Has the Philippines indeed shed its label as the ‘sick man of Asia’?

The Philippine Update Conference 2016 takes stock of political, economic and social developments of the previous administration and the prospects under the new government of Rodrigo Duterte. In recent years, the Philippines has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the region. After two successive fragile presidencies, the past administration of President Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016) enjoyed relative political stability and rapid economic growth.

Can the Philippines sustain this growth momentum and propel the country towards robust and inclusive economic growth? Will the change in leadership result in new policy directions that can affect governance reforms on accountability and transparency? How will the new leadership manage climate-induced disasters? How will the new administration address decades-long conflict in Mindanao and the communist insurgency? What will be the strategy in dealing with the claims on the South China Sea?

The Philippine Update 2016 Conference is also being presented on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Australia-Philippine relations to raise awareness of and discuss bilateral ties between the two countries and their peoples.

This conference is being organised by: Philippines Project, a joint initiative between the College of Asia and the Pacific and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet, ANU), Arndt-Corden Department of Economics (Crawford School, ANU), Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra and De­partment of Political and Social Change, ANU.