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...
Almost unnoticed because topics like these do not go viral in social media, two news stories days ago reported developments that highlight the country’s commitment to protecting its most vulnerable citizens — children. First was the Supreme Court decision upholding the conviction of a...
The signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers is a historic moment not only for the maritime industry but also for the countless Filipino families whose lives depend on their seafaring loved ones. With the landmark legislation now in effect,...
