As the nation observes Buwan ng Wika, or National Language Month, it is timely to examine the significance of having a national language, particularly in a diverse, multilingual society like the Philippines, and how it can drive socio-economic progress and serve as a unifying force in...
Here’s some good news – government efforts to educate the public on disaster preparedness has been absorbed by a “high proportion of households” who say they have a disaster plan. This is according to data from the World Risk Poll conducted every two years. The survey...
The rise in the number of leptospirosis cases has become alarming – 523 new cases in the Department of Health (DOH) hospitals nationwide from Aug. 8 to 13. Since January 2024, the number of leptospirosis cases nationwide has reached 2,115. The DOH reported that there have been 43 reported deaths,...
The recent environmental disaster in Bataan caused by an oil spill has left the local fisherfolk community grappling with a huge income loss, already estimated by the Department of Agriculture at ₱78.69 million as of Aug. 7. Responding to the crisis, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)...
The country is on the brink of a significant transformation in the housing sector with the introduction of a sovereign guarantee program. This initiative, approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to address the country’s persistent housing backlog and expedite the construction...
Two new National Scientists were honored by President Marcos last week: Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla and Dr. Romulo G. Davide as national scientists for their achievements in the fields of genetics and nematology and plant pathology, respectively. Dr. Padilla greatly contributed to the enactment of...
The Philippine Gross Domestic Product (GDP) posted a year-on-year growth of 6.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the 5.8 percent growth in the first quarter, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA reports further that this is the highest growth rate posted...
Hunger – that “feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat” – is a condition that millions of people feel many times during the day. Hunger is a problem that governments deal with, and which many private citizens working with...
It looks like it is the end of the road for the jeepney, the so-called “king of the road,” after President Marcos said the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP), formerly the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), will continue. The PUVMP is a government...
Farmers are the backbone of our food system, playing a pivotal role in ensuring food security. This is why every 6th of August is marked worldwide as Farmworkers’ Appreciation Day. Sad to state, however, the day is observed without much fanfare. In the Philippines, where agriculture is a...
The traffic gridlock on Aug. 5, 2024, triggered by the “Unity Walk” staged by groups opposing a Senate resolution calling for the suspension of the public utility vehicle modernization plan, once again underscored the need to address congestion in Metro Manila. Just imagine a protest...
The Supreme Court has stepped up its determined efforts to institute enduring reforms that will enhance the judiciary’s capacity to deliver real-time justice to the citizenry. Starting next week, its Office of the Court Administrator is holding webinars for judges and court personnel on...
