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ECONOMIC POLICY REFORM AND ADVOCACY PROJECT |
Economic
Policy Reform and Advocacy (EPRA) is a consortium led by the
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and composed of civil society
organizations that aim to undertake an involved but practical process
of formulatingan economic reform agenda in the Philippines. EPRA's
reform agenda in the key sectors of Fiscal Management, Tax Administration,
Agriculture, Finance Markets Development, Private Investments in
Public infrastucture and Local Government Financial Planning and
Management is grounded on sound analyses by policy experts. More
importantly, this reform agenda is also owned, and therefore widely
supported, by key stakeholders.
EPRA
realizes that economic policy reform in the Phillipines requires
a complex mix of research, networking, advocacy, political will
and capacity building among various stakeholders. It is also aware
that certain proposals for economic reform fail to be translated
into policy because the proponents did not take into consideraiton
the negative reaction of key affected groups. Worse, much resources
are used by various groups just to oppose each otherin the policy
process leading to further bottlenecks in the promotion of the economic
growth. Sometimes too, opposition of certain policy initiatives
is the result of a lack of information or understanding of the issue
at hand. It is because of these constraints that EPRA wishes to
mediate, to narrow the gap that oftentimes derails economic reform
in the country. With the expertise and objectivity of the Ateneo
de Manila University as an academic institution and the rich experience
of civil society groups, EPRA can offer possible venues for dialogue
and negotiations. Moreover, EPRA's pool of experts and wide network
of government, business and civil society organizations, ascertains
that it can successfully formulate a sound overall framework and
strategy in select key areas for economic reform in the country.
VISIONS
An
economic policy environment responsive to the needs and aspirations
of Filipinos especially the poor, enjoying broad-based support and
producing tangible results.
WHAT
WE SEEK TO ACHIEVE
-
Establish
a mechanism that will provide broad and cross-sectoral support
to the formulation, implemetation, enforcement and monitoring
of policy reforms;
-
Define
an Economic Policy Reform Agenda with a broad support base;
-
Strengthen
NGO capability of the research and acdemic institutions and
other policy think-tanks to provide timely technical and political
support to economic policy reform initiatives of goverrnment
reformers and civil society organizations.
KEY
AREAS OF ASSISTANCE
The
ADMU Consortium is composed of:
- Ateneo
School of Economics
- Ateneo
Center for Economic Research and Development (ACERD)
- Ateneo
Center for Social Policy and Public Affairs
- Philippine
Center for Policy Studies (PCPS)
- Public
Financ Institute of the Philippines (PFIP)
- Caucus
of development NGOs (CODE-NGO)
- Consortium
of Centers for Local Governance (CCLG)
- Evelio
B. Javier Foundation, Inc.
- Galing
Pook Foundation (GPFI)
- Transparency
and Accountability Network
CORE
VALUES
E
- Equity and Efficiency
P - Participatory
R - Reform-oriented
A - Accountability
HOW
WE CAN ASSIST
- By
providing technical assistance in policy implementation and evaluaiton;
and,
- By
providing assistance in conducting policy advocacy campaigns.
HOW
WE HOPE TO ASSIST
-
Through
a mechanism called multi-stakeholder team (MSTs) composed of
the concerened government agency, a civil society representative
and a subject specialist.
-
The
MSTs in the key areas of assistance will arrive at policy issues
for action & determine the form of assistance needed to
push the policy reforms.
Project
Director: Cielito Habito
Deputy Director: Fernando Aldaba
Project Manager: Eloisa Pilapil
Financial Market Development
Shelah Mae Famador
Partner NGO : Philippine Center for Policy Studies
Fiscal
Management
Harvey Buena
Partner NGO : PFIP
Tax
Administration
Hilda Gonzales
Partner NGO : Transparency and Accountability Network
LGU
Financial Planning and Management
Eloisa Pilapil
Partner NGO : Evelio B. Javier Foundation, Inc.
Private
Investment in Public Infrastructure
Shelah Mae Famador
Agriculture
Sarah Gay Lantican
Partner NGO : Caucus of Development - Non-Government Organization
Research
Advocacy and Advisory Group
Leonardo Lanzona
Romelia Neri
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