About CenPEG
Empowering Voices, Shaping Change
A PUBLIC POLICY CENTER - The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) is a public policy center founded shortly before the may 2004 elections to
-
Help promote people empowerment in governance especially the democratic representation of the marginal poor;
-
Conduct research/policy study, education and training on elections, government leadership, citizens' engagement and participation in governance; and social audit tools; rights-claiming; methods of social research and policy study; organizing blocks of democracy;
-
Pursue advocacy and community-based projects that help empower people to participate as key players in governance.
CenPEG STANDS FOR: A Pro-People Governance - A governance that is pro-people and democratic, where the poor are empowered and are the real source of sovereign authority; are active leaders and actors in society and government.
MISSION: The People as Policy - and Decision-Makers
To bring the hitherto marginalized sectors into active participation in decision and policy making in government especially on issues and programs affecting their rights and well-being
To put the people's agenda promoting the democratic rights and interests of marginal sectors at the core of government policies and programs.
PROGRAMS
Policy Study, Publication, and Advocacy (PSPA)
Research and policy study;
Issue analyses, political briefing papers, and policy proposals for Congress and other policy-making groups;
Conferences, round-table discussions, seminars, workshops, and other forums; and
Citizens' alliances and networks
Education and Training (EDTRA)
To increase the awareness and capabilities of marginalized people, their organizations, as well as local government units (LGUs) in democratic governance;
Training of facilitators and trainers on CenPEG's various concerns to promote political and electoral reforms.
EDTRA promotes
Election watch - "Bantay Balota" and Poll Watch;
Dapat Tapat - A movement against corruption;
Volunteers Integration Program (VIP) - A yearly summer practical learning and exposure program for university students; with academic credits.
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
Political analysts; public policy experts; scholars in culture, arts, history, and sciences; leaders from people's organizations; and academic scholars
PUBLIC & MEDIA ADVOCACY
Online publications: www.cenpeg.org and www.eu-cenpeg.com
Political analysis for the Philippine and foreign press
VOLUNTEERS INTEGRATION PROGRAM (VIP)
VIP is a yearly summer practical learning and exposure program on youth leadership, political and electoral education, governance, and grassroots empowerment; with college academic credits.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairperson: Prof. Roland G. Simbulan
Vice Chairperson: Prof. Romulo M. Tuazon
Board Secretary: Dr. Maragtas S.V. Amante
Treasurer: Dr. Susan Balingit
Executive Director: Natalie V. Pulvinar
Ms. Evi-ta Jimenez
Felix Muga II, PhD
Dr. Georgina Encanto
Hector A. Barrios
Prof. Emmanuel Leyco
Carl Marc L. Ramota
___________
Bienvenido Lumbera, PhD - former Chairpeson
Temario C. Rivera, PhD - former Chairperson
Luis V. Teodoro - former Executive Director
Fellowship
Roland G. Simbulan
Full professor, Development Studies and Public Management, UP Manila; former Faculty Regent, UP, and former vice-chancellor for planning & development, UP Manila; currently vice-chair, CenPEG
Fields of specialization: Foreign policy, national security; development studies; public management
Bobby M. Tuazon
Director for Policy Studies, CenPEG; former coordinator, UP Manila political science program; co-convener, ADePT & AES Watch
Fields of specialization: International relations, Asian security, China studies, electoral reform & political parties, peace process; mass media
Maragtas SV Amante
Former Vice President for Administration, University of the Philippines; former Dean, UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR)
Fields of specialization: National industrial policy, Good Governance Conditions (GCCs) of higher education institutions
Hector A. Barrios
Former Bank Vice President & Management Systems Consultant
Fields of specialization: Fellow for electoral systems studies
Felix P. Muga II
Member, Outstanding Young Scientists, Inc. (OYSI);
chair, mathematics division of National Research Council of the Philippines; former chair, AdMU mathematics department
Fields of study: Party-list system, mathematics
Emmanuel A. Leyco
Chief Economist at Credit Rating and Investors Services Philippines, Inc. (CRISP); President of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) from July 1, 2019 to September 29, 2023; Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from August 19, 2017, to May 9, 2018
Fields of expertise: Economics
Evita L. Jimenez
Lead convener, Asia for Development and Peace Today (ADePT);
Lead Convener & Coordinator, AES Watch; Resource person, Philippine Congress; Executive Director, CenPEG
Fields of specialization: Philippine studies, community organization, local governance, maritime education, social entrepreneurship
Dr. Susana Balingit
An advocate for traditional and indigenous health practices, emphasizing accessible, sustainable wellness rooted in local culture, is a community health educator and a wellness advocate active in both community and media platforms. She also serves as the medical director of The Farm at San Benito.
Georgina R. Encanto
Former Dean & Professor of Journalism, UP College of Mass Communication; former Regent, UP
Fields of specialization: Mass media, community journalism, Philippine studies
Carl Marc Ramota
Former chair, Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila; All-UP Academic Employees Union
Nelson J. Celis
Currently Executive Vice President, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM); spokesperson, AES Watch
Fields of specialization: Strategic Management, E-Governance, Information Security Management System, among others
Jose Enrique A. Africa
A prominent Filipino economist, policy analyst, and activist, the Executive Director of IBON Foundation, and is recognized for his progressive economic analyses.
Fields of specialization: Economics
Amirah Lidasan
Co-chairperson of the Sandugo-Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination
Fields of specialization: Moro and Indigenous People's Rights; Islamic studies
Fidel dela Torre
CenPEG in-house artist
Fields of specialization: Visual arts & computer graphics; book publishin
Michael Beltran
Independent journalist covering the Philippines. Wrote a book published with Ateneo University Press.
Julkipli M. Wadi
Professor and former Dean, UP Institute of Islamic Studies
Fields of study: Islamic thought & history; socio-political dynamics of the Muslim world; peace process on Bangsamoro
Rene B. Azurin
Teaches Strategic Management at UP’s College of Business Administration and Managerial Economics at Ateneo’s graduate school of business; member, Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch);
Fields of specialization: Strategic Development, Management Planning
Edgardo N. Clemente, MD
Areas of specialization: Public health, medical & hospital management
Eduardo T. Gonzalez
Former Dean, UP Asian Center; former president, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP, 1998-2006)
Fields of specialization: Policy research & development, public administration & management