#MINDANAO As urban dwellers now make up more than half of the Philippine populace, the need to make living in cities more affordable and sustainable is paramount. For major urban areas, mass transport systems taking people to and from work on a daily basis are necessary. The recent...
#MINDANAO The Ukraine War and the conflict in Israel have had significant effects on our Philippine economy since these two events and their corollary effects influence fuel prices. When these prices rise, this can increase the cost of living and may lead to slower economic growth. Having...
#MINDANAO The popularity of online cooking shows has brought the world greater appreciation for Asian food. A good portion of these dishes are made with coconut. As the world’s second-largest producer of coconuts after neighboring Indonesia, the Philippines can supply this growing need for...
#MINDANAO In recent years, we have seen the improvement of road networks within Mindanao, and as a result, more bus trips to and from major cities. Mindanawons now have access to many attractions in various places, creating local economic opportunities for residents. The challenge and opportunity...
#MINDANAO Among the many executive orders and announcements coming from the White House, what I have reacted to the most is the one about pushing the development of artificial intelligence (AI). President Trump spoke about Stargate, a $500 billion investment consortium seeking to...
#MINDANAO The Christmas season continues to inspire us with hope. In my last columns, I reflected on the economic development imperatives as well as thoughts on a Mindanao Sunrise where I probed some attitudes needed to face the uncertainties ahead. Knowing this, I am thankful that Christmas...
#MINDANAO As we savor the Christmas food and take a rest during the holidays, we reflect on the importance of two new agreements that will help our agriculture and Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). We reflect on the NEDA’s announcement of the implementation of the Philippines- South...
#MINDANAO As we enter the last three weeks of 2024, we look ahead to the next year. What economic development imperatives must take place to deliver opportunities for our local economies? I would like to focus on three areas, initially. These are the coconut sector, mining, and manufacturing. The...
#MINDANAO Latest statistics on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from the Department of Trade and Industry indicate that in 2023, we have a total of 1,246,373 enterprises up from 1,109,684 in 2022. In 2023, about 99.6 percent of these enterprises fell into the MSME category. Within...
#MINDANAO With successive storms and typhoons battering certain areas of the Philippines, thoughts turn to how our cities are prepared to deal with the effects of rain and wind brought by these storms, and other natural disasters such as earthquakes and other recent events such as the...
#MINDANAO Now that the US presidential elections are over and a second Trump administration is set to take office, I am sure many of you are listening to a wide range of commentators. Apart from the usual discussions that center on what made the Republican party win and why their adversary...
#MINDANAO In many previous columns, I wrote about how Davao is well known for its fruits and agriculture. Being the banana export hub, cacao capital, durian, an emerging coffee growth area, and largest coconut producer make the region a diverse, abundant source of world-class, high-quality...
