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Beyond Lowest Bid: Why the Philippines Needs Procurement Reform to Build National Capability

Why Defense Procurement Deserves Its Own Law—and Why Public Procurement Must Become a Strategic Instrument of National Development By Karl M. Garcia Every government procurement system exists to answer a deceptively simple question: How should public money be spent? For decades, the Philippines has answered that question primarily through the lens of accountability. Public procurement … Continue reading

From Governance to Statecraft

Building the Republic Through Capability, Architecture, Learning, and Trust By Karl M. Garcia Much of Philippine public discourse revolves around governance. We debate corruption, transparency, elections, budgets, bureaucracy, decentralization, public services, and political accountability. These are essential concerns, for governance determines how effectively government performs its immediate responsibilities. Yet these discussions often remain disconnected from … Continue reading

Beyond Projects: Building the Architecture of National Transformation

Part II — Building the National Operating System By Karl M. Garcia Part I argued that the Philippines has reached an inflection point. The country’s central development challenge is no longer simply constructing more roads, ports, airports, or power plants. It is designing a national system in which these investments reinforce one another. The distinction … Continue reading

Beyond Projects: Building the Architecture of National Transformation

Part I — The Philippines at an Inflection Point By Karl M. Garcia Every generation inherits a different development challenge. For much of the twentieth century, the Philippines struggled to build the physical foundations of a modern nation. Roads, bridges, ports, schools, hospitals, power plants, irrigation systems, and telecommunications formed the backbone of national policy. … Continue reading

Beyond the Headlines: The Next Test for the Philippine Economy

By Karl M. Garcia Over the past year, the Philippines has received a series of encouraging endorsements from major international institutions. The World Bank has recognized that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio remains manageable despite years of elevated public spending and has officially reclassified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), meanwhile, … Continue reading