In the Philippines, the rise of smart city solutions, backed by initiatives that have been planned and carried out in the Local Government Units, shows a promise for a brighter urban future for…

Sarah Elizabeth Antos, Yimin Zhou |

In seven East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries, policymakers prioritize secondary school completion over basic learning quality, while underestimating the levels of learning poverty. This…

Noah Yarrow, Rythia Afkar, Paul Cahu, Mary E. Breeding |

Urgent reforms on broadband policy would hasten the digital transformation the Philippines needs to achieve its goal of becoming a prosperous middle-class society by 2040.

Naoto Kanehira, Mitch Abdon, Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos |

A new World Bank report, Unlivable: What the Urban Heat Island Effect Means for East Asia’s Cities, sheds light on three important questions to help city leaders rise to the extreme urban heat…

Anna Wellenstein, Mark Roberts, Chandan Deuskar, Nick Jones, Jane Park |

The impact of tropical cyclone Seroja impact on health services highlights a significant and ongoing challenge. How can Timor-Leste’s health system be strengthened so vital services are…

Bernard Harborne, Gregor Engelmann |

Learn about the ECT program's establishment, lessons from past disasters, World Bank's support, and its positive impact on rebuilding lives and integrating with disaster response and…

Lesley Y. Cordero, Yasuhiro Kawasoe |

While the Philippines has established these comprehensive laws and action plans to address plastic pollution, more effective implementation and stakeholder involvement are necessary to achieve…

Mona Sur, Junu Shrestha, Agnes Balota |

Read more about a new study conducted by the East Asia and Pacific Gender Innovation Lab (EAPGIL), which evaluated the impact of the Philippines conditional cash transfer program Pantawid…

Elizaveta Perova, Abhilasha Sahay, Ervin Dervisevic, Jessica Gesund |

With extensive coastlines, many island nations, and low-lying territories, the East Asia and Pacific region is highly susceptible to climate-related disasters. The region has developing and…

Abidah B. Setyowati, Susan Shen |

As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) moves towards full autonomy in 2025 it needs to continue prioritizing health sector reform.

Maria Vida Gomez, Sutayut Osornprasop |