poor COVID response

Is it time to move on?
The resiliency myth

June 29, 2022

The Philippines recently ranked as one of the five worst places to be as the ripples of COVID-19 continue. This is contrary to the outgoing Duterte administration’s repeatedly built narrative – that it did well on the pandemic and is leaving behind an economy that is on a quick rebound.

Government not underspending? Budgeted too little, didn’t even spend it all

July 25, 2021

The Development Budget Coordinating Committee said that a total of Php665.7 billion has so far been released for the Duterte administration’s government’s COVID-19 response. This is however insufficient for such a huge national emergency. Worse, large amounts have not even been spent as of June.

Strong fiscal stimulus? Below average spending worsens in 2021, 2022

July 25, 2021

In the name of credit-worthiness, the Duterte administration increased its spending by only a bit, which is not at all commensurate to the enormity of the crisis at hand.