BUILDING AN INTEGRATED AND DEPOLITICIZED SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES

October 2025

The Philippines’ social protection system is fragmented, duplicative, and highly vulnerable to political capture. Multiple cash assistance and subsidy programs operate in parallel, often covering similar risks but through different implementing agencies. Programs such as TUPAD, MAIFIP, and AICS duplicate the mandates of PhilHealth, SSS, and education-related support schemes, while remaining politically mediated in targeting and distribution.

This paper argues that reforms should anchor on three mutually reinforcing pillars:

• PhilSys as the national identity backbone to eliminate duplication and fraud.
• Universal financial access through bank accounts and e-wallets to enable direct transfers.
• Phased integration of social registries through agency-based systems and LGU-level pilots under the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS).

By progressively building capacity, ensuring interoperability, and strengthening oversight from regulatory institutions, the Philippines can move toward a modernized and depoliticized social protection system that is efficient, transparent, and responsive to both chronic vulnerabilities and crisis shocks.

Justin Muyot is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, and a member and trustee of INCITEGov.

BEYOND AYUDA: AN OVERVIEW OF GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES IN SOCIAL PROTECTION

September 2025

Social protection systems have become a cornerstone of national development strategies, evolving from fragmented, reactive safety nets into integrated, adaptive architectures capable of promoting equity, resilience, and opportunity. In recent decades, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have expanded coverage, improved delivery systems, and deepened impact through innovation and reform. This policy note synthesizes global best practices in social protection outside the Philippines, in the hope that it helps inform reforms in the Philippines’ own social protection mechanisms.

JC Punongbayan, PhD is a trustee of INCITEGov and an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics.

RETHINKING AYUDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

March 2025

Ayuda, “help” or “assistance” in Filipino (derived from Spanish), is a collective term for the Philippine government's financial assistance programs. They play a crucial role in social protection, particularly for vulnerable sectors. These programs range from conditional cash transfers (CCTs) like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to unconditional transfers such as the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. While ayuda is necessary for addressing immediate needs and economic shocks, its exponential growth—especially during the pandemic and in the lead-up to the 2025 elections—raises concerns about its sustainability, efficiency, and long-term economic impact. This policy note examines the key issues with ayuda and proposes smarter approaches to its implementation.

JC Punongbayan, PhD is a trustee of INCITEGov and an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics. Zy-za Nadine Suzara is an independent public budget analyst and former executive director of the Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy (iLEAD).

The Two Tracks of the Bangsamoro Peace Process and the Extension Transition Question

February 2021

Much of the discourse on the proposed extension of the transition period covering the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had focused on its justification. While some groups in Mindanao have expressed their reservations, both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) have backed the call, citing the need for more time to fulfill their responsibilities and mandate.

Other stakeholders also recommended the creation of a roadmap that would specify the tasks to be completed during the extended period, identify the people accountable for the work, and define the structures, mechanisms, and milestones to ensure that promised goals are delivered.

Any roadmap crafted for this purpose should be properly contextualized against the larger Bangsamoro peace process and should prioritize specific milestones that need to be completed to determine the end of the transition period.

Louie Montalbo is a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of INCITEGov, a policy research and advocacy center in the Philippines. He was also a former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Reframing the Discourse on the Call to Extend the BARMM transition

January 2021

The Rapid Midterm Review on the Bangsamoro Transition Period released by the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) in October 2020 created a flurry of heated discussions on social media on the report’s top recommendation to extend the period of transition for another three years.

Some fear that the issue has become divisive especially among Bangsamoro peace advocates. It is therefore important to carve a space where, instead of having a “zero-sum” debate between those who are for or against the extension, both sides reframe the discussion to focus on the purpose of the extension and for whom it is for.

Broadening the discourse can help address the different concerns of those who have a common interest and concern for the success of the Bangsamoro peace process and bring into the discourse other voices that need to be heard.

It is also equally important to establish a clear set of parameters to follow during the extension that will ensure that the targets will be met whilst protecting the interests of the Bangsamoro people.

Louie Montalbo is a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of INCITEGov, a policy research and advocacy center in the Philippines. He was also a former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. This think piece was produced with inputs from INCITEGov members Teresita Quintos Deles, Edilberto de Jesus, Yasmin Busman-Lao, Mario Aguja and Howard Cafugauan.

Food & Nutrition Security and Agriculture Recovery vis-a-vis COVID-19

September 2020 (Policy Brief)

In this brief, policies are proposed that will hopefully enhance the strategies and programs for food & nutrition security and agriculture recovery vis-avis the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. The recommendations focus on the family farmers, fishers, and agro-foresters, who are the backbone of the country’s food supply. These producers are the most marginalized sector of the economy and are at the lowest survival income level, with high financial debts, and with very little or no social protection.

While primarily addressed to national government, through the Department of Agriculture and related financing institutions, and local governments, the policy proposals and program strategies may also be adopted by private business and civil society organizations, for their advocacies and partnerships with national and local governments.