Organizer: Philippine Studies Programme, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute
Type/Location: Virtual
Description:
This webinar will explore issues surrounding the crafting of the recent national budgets of the Philippine government. Specifically, it will discuss how the 2025 budget drastically cut funding for critical programs like social health insurance subsidies, education, and anti-poverty programs while inflating allocations for infrastructure and financial aid programs that serve political interests of incumbent officials seeking reelection in the May 2025 midterm elections. Philippine lawmakers have found innovative ways to boost hyperlocal pork projects and financial aid programs, in direct contravention of a 2013 Supreme Court ruling against discretionary pork barrel spending. But more importantly, the recent budget maneuverings are expected to have far-reaching and long-term consequences, essentially derailing the Marcos administration’s own development goals and harming the country’s future prospects.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Cielo Magno is Associate Professor in the University of the Philippines’ School of Economics. She previously served as Undersecretary of the Department of Finance. She represents the civil society in the Global Steering Committee of the Open Government Partnership and is the co-chair of the Global Steering Committee with the Government of Spain. She served as a member of the international board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for seven years and an advisory committee member of the CONNEX Global Initiative. She completed her Masters degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines School of Economics and her PhD in Law and Public Policy from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts as a Fulbright scholar.
Zy-za Nadine Suzara is an independent public budget analyst and good governance advocate with extensive experience in government, the international development sector, and civil society. She is the former Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy (iLEAD), a think tank, and the lead convenor of the People’s Budget Coalition. She previously served at the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Trade and Industry and has been involved in various projects of the US Agency for International Development, The Asia Foundation, UNDP, and the World Bank. She is regularly tapped as an expert on the national budget by legislators in both the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives and as a resource person by media and civil society.
Dr. Jan Carlo Punongbayan is Visiting Fellow of the Philippines Studies Programme at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. He is also n assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics. His professional experience includes the Securities and Exchange Commission, the World Bank Office in Manila, the Far Eastern University Public Policy Center, and the National Economic and Development Authority. JC writes a weekly economics column for Rappler.com. He is also co-founder of UsapangEcon.com and co-host of Usapang Econ Podcast. In 2024, he was awarded The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award by JCI Philippines and the TOYM Foundation for his work in economics.
Registration Link:
To attend the event online, please register here.