Two scholars from the United States are coming to Manila next week to speak at a roundtable discussion on Electoral Reform to be hosted by the Angara Centre for Law and Economics on Jan. 29.
Dr. John VC Nye of George Mason University will present research on the automation of Philippine elections, while Dr. Alberto Simpser of the University of Chicago will present a paper on electoral fraud across the globe.
They will be joined by the who’s who of Philippine elections—Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Chairperson Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and Social Weather Stations (SWS) president Mahar Mangahas, who will participate in the discussion.
“Electoral reform is a very timely and relevant issue, and one where we need to do plenty of work as a coutry,” said Dr. Emerlinda Roman, former president of the University of the Philippines and current chairperson of the Angara Centre Board.
“As we continue to modernize the practice of Philippine elections, we must remember to couple this with careful research and study. Looking into the experience of other countries and tapping the expertise of international scholars can help us in this process,” Roman said.
The Angara Centre for Law and Economics is the Philippines’ first private-sector law, regulation, and economic policy think-tank, where the country’s best intellectuals will work in tandem with global economic and legal experts to design constructive policy reforms and institutions for Philippine development.