Brain Trust: Knowledge and Options for Sustainable Development, Inc.

19/08/2026

"Government rules must impel them to undertake these investments and not encourage complacency by allowing them to pass these costs entirely to honest consumers. But to be fair, the government must do its part to enforce the law and prevent and properly penalize line pilferage via jumpers and tampered meters."

Read full column here:

I first heard about the TANSTAAFL principle—for “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”—from a visiting American economics professor back in my college days. Politicians, I wrote last

18/08/2026

DSWD PRESS RELEASE: SWS survey shows 600,000 Pinoy families now food secured; hunger on a declining trend – DSWD chief

DSWD Secretary REX Gatchalian emphasized that the survey aimed to determine changes in the condition of Walang Gutom Program (WGP) household-beneficiaries and non-beneficiary households, particularly their experiences of hunger, food insecurity, and their own assessment of their food poverty status.

Based on the results discussed by SWS Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Gerardo Sandoval and SWS Research Fellow Dr. Roehlano Briones, hunger among WGP beneficiaries declined by 6.7 percentage points, from 33.6 percent in the first round to 26.9 percent in the second round. (AKDL)

See comments section for full story.

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18/08/2026

17/08/2026

Brain Trust, Inc. Chair Dr. Cielito F. Habito is heading to Davao!

He will share his insights on the “Economic Assessment for 2026 and Economic Outlook for 2027” at the upcoming MAP General Membership Meeting & Economic Briefing, joined by FEF President Mr. Calixto V. Chikiamco.

🗓️ September 17, 2026 (Thu) | 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Meeting Rooms 4 & 5 (Level 3), SMX Convention Center Davao

See poster for more details!

14/08/2026

🌾 Great ideas create greater impact when they make it from research to the real world.

Joining us at the 64th PAFT Annual Convention is Dr. Roehlano M. Briones, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Dr. Briones will discuss “Accelerating Technology Transfer for Agrifood Innovations,” bringing an important policy and economic perspective to how innovations can move beyond research and contribute to the Philippine agrifood sector.

If you work in research, academe, government, food manufacturing, or product innovation, this is a conversation worth being part of.

📅 August 26–27, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria

🎟️ Registration Fees:
Professionals – PAFT Members: ₱9,000
Professionals – Non-Members: ₱9,500
Students: ₱1,500

⚠️ Convention slots are filling up. Secure yours while registration is still open!

🔗 Registration Form:
https://forms.gle/VR3n16RdworN4NcG7

13/08/2026

"Our troubles are largely self-inflicted; we cannot hide behind the excuse that outside forces are the problem, because our neighbors are doing much better even in the face of all that. We are our own worst enemy."

Read the full column here:

I can’t help it, but the news that our economy grew even more slowly (at 2.3 percent) than last quarter’s already dismal 2.8 percent gives me a sinking feeling about our country. Seeing a

30/07/2026

02/07/2026

AIS invites the public to the second SDG2 webinar of the SDSN PH SDG2 Working Group entitled, "Strengthening Food Systems Amid Global Conflict and Ecological Pressures"

📅 08 July 2026 | Wednesday
🕑 2:00 - 5:00 PM via Zoom & YouTube
💻 Online via Zoom

This second webinar for 2026 will focus on geopolitical conflicts and its impact on rising energy and food prices and climate pressures. It is organized by the SDG2 Zero Hunger Project of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines and will be led by Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan and Xavier Science Foundation, together with the Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Davao University, Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Inc., and in cooperation with the SDSN Youth Philippines.

Register now! http://forms.gle/qyBKEy14jefCauSz5

02/07/2026