Pasig City, Philippines — As tensions in the Middle East continue to reverberate across the globe, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) Program, gathered policy experts, government officials, and legislative practitioners for the second episode of the 2026 CBILLS Thursday Talks Series on 18 June 2026.
Entitled “A Time of Global Reset: Charting Geopolitics and Economic Strategies for the Philippines Amid the Middle East Conflict,” the virtual forum brought together around 180 participants, including CBILLS scholars and legislative officers and staff from both houses of Congress, to examine how developments in the Middle East are reshaping the global landscape and influencing the Philippines’ economic, diplomatic, and security priorities.
Providing a geopolitical perspective, De La Salle University Professor Renato C. De Castro discussed the strategic dimensions of the conflict, noting how its consequences extend far beyond the Middle East and into the broader Indo-Pacific security environment. He underscored the need for countries such as the Philippines to remain vigilant amid intensifying great power competition and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Offering an economic lens, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Assistant Secretary Reynaldo R. Cancio highlighted how disruptions in global energy markets and supply chains caused by the conflict trigger inflationary pressures and affect national growth prospects. He emphasized the imperative of strengthening economic resilience and pursuing adaptive strategies to cushion the country from external shocks.
Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan outlined the Philippines’ diplomatic approach amid the crisis, stressing the value of prudence, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation. She also underscored the government’s continuing efforts to safeguard the welfare and security of overseas Filipinos, particularly those in conflict-affected areas.
The discussions were further enriched by reactions from the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Executive Director Elvin Ivan Y. Uy and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Atty. Jose Sonny G. Matula, who provided perspectives from the business and labor sectors. Both emphasized the need for responsive policies that protect vulnerable sectors while advancing long-term strategies for resilience, competitiveness, and sustainable development.
As global dynamics continue to evolve, the episode emphasized the primacy of building resilience and adopting long-term strategies to respond to emerging challenges.
A component of the CBILLS Program, the Thursday Talks Series continues to provide legislative staff and officers with timely and policy-relevant discussions on issues shaping governance and development.
The livestream recording of the second episode is available on the CBILLS website at https://cbills.dap.edu.ph/2026-thursday-talks/ — Ronna Shane Belaro