Almost unnoticed – coming after the sixth strong cyclone in a month had left the country’s area of responsibility, and the House hearings on confidential funds and the previous administration’s drug war –was the approval on third and final reading of House Bill No 10985. The proposed...
Tropical cyclones are becoming more frequent and devastating. And as the Philippines faces an increasing frequency of powerful tropical cyclones, the impact of climate change has never been more evident. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration...
A considerable portion of the national budget is allocated to cash assistance programs or what is now popularly known as “ayuda.” In fact in the proposed 2025 national budget, ₱114 billion is earmarked for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), ₱39.8 billion for the...
The recent enactment of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises, or CREATE MORE law, promises to catalyze economic reforms by providing a more competitive landscape for local and foreign investors in two vital ways: first, creating a comprehensive framework for tax...
The Supreme Court of the Philippines’ hosting of the 11th Meeting of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ) in Cebu on Nov. 18-21 marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen judicial cooperation and share best practices among the 10 ASEAN member states. The CACJ...
Road safety continues to be a major concern of countries around the world. Initiatives to cut the number of road deaths and injuries are led by the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety which aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent by 2030. The...
Many people may have forgotten the country’s National Greening Program (NGP) launched in 2011, continued until 2016, and was extended until 2028. Recognized as one of the largest tree planting programs in the world, it was started by the administration of then-President Aquino as a...
Does the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) need more subsidies from the government? As far as senators are concerned, it is not necessary. And they have a valid point. PhilHealth has ₱89 billion in excess funds. This has been ordered transferred to the National Treasury, a move...
Will the Philippines be the destination of choice for investments in the near future? Only time will tell, but that’s exactly the objective of the CREATE MORE Act signed by President Marcos on Monday, Nov. 11. The new law aims to make the Philippines a top investment destination by...
The simultaneous enactment of Republic Acts (RA) 12064 and 12065 – after these were signed into law by President Marcos last week – reaffirms the country’s adherence to the archipelagic doctrine and fortifies the nation’s maritime security and sovereignty. Principally authored by Sen....
What is the significance of being the number one rice importer in the world? The Philippines’ rice industry has long been at the center of debates concerning food security, agricultural development, and economic sustainability. As observed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)...
The significant role of science in society and its relevance in our daily lives is celebrated today, Nov. 10, as World Science Day for Peace and Development, led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Since it was first celebrated in 2002, the World...
