Opinion and Commentary
Zaldarriaga: Support of Filipinos key to success of FIBA World Cup 2023
August 1, 2023, 3:38 pm
The Philippines has long been known as a “basketball country” and now that the highly anticipated FIBA World Cup 2023 is just weeks away from being staged once again in the Philippines, the opportune moment has come to let the world see how this beloved sport has the power to unite our nation… Read More
Samonte: The importance of infrastructure in PH's economic development
July 27, 2023, 3:43 pm
Anticipating the importance that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was expected to give to infrastructure development in the country in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), I retrieved from my filing cabinet two weeks ago an old book containing some of the speeches of the late President… Read More
Lauengco: Know the landscape before you start something
July 26, 2023, 12:37 pm
“Always be aware of your surroundings.” - ancient quote The filing of candidacy for the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections is from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2. A few days ago, a childhood friend of mine told me that he decided to run for barangay chairman in the said elections and asked… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Approved NLEX toll rates hike lower than inflation rate
July 25, 2023, 1:41 pm
Patience is a virtue – an overused expression but also a valuable statement, which holds undeniable truth. NLEX Corporation's remarkable display of patience while awaiting the decision of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) regarding their request for price adjustment is a sign of its high regard… Read More
Samonte: 1st Dumagat tribe member from Bulacan town finishes education
July 20, 2023, 4:34 pm
When the Metro Manila College (MMC) based in Novaliches, Quezon City held its 49th Commencement Exercises last June 24, one of the very grateful graduates was a 35-year-old female member of the indigenous peoples (IPs) Dumagat tribe from the eastern Bulacan section of the Sierra Madre Mountain… Read More
Lauengco: It is time to ‘link up’
July 19, 2023, 12:40 pm
“We are all joined to each other like links in a chain. Lift one link and others are raised with it.” - Dr. Arlene K. Unger from her book, “COURAGE” “Let’s Volt In!” – Voltes V Link up is the act of connecting or putting together. As a phrasal verb, link up in common usage is to… Read More
Zaldarriaga: PLDT, SMART dominate as fastest internet provider in PH
July 18, 2023, 9:34 am
PLDT and SMART is recognized, for the fifth time, as the fastest internet provider in the country. This was announced last month by Global benchmarking company Ookla®. PLDT has dominated the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™, achieving a top speed score of 86.52 in 2022 affirming the telco's… Read More
Samonte: How the former Novaliches town was dismembered 75 years ago?
July 13, 2023, 4:06 pm
Exactly seven decades and five years ago this coming July 17, the then two-year-old First Philippine Congress (1946-1949) enacted Republic Act 333 which made Quezon City the new capital of the country in place of Manila. The new law was signed by then President Elpidio R. Quirino (1948-1953) who,… Read More
Lauengco: The microchips of Taiwan and tensions in the region
July 12, 2023, 9:41 am
“Even the largest avalanche is triggered by small things.” – Vernor Vinge Lately, there has been an uptick of news and discussions about escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait. There is a renewed interest in the said region among Filipinos especially in the light of recent events involving… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Telco industry lauds EO 32 (s. 2023)
July 11, 2023, 2:18 pm
The pursuit of collective prosperity, especially for a developing country like the Philippines, requires collective and aligned initiatives from all sectors of the society. Since driving the country towards advancement should not only depend on government efforts, fostering a culture of… Read More
Lu: National feeding program should benefit local dairy producers
July 7, 2023, 12:02 pm
In 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11037, or the "Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act," with the aim of addressing the problem of undernutrition among Filipino children. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and… Read More
Samonte: How Novaliches almost became Imelda City in 1976?
July 6, 2023, 9:31 pm
Who remembers former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, and how? This question in a nutshell, posted several times on Facebook on the occasion of the recent celebration in Malacañang of the 94th birthday of Mrs. Marcos, mother of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., prompted me to look back at an… Read More
Lauengco: Water shortage and desalination
July 5, 2023, 2:16 pm
“Thousands have lived without love but not one without water” – W.H. Auden“There is an imminent risk of a global water crisis” - UN World Water Development Report 2023 Last July 4, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), through its… Read More
Zaldarriaga: PLDT backs ARTA’s drive to streamline processes for telco towers
July 4, 2023, 5:37 pm
Navigating through the aftermath of the pandemic, the government continues to work hand in hand with members of the private sector to propel the country towards recovery and to once again, push for economic growth. To achieve national advancement faster and easier and to improve ease of doing… Read More
Samonte: Why I want to give a try to the proposed MIF Act
June 29, 2023, 4:06 pm
While going over the newscast of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on its website on June 23, I came across a story written by the wire agency's Senate reporter Wilnard Bacelonia and quoting presidential sister Senator Imee R. Marcos as assuring that Congress has the oversight function that allows… Read More
Lauengco: Saving the dying soil beneath us
June 28, 2023, 11:30 am
“Soil is alive. Dirt is dead. You cannot grow plants in dirt” - YM Saegusa There is a growing threat to our food security and it is happening beneath our feet. The issue of food security as one of the interlinked global existential challenge has been gaining a lot of attention lately. We are,… Read More
Zaldarriaga: New Candaba viaduct to help spur economic development in Luzon
June 27, 2023, 7:58 am
While traveling is expected to be much faster and safer thanks to the construction of the third Candaba viaduct, and once completed, it is also likely to help further the overall socioeconomic development of Central and Northern Luzon. The third viaduct will be constructed by NLEX Corporation, a… Read More
Lu: Magna Carta for MSME in retrospect
June 23, 2023, 9:00 pm
The Magna Carta for MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) is a document that proves that our government recognizes their importance in the Philippine economy. Suffice to say, the MSMEs are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy since 99.52 percent of businesses are MSMES and only 0.49… Read More
Samonte: QC Bus Service Program is worth emulating
June 22, 2023, 2:20 pm
The Quezon City government's move to make permanent its QC Bus Service Program (QCBSP) offering "libreng sakay" (free rides) to commuters in selected areas in the largest and most populous city in Metro Manila is worth emulating by other local government units (LGUs) in the country. The 38-member… Read More
Lauengco: Vertical integration, agriculture, governance and Sesame Street
June 21, 2023, 12:29 pm
“Let us call this cooperation. No let us call it sharing.” – Geefle and Gonk, Sesame Street (1973) Recently, the Department of Agriculture announced that it will promote vertical integration to address several issues in the agricultural sector including smuggling and hoarding. Normally, a… Read More
