Remittances and Household Behavior in the Philippines

As one of the world's largest recipients of remittances, the Philippines received remittances roughly 12% of its gross domestic product in 2008. Remittances have become the single most important source of foreign exchange to the economy and a significant source of income for recipient families. Using the instrument variable estimation technique, this study examines the role of remittances in increasing household consumption and investment and thereby their potential for rebalancing economic growth and creating long-term human and capital investment. The results indicate that remittances negatively influence the share of food consumption in the total expenditure. However, unlike previous studies, the estimations show that remittances to the Philippines do not have a significant influence on other key items of consumption or investment such as spending on education and health care. A further analysis using logistical regression shows that remittances help to lift households out of poverty. Remittances thus may help in fighting poverty in the Philippines but not in rebalancing growth, especially in the long run

A descriptive analysis of the dynamics of labor market outcomes of 4Ps beneficiaries

This study aims to understand the nuances and dynamics in the labor market outcomes of 4Ps beneficiaries. The 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is the Philippine government's key social assistance program with the purpose of breaking inter-generational poverty by incentivizing human capital investment. To help achieve human capital development, accessing sustainable livelihood is crucial. Using the survey data sets collected and used in previously conducted studies on the 4Ps program, this study formed a panel of households and members to examine the changes or the lack of changes in labor status of individuals across the years. The idea is to draw insights that can be utilized in the design or redesign and implementation of related programs such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program for improving the labor market outcomes of 4Ps beneficiaries. The study finds a wide gender gap in terms of labor market status, with males being better off in having a stable work status. Meanwhile, majority of females exclude themselves from the labor force to do unpaid work in the form of household and family duties. The study highlights the importance of the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which was found to mostly benefit women, and the need for sustainable and fully-packaged livelihood programs that target young women and young mothers in poorer communities. For women who engage in economic activities, the study found that they usually remain in the same industry within the period of interest. Meanwhile, male adult members of 4Ps households appear to be more flexible in the way they participate in the labor force. While these results reflect women's lack of flexibility because of their socially dictated roles, these show important aspects for possible interventions for women in 4Ps households

Towards a more inclusive agricultural insurance program

Typhoons, pests and other natural calamities cause the country, particularly the agricultural sector, significant damages. For instance, Typhoons Yolanda (Haiyan) and Ompong (Mangkhut) have caused PHP 35 billion and PHP 27 billion worth of agricultural damages, respectively, based on estimates by the Department of Agriculture. Given that a third of the country's workforce depend on the agriculture sector, it is crucial that efforts are undertaken towards mitigation of the effects of these shocks and risks. One of these efforts is agricultural insurance as provided for by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). Using information from the PCIC, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with agricultural producers, and findings from earlier studies on agricultural insurance, this study examines the constraints in, opportunities, and efforts for achieving impact and inclusion of agricultural insurance programs in the Philippines

The Philippines' voluntary national review on the sustainable development goals

United Nations member-states, including the Philippines, committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to "conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven". The Voluntary National Review (VNR) aims to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned, to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The VNR also seeks to strengthen policies and institutions of governments and to mobilize multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the implementation of the SDGs. In particular, this VNR report examines where the country stands in several SDGs, analyzing baseline data and recent historical data on SDG indicators, as well as other supporting indicators and identifying challenges and constraints. With the theme, "Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality", the following set of goals were reviewed in depth in this report: SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnerships)

Competitiveness assessment of the Philippine Retirement Authority's program in international retirement migration

The Philippines has introduced initiatives to attract retirement migrants, including visa and residence permit programs and various incentives. Central to these efforts is the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), managed by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). The SRRV offers a non-immigrant visa to foreign nationals and former Filipinos, allowing indefinite stay and multiple entries. This paper, one of a three-part research paper series, aims to assess the competitiveness of PRA's retirement program compared to neighboring countries, profile prospective retirees, and identify ways to enhance PRA's program effectiveness. Using a mixedmethods approach, the study integrates quantitative and qualitative analyses, including competitor SWOT analysis, customer feedback, and value-chain evaluation. It examines literature on retirement migration trends and conducts key informant interviews with retirees and PRAaffiliated entities. Findings reveal that while the Philippines' SRRV program is attractive due to lower financial requirements and indefinite stay privileges, it lags behind countries like Thailand and Malaysia in attracting retirees. Issues such as visa processing delays, unclear requirements, and limited post-visa services detract from its appeal. Additionally, retirees are often younger than expected, and most come from high-income backgrounds. To improve, the PRA must address processing delays, enhance after-sales services, and expand the retirement care industry. Collaboration with stakeholders and better information dissemination are essential. The study concludes that a comprehensive industry roadmap is needed to position the Philippines as a leading retirement destination amidst evolving global trends and local challenges

Expanded data analysis and policy research for National ICT Household Survey 2019

The National ICT Household Survey (NICTHS), conducted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in partnership with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI), is the first-ever household survey in the country focusing on ICT. The NICTHS is one of the strategies of DICT to jumpstart the generation of official information and communications technology (ICT) statistics critical for monitoring ICT development, particularly the expansion and diffusion of digital technologies, as well as for national development planning and policymaking. The NICTHS has a wealth of information describing households' ICT equipment and individual uses of ICT (information technology, fixed-line, and mobile Internet). This study analyzes the results of the NICTHS to help the government in developing and evaluating ICT policies and strategies, including measures to address issues, such as the digital divide, and in assessing ICT developments in the country compared to that of its peers. The study looks into ICT access and use as they pertain to living conditions (and livelihood) of households, skills of individuals (particularly in mobile telephony and the Internet), and the sharing of equipment within a household (including gender issues), that in turn, can provide clues on the potential impact of increased ICT adoption in the country on productivity, growth, jobs, and inclusion