Editorial Policy
Policies and Publication Ethics
Authorship
All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, analysis, writing, or revision of the brief, and must have approved the final version. Gift, guest, or ghost authorship is prohibited. Policy practitioners or government officials who contributed substantively to the brief's development may be acknowledged or listed as co-authors where appropriate.
Originality and Plagiarism
Briefs must be original and not previously published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere. All sources must be properly cited. Plagiarism is screened prior to review. Detection before or after publication will result in rejection or retraction.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the brief's analysis or recommendations — including funding sources, government affiliations, and consultancy roles. Reviewers and editors with conflicts of interest must recuse themselves.
No -Conflict Standard
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest, whether financial, professional, or personal, that could have influenced the design, conduct, or reporting of this research.
Government or NGO-Funded Research
This study was funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Research and Development Program. While the DSWD provided financial support and access to program data, the funder had no role in the study design, data analysis, interpretation of findings, or the decision to submit this manuscript for publication. The authors declare no other competing interests.
Research Ethics (Where Applicable)
Briefs drawing on primary research involving human participants must declare ethics review board approval and confirm that informed consent was obtained. Research concerning indigenous communities, conflict-affected populations, or vulnerable groups requires particular care in ethical reporting.
Use of AI Tools
Authors must disclose any use of AI language tools in drafting or editing the brief. AI tools may not be listed as authors. The corresponding author takes full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of all content.
No AI Tools Used
No artificial intelligence (AI) language tools or AI-assisted writing applications were used in the preparation, drafting, or editing of this manuscript. All content was produced entirely by the authors.
AI Used for Language Editings Only
The authors used an AI-assisted language editing tool (Grammarly Premium) to improve the grammar, spelling, and readability of this manuscript. The tool was used solely for language correction and did not contribute to the study design, data analysis, interpretation of findings, or the intellectual content of the work. All substantive content was conceived and written by the authors, who take full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the published article.
AI Used for Literature Search Assistance
The authors used an AI-assisted research tool (Elicit) to support the initial identification and screening of literature during the review process. All sources identified through the AI tool were independently verified by the authors for accuracy and relevance, and all cited references were accessed and read in their original form. No AI tool was used in the analysis, synthesis, or drafting of this manuscript. The authors take full responsibility for the integrity of all cited materials and the conclusions drawn.
Generative AI Used in Drafting (With Full Disclosure)
The authors used a generative AI language model (ChatGPT-4, OpenAI) to assist in drafting portions of the introduction and discussion sections of this manuscript. All AI-generated text was reviewed, substantially revised, and verified for accuracy by the authors prior to submission. No AI-generated content was used without critical evaluation and editorial judgment. The AI tool was not involved in data collection, analysis, or the formulation of conclusions. The corresponding author accepts full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of the entire manuscript.
Corrections and Retractions
The journal follows COPE guidelines for handling errors and misconduct. Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are published with full transparency when warranted.
Authorship
All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, analysis, writing, or revision of the brief, and must have approved the final version. Gift, guest, or ghost authorship is prohibited. Policy practitioners or government officials who contributed substantively to the brief's development may be acknowledged or listed as co-authors where appropriate.
Originality and Plagiarism
Briefs must be original and not previously published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere. All sources must be properly cited. Plagiarism is screened prior to review. Detection before or after publication will result in rejection or retraction.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the brief's analysis or recommendations — including funding sources, government affiliations, and consultancy roles. Reviewers and editors with conflicts of interest must recuse themselves.
No -Conflict Standard
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest, whether financial, professional, or personal, that could have influenced the design, conduct, or reporting of this research.
Government or NGO-Funded Research
This study was funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Research and Development Program. While the DSWD provided financial support and access to program data, the funder had no role in the study design, data analysis, interpretation of findings, or the decision to submit this manuscript for publication. The authors declare no other competing interests.
Research Ethics (Where Applicable)
Briefs drawing on primary research involving human participants must declare ethics review board approval and confirm that informed consent was obtained. Research concerning indigenous communities, conflict-affected populations, or vulnerable groups requires particular care in ethical reporting.
Use of AI Tools
Authors must disclose any use of AI language tools in drafting or editing the brief. AI tools may not be listed as authors. The corresponding author takes full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of all content.
No AI Tools Used
No artificial intelligence (AI) language tools or AI-assisted writing applications were used in the preparation, drafting, or editing of this manuscript. All content was produced entirely by the authors.
AI Used for Language Editings Only
The authors used an AI-assisted language editing tool (Grammarly Premium) to improve the grammar, spelling, and readability of this manuscript. The tool was used solely for language correction and did not contribute to the study design, data analysis, interpretation of findings, or the intellectual content of the work. All substantive content was conceived and written by the authors, who take full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the published article.
AI Used for Literature Search Assistance
The authors used an AI-assisted research tool (Elicit) to support the initial identification and screening of literature during the review process. All sources identified through the AI tool were independently verified by the authors for accuracy and relevance, and all cited references were accessed and read in their original form. No AI tool was used in the analysis, synthesis, or drafting of this manuscript. The authors take full responsibility for the integrity of all cited materials and the conclusions drawn.
Generative AI Used in Drafting (With Full Disclosure)
The authors used a generative AI language model (ChatGPT-4, OpenAI) to assist in drafting portions of the introduction and discussion sections of this manuscript. All AI-generated text was reviewed, substantially revised, and verified for accuracy by the authors prior to submission. No AI-generated content was used without critical evaluation and editorial judgment. The AI tool was not involved in data collection, analysis, or the formulation of conclusions. The corresponding author accepts full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of the entire manuscript.
Corrections and Retractions
The journal follows COPE guidelines for handling errors and misconduct. Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are published with full transparency when warranted.