Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal

Seeds of change

The same typhoons that can increase agricultural water supply and cause soil erosion improving its fertility, in severe and frequent measures, damage farm structure facilities. While we are yet to see the full impact of tropical storm Leon in our area of responsibility, something we ask the good heavens to never happen at all especially in light of what meteorologists identify as the Fujiwara effect, we answer the question of food security on a daily basis. In the vernacular, the phrase “malapit sa sikmura” fittingly describes how visceral the issue is and the resolutions, imperative. 

Metering justice

Midway through the celebration of the National Indigenous People’s Month pursuant to Proclamation No. 1906, series of 2009, let us not ignore the challenges they confront in accessing reliable and affordable energy. While those from the more developed areas are not spared from the high electricity bills and occasional power outages, energy crisis hits the more vulnerable populations differently. In April 2023, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Occidental Mindoro declared a state of calamity due to low power supply, followed shortly by the City Council of the Island City of Samal.

The sovereign we

Early in this brief eight-day window for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs), Filipinos cannot remain oblivious to the motions, from premature to profound, leading to the 2025 electoral exercise. Our Commission on Elections (Comelec) and advocates from the private sector have been diligent in reminding the public of the voter registration deadline. Given the good results of the Register Anywhere Program (RAP), our poll body is well-positioned to expand its reach by involving municipalities, if not barangays, in the future. 

Roads that ache to exist

In the Philippines, many roads are less traveled because of impassability. During rainy seasons, we find markers not just for distance but also for depth – how many meters deep the roads are submerged. In worse cases, these concrete structures that signify development simply do not exist. This is neither an isolated incident nor a reference to Robert Frost’s poem entitled 'The Road Not Taken'. It is a daily reality for millions with potholes and detours par for the course.

Rehydrating Magsaysay’s solution

Almost everywhere, the fundamental right to clean water remains elusive for many. And the Philippines is no stranger to the struggle with current water availability ranging between 1,000 to 1,700 cubic meters per capita, according to the National Water Resource Board (NWRB).  Despite widespread recognition of the essential nature of this limited resource, access to clean water continues to be a luxury rather than a universal entitlement. This precarious situation, where even the simple act of drinking a glass of water can be a gamble, is further exacerbated by factors such as climate change, urbanization, and pollution.