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To Improve Citizens’ Health Seeking Behavior, Enable Transparency, Participation, and Accountability (TPA) in Health Governance: A Report on PRO-Health TPA-Enabled Health Units Workshop Series
This G-Watch report shares the highlights from the workshop series that aimed to enable health units through Transparency-Participation-Accountability (TPA) to strengthen health and education and promotion. The workshop convened barangay-level health stakeholders, including barangay officials, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, community health personnel and local civil society groups to form a TPA for health core group that now help push for improved health service delivery in their barangay.
This G-Watch report shares the highlights from the workshop series that aimed to enable health units through Transparency-Participation-Accountability (TPA) to strengthen health and education and promotion. The workshop convened barangay-level health stakeholders, including barangay officials, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, community health personnel and local civil society groups to form a TPA for health core group that now help push for improved health service delivery in their barangay.
Making Public Education Inclusive to Marginalized Learners
This fifth issue of the TPA Now! Special Education and Health Policy Edition highlights efforts to make public education inclusive to marginalized learners. It shares existing efforts of the government, as well as lessons learned by Multiply-Ed on what civil society can do to make schools more inclusive based on the experience of Gayon Albay LGBTQ Organization Inc. (Gayon). Gayon is an organization whose mission is to empower local LGBTQIA+ communities in the Bicol Region.
This fifth issue of the TPA Now! Special Education and Health Policy Edition highlights efforts to make public education inclusive to marginalized learners. It shares existing efforts of the government, as well as lessons learned by Multiply-Ed on what civil society can do to make schools more inclusive based on the experience of Gayon Albay LGBTQ Organization Inc. (Gayon). Gayon is an organization whose mission is to empower local LGBTQIA+ communities in the Bicol Region.
Supplemental Report: G-Watch Pilot-Spot-checking of Flood Control Projects
To test its spot-checking tool in flood control projects in a provincial setting, the Government Watch (G-Watch) conducted a spot-checking of flood control projects (FCPs) in La Union, specifically in the Municipalities of Bacnotan and Luna, on October 21, 2025. This report, which supplements the earlier report on Pasig, highlights key findings, insights and recommendations from the La Union pilot run of G-Watch’s spot-checking of flood control projects.
To test its spot-checking tool in flood control projects in a provincial setting, the Government Watch (G-Watch) conducted a spot-checking of flood control projects (FCPs) in La Union, specifically in the Municipalities of Bacnotan and Luna, on October 21, 2025. This report, which supplements the earlier report on Pasig, highlights key findings, insights and recommendations from the La Union pilot run of G-Watch’s spot-checking of flood control projects.
Result and Analysis of G-Watch’s Online Survey on the State of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) Implementation
Government Watch (G-Watch) is currently conducting a monitoring of citizen entitlements under the COVID-19 response. This endeavor asserts the need for governments to pay attention to providing what citizens are entitled to during emergency/ crisis situation. Often, this is overlooked and a cause of abuse where delivery of services and assistance becomes an opportunity for corruption and abuse of authority, instead of a way to ensure welfare and protection of the people.
Government Watch (G-Watch) is currently conducting a monitoring of citizen entitlements under the COVID-19 response. This endeavor asserts the need for governments to pay attention to providing what citizens are entitled to during emergency/ crisis situation. Often, this is overlooked and a cause of abuse where delivery of services and assistance becomes an opportunity for corruption and abuse of authority, instead of a way to ensure welfare and protection of the people.
Strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) as an Accountability Mechanism in Local Governance (#SKasGWatch Project)
This report shares the highlights of the pilot implementation of the Strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) as an Accountability Mechanism in Local Governance or the #SKasGWatch Project and the documentation of its final activity, the learning exchange in January 2020, that brought together the project team and lead volunteer-monitors in the three pilot sites for an assessment and reflection.
This report shares the highlights of the pilot implementation of the Strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) as an Accountability Mechanism in Local Governance or the #SKasGWatch Project and the documentation of its final activity, the learning exchange in January 2020, that brought together the project team and lead volunteer-monitors in the three pilot sites for an assessment and reflection.
Pitfalls of Aiming to Empower the Bottom from the Top: The Case of Philippine Participatory Budgeting
This paper explains why and how a reform program that opened up spaces for participatory budgeting was ultimately unable to result in pro-citizen power shifts that transformed governance. The study reviews the design and implementation of Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB), the nationwide participatory budgeting (PB) program in the Philippines, which ran from 2012 to 2016 under the Benigno Aquino government. The findings underscore the importance of institutional design to participatory governance reforms.
This paper explains why and how a reform program that opened up spaces for participatory budgeting was ultimately unable to result in pro-citizen power shifts that transformed governance. The study reviews the design and implementation of Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB), the nationwide participatory budgeting (PB) program in the Philippines, which ran from 2012 to 2016 under the Benigno Aquino government. The findings underscore the importance of institutional design to participatory governance reforms.
Filling a Gap in Governance: The Case of Balangay as a Useful Application of Digital Technology
This short paper briefly looks at Balangay and how it was developed as a useful application of digital technology to address a specific governance problem of Legazpi City. It also examines the challenges that Legazpiitfaces in enabling strategic collective action to promote responsive and accountable governance.
This short paper briefly looks at Balangay and how it was developed as a useful application of digital technology to address a specific governance problem of Legazpi City. It also examines the challenges that Legazpiitfaces in enabling strategic collective action to promote responsive and accountable governance.
Enabling a Strategic Shift: The Case of IWPR -WATCH North Cotabato - MAVC Partnership
How can ordinary citizens pressure local officialstorespond to their demands? The people from the province of North Cotabato in Mindanao seemsto have found a solution and areisattempting to further enhance it.
How can ordinary citizens pressure local officialstorespond to their demands? The people from the province of North Cotabato in Mindanao seemsto have found a solution and areisattempting to further enhance it.
Going Vertical: Citizen-led Reform Campaigns in the Philippines, 2nd ed.
Going Vertical is a result of action-research collaboration between Government Watch (G-Watch) and the Accountability Research Center (ARC) on multi-level citizen action for accountability. This book investigates how one strategic approach to citizen accountability - vertical integration - enabled seven reform initiatives in the Philippines to gain meaningful results.
Going Vertical is a result of action-research collaboration between Government Watch (G-Watch) and the Accountability Research Center (ARC) on multi-level citizen action for accountability. This book investigates how one strategic approach to citizen accountability - vertical integration - enabled seven reform initiatives in the Philippines to gain meaningful results.
From the Ground Up: Multi-Level Accountability Politics in Land Reform in the Philippines
In 1988, the Philippines enacted a land redistribution policy known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). After almost three decades of implementation, an estimated 13 percent of the land targeted for redistribution remains in the hands of powerful landlords. This paper investigates the contestation involved in the implementation of agrarian reform through the lens of multi-level accountability politics.
In 1988, the Philippines enacted a land redistribution policy known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). After almost three decades of implementation, an estimated 13 percent of the land targeted for redistribution remains in the hands of powerful landlords. This paper investigates the contestation involved in the implementation of agrarian reform through the lens of multi-level accountability politics.
Learning to be Strategic: A G-Watch Think Piece on an Alternative Approach to Sustaining Reforms Based on MAVC Experience in the Philippines
This think piece shares key lessons of G-Watch from the Making All Voices Count (MAVC) experience in the Philippines based on a learning process with the MAVC grantees from March to August 2017, which focused on the role of strategic action and adaptive learning on the issue of sustainability. Alongside this piece are two case studies on two selected MAVC grantees, one focusing on when and how digital technology works and the other on how learning for a strategic shift happens which are to be published separately by MAVC.
This think piece shares key lessons of G-Watch from the Making All Voices Count (MAVC) experience in the Philippines based on a learning process with the MAVC grantees from March to August 2017, which focused on the role of strategic action and adaptive learning on the issue of sustainability. Alongside this piece are two case studies on two selected MAVC grantees, one focusing on when and how digital technology works and the other on how learning for a strategic shift happens which are to be published separately by MAVC.
The 1987 Constitution: To Change or Not to Change?
Twenty-five years after its ratification, the 1987 Constitution has survived serious attempts to change it during the presidencies of Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. What were the reasons for the attempts and why did they fail? For persons and organizations with valid reasons to explore Charter Change, what are the available options? What is a systematic way to explore and pursue it? These are some of the questions this book examines and answers. This book is available on selected bookstores.
Twenty-five years after its ratification, the 1987 Constitution has survived serious attempts to change it during the presidencies of Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. What were the reasons for the attempts and why did they fail? For persons and organizations with valid reasons to explore Charter Change, what are the available options? What is a systematic way to explore and pursue it? These are some of the questions this book examines and answers. This book is available on selected bookstores.
How to Win an Election: Lessons from the Experts
The 2nd edition of How to Win an Election: Lessons from the Experts was also produced by the same team who made the 1st edition and still with collaboration of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). Aside from new features, this latest edition presents updated stories of former Governor Josie dela Cruz of Bulacan, Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City and Governor Grace Padaca of Isabela, all of whom have lead successful campaigns in the 2007 elections. This book is available in hardcopy at the Ateneo School of Government.
The 2nd edition of How to Win an Election: Lessons from the Experts was also produced by the same team who made the 1st edition and still with collaboration of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). Aside from new features, this latest edition presents updated stories of former Governor Josie dela Cruz of Bulacan, Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City and Governor Grace Padaca of Isabela, all of whom have lead successful campaigns in the 2007 elections. This book is available in hardcopy at the Ateneo School of Government.
G-Watch Technology for Monitoring Compliance with Human Rights
This is an attempt to superimpose the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to the Social Accountability approach of G-Watch. HRBA provides a set of normative standards based on the corpus of international human rights law against which the government can be held accountable. Social Accountability and HRBA are complementary as they share common principles: people empowerment, civic engagement and accountability.
This is an attempt to superimpose the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to the Social Accountability approach of G-Watch. HRBA provides a set of normative standards based on the corpus of international human rights law against which the government can be held accountable. Social Accountability and HRBA are complementary as they share common principles: people empowerment, civic engagement and accountability.
Expenditure Monitoring in the Philippines: A Rapid Scan of the Experience (Draft)
The attempt of civil society to venture into expenditure monitoring is a huge challenge. It is a new terrain that involves technicalities and requires access to critical processes and documents of the government.
The attempt of civil society to venture into expenditure monitoring is a huge challenge. It is a new terrain that involves technicalities and requires access to critical processes and documents of the government.
It’s the (Non-) System, Stupid! Explaining ‘Mal-development’ of Parties in the Philippines
This chapter will search for an aspect of political parties that: can explain the mal-development of party politics in the country; and can provide a feasible point of reference for party reform measures. It studies the current system (or the institutional-legal context within which parties operate), to explain the behaviors that the system elicits given its characteristics and features. Embedded in these laws and institutions are power relations that are then perpetuated by the state of politics and the existing political culture.
This chapter will search for an aspect of political parties that: can explain the mal-development of party politics in the country; and can provide a feasible point of reference for party reform measures. It studies the current system (or the institutional-legal context within which parties operate), to explain the behaviors that the system elicits given its characteristics and features. Embedded in these laws and institutions are power relations that are then perpetuated by the state of politics and the existing political culture.
Perspectives of the Reform-Minded on the Political Party Reform Legislation
This paper aims to put together the thinking, discussions and debates of the reform-minded societal groups on the proposed Political Party Reform Bill based on the activities initiated by the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in the Philippines. It is a way of summarizing the discussion and debates that the said proposed legislation had ensued among circles of reform-oriented groups and formations. In particular, this paper presents the following:
This paper aims to put together the thinking, discussions and debates of the reform-minded societal groups on the proposed Political Party Reform Bill based on the activities initiated by the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in the Philippines. It is a way of summarizing the discussion and debates that the said proposed legislation had ensued among circles of reform-oriented groups and formations. In particular, this paper presents the following:
Democratizing Election through Campaign Finance Reforms
A book chapter that discusses one of the challenges to Philippine democracy – poorly regulated campaign finance – highlighting the importance of making elections inclusive and democratic by making them competitive and fair.
A book chapter that discusses one of the challenges to Philippine democracy – poorly regulated campaign finance – highlighting the importance of making elections inclusive and democratic by making them competitive and fair.
Stability and Performance of Political Parties in Southeast Asia: Philippines, Party-Less No More? (Emerging Practices of Party Politics in the Philippines)
The study conducted by the Philippine research team aims to baseline the organizational performance and stability of selected political parties in the Philippines. From the parties’ profiles, we extracted some comparative points that will allow elucidation on the overall picture of party performance and stability in the Philippines. This is a chapter by Aceron in the book, Stability and Performance of Political Parties in Southeast Asia – How Parties Work on the Ground.
The study conducted by the Philippine research team aims to baseline the organizational performance and stability of selected political parties in the Philippines. From the parties’ profiles, we extracted some comparative points that will allow elucidation on the overall picture of party performance and stability in the Philippines. This is a chapter by Aceron in the book, Stability and Performance of Political Parties in Southeast Asia – How Parties Work on the Ground.
Poolitikang Pinoy 2013 (PoP 2013)
PoP 2013 is a data pooling initiative of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) that aims to arm the citizens with facts and data on candidates for and selected critical issues relevant to the 2013 elections, thereby, facilitating and empowering their engagement as political actors during elections. PoP 2013 aims to simplify and clarify the otherwise muddled-up issues by gathering important data and figures, and processing them into simple fact sheets that enable citizens to understand, engage in and possibly influence the development and outcome of election issues.
PoP 2013 is a data pooling initiative of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) that aims to arm the citizens with facts and data on candidates for and selected critical issues relevant to the 2013 elections, thereby, facilitating and empowering their engagement as political actors during elections. PoP 2013 aims to simplify and clarify the otherwise muddled-up issues by gathering important data and figures, and processing them into simple fact sheets that enable citizens to understand, engage in and possibly influence the development and outcome of election issues.