Abbey Abramson

  Case studies on policy capture risks Case Studies Philippines: barangay-level steering and capture risks The Local Government Code (RA 7160) established local development councils from the barangay to the provincial level and mandated CSO representation, with at least one-quarter of the barangay development councils to be fully organized. In principle, this opens doors for fisherfolk groups, women’s associations, and cooperatives to shape priorities. In practice, representation is uneven, with many barangays lacking accredited CSOs in development councils. Two factors contribute to this disparity: first, the level of political will among local leaders, as some barangay officials may prioritize maintaining control over decision-making processes rather than involving CSOs. Second, administrative capability varies significantly across barangays, affecting their ability to effectively organize and maintain active CSO desks and people’s councils. Recent assessments have reflected the...

  Philippine local boss system and corruption The Local Boss System: Patronage, Gatekeepers, and Community Voices Why local political economy makes or breaks climate action Imagine a coastal town in the Philippines , where the sound of crashing waves is an integral part of its residents' daily lives. One season, torrential rains threaten to flood the town, and the local community anxiously awaits the construction of a protective dike. The decision on where to build the dike seems straightforward, but as the locals quickly learn, it is anything but. Dikes, drains, mangroves, waterworks, early-warning systems: these rise or fall in the arena of local power. Budgets may be approved in capitals, but who gets listed, which contractor is picked, where to site the work, and whose complaints are heard are decided in barangays, wards, gram panchayats, and municipalities. In many developing contexts, local politics is mediated by patronage and clientelist exchange : resources and favors flo...