The news that EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, will be rehabilitated this year, possibly starting in March, has become a significant concern to all commuters in the metro. The rehabilitation project, while essential, will inevitably reduce road availability during...
Amid the economic turbulence that continues to batter Filipinos, especially the low-income earners, the call to suspend the implementation of the one-percent Social Security System (SSS) premium increase continues to gain ground. Two resolutions have been filed separately in the House of...
Last week, spirited debate over the enactment of a law mandating sexuality education among adolescent Filipinos seeped from social media to the mainstream national dailies. In an interview, President Marcos stressed that the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in public...
The Philippine government’s efforts to boost tax collections have far-reaching implications for national and local development. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto highlighted last week the transformative potential of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, which will increase the share of local government...
The mounting impact of climate-related disasters has exposed the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions. Fossil fuels, the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, are at the heart of this crisis, accounting for over 75 percent of global emissions. Recognizing the critical importance...
As the nation prepares for the May 12, 2025, National and Local Elections (NLE) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has established checkpoints nationwide. These checkpoints, active from Jan. 12 to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Galileans in Jesus’ time were burdened by state taxes paid to Rome and Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee who imposed direct taxes on land properties and individuals (head taxes). Indirect taxes were also imposed on transit trade and market exchanges in Capernaum, an important...
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), under the stewardship of Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., has successfully met its collection target for 2024. It marks the first time in two decades that the agency has hit its goal, a remarkable achievement and a testament to the unwavering commitment,...
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is no stranger to vetting candidates, whether genuine or nuisance. However, with the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling made public on Jan. 13, 2025, the Comelec faces a new, delicate challenge — defining what constitutes a nuisance candidate. This decision...
The latest employment figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) bring encouraging news. The employment rate rose to 96.8 percent in November 2024 from 96.4 percent in November 2023 and 96.1 percent in October 2024. Meanwhile, underemployment dropped to 10.8 percent, down from...
Last week, the Philippine government’s vision of becoming an upper-middle-income country (UMIC) by 2025 — an ambitious yet inspiring goal — ran into headwinds. The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reveals a sobering reality: 63 percent of Filipino families rated...
The country’s housing backlog is being addressed by the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program or the 4PH Program, a transformative approach that will not only build houses but will especially uplift the lives of millions of Filipinos. The 4PH Program, declared as the government’s...
