FROM THE MARGINS This is Holy Week, a time for us to celebrate the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection. Like many Filipinos, I am taking a step back from the usual grind to reflect on how to be a good Christian in today’s world. As I look back on my journey as a poverty eradication advocate,...
FROM THE MARGINS Religious organizations have been providing humanitarian services for a long time, aided by faith-based institutions that demonstrate the capacity-building dimension of faith to help the poor and the marginalized. In the Philippines, the SEDP-Simbag sa Pag-Asenso, Inc. is a prime...
FROM THE MARGINS The government is ramping up measures to curb inflation due to the rise in food prices resulting from shortfalls in agricultural supply. A high-level Inter-Agency Committee is being set up to monitor agricultural production, food prices, supply, and importation. This, hopefully,...
FROM THE MARGINS March is Women’s Month. Since 1988, the Philippines has dedicated March to celebrating women’s achievements and raising awareness about domestic violence, discrimination, and other issues facing Filipino women. March 8 is also International Women’s Day. The Philippines holds...
FROM THE MARGINS The values of shared wealth and people participation distinguish the Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (K-Coop) from other microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country. K-Coop, which evolved into a cooperative from a microfinance NGO, turned seven...
FROM THE MARGINS And just like that, time flew by and January is ending. January was named for the Roman god Janus, who has two faces: one looks into the past and the other looks into the future. Just like January, which straddle the ending and beginning of each year. I felt a bit like Janus a few...
FROM THE MARGINS January is National Microinsurance Month. Microinsurance is crucial to financial inclusion and has immense social and economic benefits because it provides poor people with safety nets to help them cope with unexpected shocks. Its growth was facilitated by the Insurance Commission...
FROM THE MARGINS My visit to Bacolod last week brought back memories of my days with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). I worked with the corporate-led social development foundation from 1978 to 1987, initially tasked to manage a demonstration farm in Laguna to show that a farmer...
FROM THE MARGINS New Year’s Day is the most celebrated holiday. But it is also a day of introspection. On this day, people remember the achievements and challenges of the outgoing year, and look forward to new beginnings promised by the new year. As 2022 closes, I also found myself reflecting on...
FROM THE MARGINS Today, we return to work after all the Christmas shopping, gift-giving, parties and get-togethers. I am sure some are still feeling holiday hang-overs, while others are wishing that Christmas would last for just a little bit longer. But is Christmas over now that all the...
FROM THE MARGINS In my previous article, I lamented the declining contribution of agriculture to the country’s gross domestic product. As we are an agricultural country that is rich in natural resources, we should aim to grow our agricultural sector to a level that surpasses services and industry...
FROM THE MARGINS JAIME ARISTOTLE B. ALIP, PHD According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, our economy expanded 7.6 percent in the third quarter of 2022, compared to last year. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector also rose by 2.2 percent, a turnaround from a -1.7 percent decline in...
