Opinion and Commentary
Zaldarriaga: Insights from the private sector
June 4, 2024, 2:17 pm
With the Philippines working to become an upper middle-income economy in the coming years, the vital role the private sector plays in the pursuit of this goal is further highlighted as a pillar of growth and a driver of innovation. The private sector generates 93 percent of the Philippines’… Read More
Lu: The importance of Philippine mangroves
May 31, 2024, 9:16 am
This situation is truly alarming. A report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stated that half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse due to climate change. The IUCN, known for its Red List of threatened species, has now highlighted the threat to… Read More
Lauengco: Road rage and the need for stiffer penalties
May 29, 2024, 1:42 pm
“If you wait by the river long enough the bodies of your enemies will float by”- Sun Tzu Yesterday, a stay-in driver was shot and killed in an alleged road rage incident which occurred on the EDSA Ayala tunnel. According to witnesses and reports, the victim had an altercation with the suspect… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Lowball
May 27, 2024, 1:41 pm
The Philippines is set to conduct its first-ever online voting for Filipinos abroad next year —a milestone in the country’s suffrage history and a move that signals commitment towards greater digitalization. With millions of Filipinos around the world expected to participate in the 2025… Read More
Delos Reyes: After Antheus
May 24, 2024, 3:57 pm
Demigod Hercules must have been so flabbergasted at how the fight to the death with Antheus (son of Mother Earth, Gaea) was turning out. Each time any part of Antheus' body touched the ground, his strength was renewed, fought with more reserves of vigor. Hercules' strength was on the wane. In one… Read More
Lauengco: Has technology outpaced human development?
May 22, 2024, 9:56 am
“The development of technology will leave only one problem: the infirmity of human nature.”- Karl Kraus A few weeks ago, two large circular live interactive video portal installations resembling “stargates” were installed in two different locations. One portal was set up in a busy part of… Read More
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