A mindset for public service
For the past two decades, the Stratbase Institute has served as a platform for serious and sustained conversations on the most pressing issues confronting the Filipino people. By bringing together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, these engagements have produced ideas and recommendations that have helped shape public policy.
As we begin 2026, this mission takes on renewed urgency. The Philippines can no longer afford to govern from one political cycle to the next. In a world shaped by economic volatility, geopolitical tension, and growing security threats, the country needs resilience, good governance, and strategic clarity more than ever.
This reality underpins our recent launch of “Politika Beyond 2028: The Urgency for Resilient Growth, Inclusive Governance, and Geostrategic Thinking.” The book is a collection of essays by practitioners and scholars who understand the issues intimately and ground their arguments in evidence. Its core message is unambiguous: without long-term planning, the Philippines risks entering its next decade unprepared for the impacts of evolving geopolitical dynamics on national security and development.
The chapters examine the country’s pursuit of resilient and inclusive growth alongside strategic security and environmental sustainability. Economic security and good governance are treated not as separate goals, but as inseparable pillars.
Resilient growth requires accountable institutions, transparent leadership, and policies that protect public trust while creating real opportunities for Filipinos. This means moving beyond nominal growth toward reforms that strengthen institutions, fight corruption, diversify trade, and invest in human capital and sustainable infrastructure.
Inclusive governance is equally essential. A whole-of-society approach is needed to ensure policy coherence, particularly in foreign and security policy. Public awareness campaigns, media literacy initiatives, and capacity-building programs must be strengthened to counter disinformation and cognitive manipulation that weaken democratic institutions and social trust.
The book also highlights the Philippines’ strategic position in the Indo-Pacific. Rising regional tensions, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, underscore the importance of geostrategic thinking in navigating external pressures. The Philippines must be clear-eyed in defending its interests, strengthening cooperation with trusted partners, and standing firm on peace, stability, and the rule of law. Strategic partnerships with like-minded countries, alongside active engagement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, are essential to regional stability and national security.
Equally important is the need to institutionalize reforms so they survive political transitions. Strategic direction loses meaning if it resets every election cycle. Policies on economic security, defense modernization, climate adaptation, and governance reform must be anchored in institutions, not personalities.
Continuity is itself a form of resilience. Without it, even well-designed strategies remain vulnerable to reversal, delay, or dilution, leaving the country exposed to long-term risks that cannot be addressed within the span of a single administration.
Beyond security, the authors stress the importance of environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, and responsible resource use. Protecting marine biodiversity, pursuing sustainable development, and preparing for climate risks are no longer optional, but central to long-term resilience.
Ultimately, this is about readiness. Readiness to confront uncertainty, protect what matters, and ensure that the Philippines not only endures, but leads, in a rapidly changing world. Governments should not be run on impulsive decisions, short-term rewards, or the blind repetition of routine. Strategic thinking and thought leadership must have space in public service to set a clear direction and sustain it across political transitions.
Despite the challenges we face, there is reason for hope. Filipinos understand that better governance will not be achieved by one leader alone, but by a society willing to think long-term, demand accountability, and act together for the country’s future.
This, after all, is what it means to live in a democracy.
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Dindo Manhit is the CEO and managing director of Stratbase Group.
