APC published 15 journal articles and 12 working papers for 2023

The Ateneo Policy Center, the Ateneo School of Government’s public policy think tank and research unit, is pleased to announce the publication of fifteen (15) peer-reviewed journal articles and twelve (12) working papers for the year 2023. These research papers demonstrate the Center’s commitment to speak truth to power through evidence-based discussions on the country’s most pressing issues and long-term goal of democratic development. 

The country is still reeling from the aftermath of the pandemic, especially the Philippine health sector. Along with a journal article on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in ASEAN countries, the Center researched on health communication with notes on how to improve communicating for the safe use of medicines and a case study that illustrates the ways Filipino teachers essentially play the role of health workers for their students. The Center conducted several studies that dive deeper into how barangay health workers, despite being the first point of contact for Filipinos seeking care, are neglected in the health value chain and vulnerable to politicization. Further, a journal article recommending a way to measure the quality of care for universal healthcare coverage was also published.

A recent article reveals the influential role of the alcohol and tobacco industries in the Philippines. The Center produced cutting-edge research for tobacco reform in the country that provides policy inputs in combating illicit tobacco trade, and reevaluates the effectiveness of graphic health warnings in cigarette packaging (developed from a previous working paper). The Center also responds to the evolving threat of online mis-/disinformation through studies that profile the Filipinos’ sensitivity to online incivility, disentangle the twin effects of inaccurate news and overconfidence on Filipino political participation, and trace the decade-long mythmaking of the Tallano gold narrative on Facebook. Results from a recently published article show that one way to address the increasingly polarized online environment is through the adaptation of local languages in political information campaigns. 

This year, the Center has conducted research that assesses the country’s economic and security position amidst the changing global and local landscapes. Working papers detail avenues for stronger partnerships with the United States and South Korea. An article on African countries also shows the importance of institutions that maintain trade balance in the face of internet and mobile development. Meanwhile, two working papers (see: Phase 1 and Phase 2) lay down policy recommendations for increased and stable investments in national security. As part of the Center’s efforts in developing data for evidence-based policymaking, an article also introduced the Philippine Electoral Violence dataset which chronicles online reports of election-related violence from 2013 to 2019. 

The Ateneo Policy Center is a dedicated advocate for policy reform towards nation building. In the face of authoritarian nostalgia and populism, the Center calls for a more nuanced approach to democratic attitudes in the Philippines. Clustering survey responses reveal that the hybrid nature of Philippine democracy is reflected in the mixed democratic and authoritarian attitudes among the Filipino youth. Indeed, research by the Center has zeroed in on this phenomenon by analyzing illiberal populism in the 2022 national elections, social pressures against criticizing the government, the Filipino’s susceptibility to being allegiant to authority, and even the role of the Catholic Church in the drug war. The struggle for a democratic nation also entails inclusive development, a goal that the Center strives for in the Philippines. A journal article argues that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to development and proposes a typology of Philippine provinces based on three key challenges for good governance. A resulting working paper details policy recommendations for each challenge, paving the way for economic and political development to be possible for all provinces in the long run. 

The Ateneo Policy Center extends its deepest gratitude to the research fellows, partners, and stakeholders that have generously supported the Center’s mission for a prosperous and empowered Philippines. These research endeavors would not have been possible without them, and the Center hopes to continue these meaningful engagements in 2024.

For more information about the research materials by the Ateneo Policy Center, please visit this link.