News and Articles
Mineral resources for sustainable and inclusive prosperity
January 10, 2022by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “The mining sector can now start developing a critical mass of responsible operations.” Throughout history, thriving mining industries all over the world have been a critical contributor in generating revenues for the government. They support local industries, create quality employment, and build progressive communities in the most […]
Unleashing opportunities for sustainable growth
January 4, 2022Finally, after more than four years, our government has rectified a damaging policy with the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining. CitizenWatch commends this prudent and progressive move and looks forward to the realization of the mining industry’s full potential as a long-term driver of economic growth – especially during these precarious times when […]
A digital mindset for 2022
January 3, 2022by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “Can we manage this new threat without resorting to an economic shutdown?” A new year is always a time of retrospection and hope that better times are ahead. The lower alert levels opened a few weeks of respite from the restrictive, but necessary, safety protocols that after two […]
Digital transformation partnership for economic recovery
December 13, 2021by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “The private sector has always been a valuable and reliable partner to the government.” Digital transformation, connectivity, power and energy, and good governance are among the interconnected essentials that must play in sync to successfully pull out of this protracted state of crisis and start a momentum of […]
Pivot to the EU
December 6, 2021by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “Trade and investments look promising, even amid the pandemic.” Sustainable recovery was a shared objective among the country’s top thought leaders from the government, the private sector, and the academe. In the recently held 2021 Pilipinas Conference of the Stratbase ADR Institute, they expressed an honest assessments of […]
Eliminate Connectivity Roadblocks for the Filipino Consumers
November 29, 2021CitizenWatch Philippines calls on the government to improve nationwide connectivity by removing bureaucratic barriers toward the full development of our digital infrastructure. By eliminating these barriers, we will be able to implement the National Broadband Plan, simplify the issuance of necessary power permits, and prioritize the welfare of Filipino consumers. Further, we strongly agree that […]
Pathways and strategies for a new and better government
November 29, 2021by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “The Pilipinas Conference gave us words of wisdom from dozens of experts.” The 6th Pilipinas Conference of the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) culminated an impressive and inspiring five-day series of discussions in an extraordinary assembly of what former International Criminal Court Judge Raul Pangalangan aptly described […]
Another Chinese attack and the 211th diplomatic note
November 22, 2021by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “The next leaders we elect will put our interests first — not Beijing’s.” In yet another act of aggression and in blatant violation of Philippine territory, Chinese coast guard vessels blocked two Philippine supply boats and sprayed water cannons in a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal. This reportedly […]
Rogue moves against private schools again?
October 25, 2021by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “The President should immediately pass the law.” With all the raging controversies and multi-layered crisis of the pandemic plus heating political intramurals, it looks like another issue has emerged. There have been news reports that some regional offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are still imposing […]
E-commerce boomers
October 18, 2021by Orlando Oxales originally published in The Manila Standard “What’s your fintech experience during this pandemic?” E-Commerce is booming in the Philippines. Online transactions became the lifeline to pandemic survival as it became and is the safest and most convenient mode of consumer purchases. Connecting to the internet through our mobile devices has become indispensable for the […]