Opinion and Commentary
Zaldarriaga: Promoting long-term stability in the energy industry
May 21, 2024, 11:35 am
When it comes to discourse on economic development, energy security is often overlooked compared to other factors such as infrastructure, agriculture, and education. But in today’s highly interconnected world, the importance of reliable electricity service cannot be overstated. It can dictate… Read More
Lu: Sanitation: Issues of water and toilets
May 20, 2024, 9:00 am
I found it intriguing to read a report from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) stating that only 84 percent of Filipino families have access to basic sanitation services. This means that 16 percent of families lack access to these services. According to the 2020 population… Read More
Lauengco: Bamban and the nature of local politics
May 15, 2024, 3:40 pm
“All politics is local” - Thomas P. O’Neill By now, everyone knows about the lady mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. Social media and formal news outlets are abuzz with discussions on several issues allegedly involving Mayor Alice Guo. Apart from these issues, however, there is one question a lot of… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Balance in synergies
May 14, 2024, 12:31 pm
Partnerships between the government and the private sector have historically been proven to be an efficient and effective pillar of economic growth and continue to do so, not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the world too. While the government crafts policies and implements… Read More
Lu: The diverse landscape of e-vehicles in PH
May 13, 2024, 10:59 am
On April 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implemented a ban on e-bikes, e-trikes, and similar vehicles on approximately 20 major roads in Metro Manila. The MMDA apprehended hundreds of such vehicles on its inaugural day and impounded those lacking registration and driver's… Read More
Delos Reyes: People and places
May 10, 2024, 4:18 pm
People make the place. For better. Or worse. Fact is, people infect their environs with what they are. Pigs turn any place into a pigsty. Turn it into a mirror of themselves. Their habits become a habitat. A portion of the national highway that skewers through Tarlac province is lined on both… Read More
Lauengco: Mother’s Day, loss and solo parenting
May 8, 2024, 4:55 pm
“When we as a society begin to value mothers as the givers and supporters of life, then we will see social change in the ways that matter.” - Ina May Gaskin Sunday, May 12, 2024, is Mother’s Day in the Philippines. On that day, millions of Filipinos will greet and honor their mothers.… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Public trust
May 7, 2024, 10:09 am
One wouldn’t normally expect a highly science-based government agency to make headlines over corruption. When it comes to cases of wrongdoing in public office, government agencies that deal with highly technical fields such as research and the sciences don’t often come to mind. So when news of… Read More
Lu: Need for people-to-people ties among nations
May 6, 2024, 9:00 am
The conflict between the Philippines and China took a different turn when a local government official stated that there were 4,600 Chinese students enrolled in a private university who had rented homes in various locations in Tuguegarao City. Worse, the alleged influx of Chinese students is in… Read More
Lauengco: The Philippine war on plastic - Part 1
May 1, 2024, 1:44 pm
"There’s gold in them thar hills.” – Mark Twain This year, the theme for the Earth Day Celebration is “Planet vs. Plastics”. All over the world, the goal of every Earth Day celebration is to spread awareness on the “indestructibility of plastics and the hazards they pose to public… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Warmer days ahead
April 30, 2024, 12:25 pm
Over the past few weeks, rising heat indices have dominated the news and public discussions as various concerns mount over the effects of the unusually high temperatures. While the Philippines is no stranger to hot days during the dry season, the heat in recent days is unlike any many of us have… Read More
Lu: 50th anniversary of PH overseas employment
April 26, 2024, 12:00 pm
On May 1, the world will celebrate International Workers’ Day. In the Philippines, we call it Labor Day to celebrate Filipino workers' contributions to national development. It is also during this day that workers worldwide amplify their issues, such as welfare and wages. We expect that for… Read More
Samonte: The rising prices of oil products in PH and elsewhere now and then
April 25, 2024, 2:20 pm
In the wake of the unmitigated escalation of the prices of oil products as an indirect result of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, majority of the millennial Filipino population may be interested to know what happened in the Philippines during the so-called first global oil shock in the… Read More
Lauengco: Artificial Intelligence, innovation and agriculture
April 24, 2024, 9:21 am
“AI will impact every industry on Earth including agriculture…” - Fei Fei Li There is a town in Central Luzon where dozens of farmers depend solely on a single irrigation canal for their irrigation needs. The source of the water is the Angat Dam. Unfortunately, El Niño and climate change… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Towards energy security
April 23, 2024, 12:39 pm
Barely halfway through the dry season, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) already warned that heat indices in the coming days could exacerbate further to become extremely dangerous, which means that energy demand is likely to spike along with… Read More
Lu: Climate change mitigation: The role of the Filipino youth
April 20, 2024, 1:11 pm
The Philippines is currently experiencing a sort of heat wave with areas under the “danger” classification, with temperatures ranging from 42°C to 45°C. As a result, affected areas have adapted asynchronous learning, where students can study at home with the guidance of their teachers using… Read More
Lauengco: 'Ang Init!': Thoughts on heat
April 17, 2024, 10:16 am
“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.” - Jane Austen These days, the topic of heat seems to be in everyone’s minds. In Metro Manila, we have had recent temperature highs of 34 to 36 degrees Celsius and a heat index of up to 41 degrees. Other… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Improving mass transport
April 15, 2024, 11:03 am
Just after the midweek holiday break last week, the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) once again seemed like a huge parking lot, with vehicles at a standstill as many rushed to return to Metro Manila. Sadly, the congestion on Manila’s roads has become a common sight and it’s simply… Read More
Lu: No shortcuts to becoming a successful entrepreneur
April 12, 2024, 11:30 am
A total disaster. This will happen if a planned social media marketing strategy begins on the wrong footing. The owner of a Takoyaki store who wanted to promote his product by challenging its followers on April 1 to have its logo tattooed on their foreheads in exchange for PHP100,000 is now in… Read More
Samonte: Why do we need a National Environmental Protection Agency?
April 11, 2024, 2:20 pm
To avoid the destruction of the country’s protected and heritage sites for tourism purposes, there is a need for the government to create a National Environmental Protection Agency or NEPA separate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This suggestion was made by the… Read More
