This issue of the Development Research News deepens the discussion on federalism, a hot topic in the Philippines today. During the 15th Development Policy Research Month, the country’s leading public policy experts shared their views on the pros and cons of federalism and its implications for the Philippines. The banner article features the highlights of the said discussion and presents key questions on the adoption of federalism in the Philippine setting. This issue also covers the 50th year of the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit. In line with these events, it features a study on the appreciation of the Philippine business sector of the country’s ASEAN membership and the economic benefits that the regional bloc has brought to its member-states. It also includes an article urging the ASEAN to target the perennial problems of poverty and inequality, poor disaster management, inadequate protection of the environment, and the rising extremism, as part of its community-building efforts. Completing this issue is an article discussing the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill, particularly its implications for the poor.
