for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to improve its implementation of the system. Furthermore, the government and civil society should continuously support these initiatives. It is hoped that political participation among PWDs would be improved as a result.

Election Administration and the 2022 Elections

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 14 - ISSN 2719-0145)

While elections are considered essential to democracy, electoral administration has only recently gained attention in the field of political science. Electoral processes affect electoral outcomes (Calimbahin, 2010); thus, electoral administration could affect democratic foundations, especially in new and developing democracies. Studies have shown that electoral management bodies (EMBs) face autonomy and capacity issues (Lopez-Pintor, 2000; Calimbahin, 2010; Calimbahin, 2021; Erben, Thakur, Jenness,& Smith, 2004; Tancangco, 1997). With global democratic decline as a continuing phenomenon, careful monitoring of electoral management bodies (EMBs) and electoral administration, in general, is important. This policy brief is based on an evaluation of the performance of COMELEC in the 2022 Philippine Specifically, it asks: How did the COMELEC shape the administration of the 2022 election? How did the Commission provide authority as an election management body in order to keep the integrity of the electoral process? And what role did it play to uphold liberal democracy? Consistent with findings from previous elections, results exposed the capacity and autonomy weaknesses of COMELEC as an electoral management body. This was made evident by issues surrounding appointments, deployment of personnel, and performance of electoral management tasks during the election cycle. The problems identified by the study have shown how previous reforms in the commission have failed to address its capacity issues and while there have been improvements, it remains vulnerable to autonomy issues. More substantive reforms are needed including the decoupling of the administration and adjudication functions of the commission and updating of the 1985 Omnibus Election Code (Calimbahin, 2022). Any reform is an uphill battle and will require major and sustained efforts, undertaking such a task is crucial given how valuable effective and competent EMBs can be in contributing to a freer and fairer political environment.

Legislating Electoral Campaign Finance Reform in the Philippines: Examining Lessons from Southeast Asia

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 13 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Equal opportunities for citizens of the Philippines to assume public office through elections are guaranteed by the Constitution, but current campaign finance rules are found flawed and lacking effectively making elections in the country unfair. This paper compares the Philippines’ campaign finance policy with its fellow flawed democracies in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The comparisons were made through a conceptual framework that accounts for incentives for incumbent parties towards political self-preservation, political actors and institutions, historical precedents and legacies, and recent shocks and scandals.

From the comparisons, the research recommends a clearly defined list of limitations on contributors and donations, a context-sensitive system of expenditure limits, an open system of annual financial disclosure by parties, and an equitable system of subsidies. These reforms, however, would hinge on reforming and strengthening the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the institutionalization of political parties in the Philippines. Sustained public scrutiny, emphasis on recent violations as patterns of corruption, and cognizance of the political incentives at play are needed for the reform agenda to succeed.

a content analysis of syllabi in general education courses of higher education institutions (hei’s) in integrating citizen-voters’ education

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 12 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Towards practical civics: assessments and recommendations for the philippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 11 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Fostering Democratic Citizens: Proposals for a Spectacle of Democratic Life in the PHilippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10 - ISSN 2719-0145)

There is a sheer lack of participation among ordinary citizens in political decision-making outside of elections. Citizens do not deem themselves as capable of effectively participating in politics and for this reason, their participation is more or less exclusive to voting. If democracy is to be construed as a system that is based upon and directed at fostering an active citizenry, then such a condition must be reversed. To break the cycle of disempowerment between elections, civil society organizations (CSOs) and democratically oriented local government leaders must generate demand for political inclusion in the policy process among those who remain outside such activities. This can be achieved through both the expansion of inclusive and effective spaces for participation in the policy process and also through developments in political marketing that can create a spectacle of democratic civic life for those who remain outside it. This should be tied to a network of democratic sister cities/municipalities meant to facilitate the sharing of resources and expertise on participatory-democratic governance. Both can then be subsumed under a general and long overdue program for civic education – untethered from voters’ education – that can shift focus from institutional reform towards citizenship.

Cultivating Democratic Citizenship, Political Views, and Filipino Social Identification in PHilippine Elections and Beyond

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 9 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This research explored democratic citizenship, political values, and Filipino social identity in the context of Philippine democracy. Using data gathered from an online questionnaire, 1525 Filipinos eligible to vote in the 2022 elections participated. Results showed that respondents have average scores in terms of democratic citizenship, high endorsement of self-transcendence, low endorsement of globalism as values, and an average Filipino social identity. The research also examined how notions of democratic citizenship, political values, and social identity are associated with the respondent's preference for presidential candidates. These findings highlight the necessity of being informed about how much citizens embody democracy so that more strategic socialization towards the achievement of a full democracy can be planned.

Perceptions of overseas filipino workers on the 2022 philippine national elections

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 8 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The Overseas Absentee Voting Act (Republic Act 9189) has allowed Filipinos working and living overseas to participate in the country’s electoral process. While overseas Filipino voters account for a small portion of the voting population, their votes become significant considering the tight political contest among presidential candidates in the May 2022 national elections.

This paper offers policy insights and recommendations on OFWs’ voting preferences based on exploratory online research conducted during the pandemic. The study examines the views of OFWs on the 2022 electoral process, their preferred means of voting, the information sources they access, the qualities they look for in a presidential candidate, and the issues they think should be prioritized by the next presidential incumbent.

Findings show that: (1) the majority of the respondents are interested to vote in the May 2022 elections; (2) most prefer online voting, especially during the pandemic; (3) news, social media, family and friends, and online communities are sources of information that help shape their voting preferences;  (4) online Filipino voters favor a presidential candidate who first and foremost is incorruptible and trustworthy; and (5) respondents identified graft and corruption, pandemic response, health, employment, and education as main issues the next administration should address.

It is recommended that policies to ensure the integrity, safety, and convenience of the voting process be prioritized to encourage more overseas Filipino voters to take part in the upcoming elections.  Legislation and infrastructure support for online and postal voting should be put in place as these alternative modes of voting are preferred by overseas Filipino voters, especially during the pandemic. Campaigns to promote media literacy are essential to enable OFW voters to make wise decisions in exercising their democratic right to vote.

Safeguarding the Elections: Policy Recommendations in Fighting Disinformation and Misinformation on Social Media Outlets

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 7 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This policy brief outlines policy recommendations vital in combating disinformation and misinformation based on the preliminary results of an online survey participated by Filipino Youth residing in the National Capital Region and Calabarzon. The discussion underlines the worsening problem of the proliferation of false information and fake news on various social media platforms as experienced by the respondents in their daily social media use. Offered practical recommendations highlight the importance of a collaborative and liberal approach to safeguard the freedoms enjoyed by citizens as well as our democratic institutions, particularly in the upcoming 2022 National Elections.

Voting Intention of Filipinos amid the Pandemic

(Research Brief - ISSN 2719-0145)

This short research note intends to present the preliminary results of a study that aims to document the voting intention of Filipinos during a pandemic.

Securing the Integrity of the 2022 Elections under the New Normal: Best PRactices from the 2020 US, French, South Korean, and Indonesian Elections

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 5 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This brief aims to formulate and propose activities, programs, and strategies in securing credible, open, and peaceful 2022 elections in face of the current COVID-19 pandemic. In aid of this endeavor, four (4) electoral experiences in 2020 under pandemic conditions were compared: the United States general elections, the French municipal elections, the South Korean legislative elections, and the Indonesian regional elections. In these experiences, this brief finds the overarching concern of balancing health safety and the democratic process and the possibility of holding elections while in the middle of a pandemic. Seeing the complex nature of the pandemic and the democratic process, this paper proposes a whole-of-nation approach in creating solutions for the challenges of securing the elections during a pandemic. Specific actions proposed here include the emphasis on minimum health safety protocols, the limitation or prohibition of in-person campaigning, collective vigilance against misinformation and abuse of power, the emphasis on online and social media campaigning, and serious push for a reform package to establish contingencies for elections under pandemic and disaster conditions.

Elections in the New Normal: Policy Insights from the Palawan Plebiscite

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 4 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This paper intends to offer policy recommendations that our election management body and other electoral stakeholders may reflect on about COVID-proofing the national elections. Moreover, this policy brief, using a whole-of-governance approach, discusses alternatives that consider supply-side and demand-side dimensions with a view that this current health crisis presents an opportunity to pursue lasting reforms that can help make electoral administration not only safer but also more transparent and participatory.

Learning from cuba and the united kingdom: Towards building a universal national health services (NHS) for the Philippines

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 3 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This policy brief discusses how the public health system and our national health insurance program currently fall short of helping our citizens afford accessible universal healthcare. In trying to address this, it draws lessons from the cases of Cuba and the United Kingdom and emphasizes the important role of the state by proposing the establishment of a Philippine National Health Services.

Protecting Women and Children during the pandemic: practical advice on integrating inclusive mechanisms in covid-19 strategies of local government units

(Policy Brief Volume 2 Issue 2 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Acknowledging the differentiated impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable groups, this policy brief emphasizes the role of local government units (LGU) in advancing inclusive mechanisms to protect women and children. It discusses the risks and challenges specifically experienced by women and children and presents existing measures that the government took at the national and local levels. It also provides practical advice on how LGUs may mainstream women and children protection into their pandemic response strategies.

Legislating Campaign Finance Reforms in the Philippines: Applying Lessons from Japan

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 - ISSN 2719-0145)

Drawing from the experience of Japan, this policy brief puts forward reforms on campaign finance policies in the Philippines. It specifically emphasizes the importance of putting limits on spending and contribution, as well as providing subsidies to eligible candidates and parties. The brief also highlights the strengthening of the Commission on Elections’ role as a crucial regulatory body in attaining these reforms.

COVID-19 IN THE PHILIPPINES: EXPANDING THE ROLE AND CAPABILITIES OF THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 9 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The ninth issue of our policy brief discusses the role of law enforcement and public safety agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the government’s COVID-19 response. In a time when a global health crisis threatens public safety along with public health, the brief reexamines their mandate and their organization and proposes alternatives in strengthening their technical capabilities as well as the relations within their units and respective communities.

Strengthening provincial supply chain management capacity for covid-19 vaccines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 8 - ISSN 2719-0145)

This eighth issue of our policy brief examines the supply chain management (SCM) practices of three Philippine provinces. It assessed the different aspects of their vaccine SCM, from management up to their delivery. Based on the assessment, the paper outlines insights and recommendations on coming up with a coherent strategy to ensure the efficient administration and delivery of vaccines in the country.

setting up a covid-19 mental health response strategy among local government units

(policy brief VOLUME 1 ISSUE 7 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The seventh issue of our policy brief emphasizes the need to respond to the mental health issues of the public amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It presents the measures taken by the national and local government as well as private entities in addressing problems in mental health, which virtually have become a pandemic as well. At the end, it expounds on some recommendations specific for the local government units in further strengthening their strategies and approaches.

digital transformation and covid-19: policy imperatives for local governments and msmes in the Philippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The sixth issue of our policy brief discusses how digital transformation (Dx) strategies can provide new ways of energizing the country’s supply chain and customer relationship management to address the fallout arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, it discusses how Dx can improve public services through online systems that will encourage citizens and businesses to transact with the government within the safety of their homes. Finally, this policy brief proposes a Dx roadmap for local policymakers, local government executives, and entrepreneurs with a new perspective on how to use Dx to create stronger integration of local governments and Micro, Small, Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs).

reintegrating overseas Filipino workers amidst the covid-19 pandemic

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The fifth issue of our policy brief discusses the Philippine government’s response to the plight of returning Overseas Filipino Workers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses some of the measures the national government took to address the needs of returning OFWs due to the pandemic. As well, it discusses how different stakeholders can play a role in potential areas for policy intervention. Finally, it explores possible long-term solutions needed to reintegrate OFWs displaced by this global health crisis.

covid-19 in the Philippines: potential implications in modernizing the armed forces of the Philippines

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The fourth issue of our policy brief underscores the need for the Philippines to reexamine its national security agenda and review the new AFP modernization program (AFPMP) in line with its current experiences related to the COVID 19 pandemic and the “new normal.” This entails a reevaluation of the current AFP philosophy on military operations other than war (MOOTW), its impact on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) readiness, and its obvious link to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense principles.

setting up a health communication strategy for local government units during the covid-19 pandemic: insgihts and recommendations

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The third issue of our policy brief outlines some suggestions in establishing an effective health communication strategy for Philippine local government units (LGUs) in response to Covid-19. Effective risk and health communication plays a crucial role and gives an opportunity to help their constituents understand and adopt protective behaviors during a health emergency such as a pandemic.

setting up a covid-19 community response strategy in localg government units: immediate, transitory, and medium-term considerations for planning

(POLICY BRIEF VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 - ISSN 2719-0145)

The second issue of our policy brief outlines some policy considerations for local government units (LGU), specifically provinces, cities, and municipalities, currently drafting or revisiting their Covid-19 Community Response Strategy and the accompanying local measures. It integrates some of the lessons from innovative practices, observations, and inputs from our volunteer group of professionals in order to aid LGU officials currently planning, drafting and updating their Covid-19 strategy.