NIGHT OWL Achieving sustainable cities and communities is one of the most challenging among the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because it is a result of a confluence of factors—which includes attainment of the other goals. The United Nations (UN) advocates for...
NIGHT OWL Public transportation costs approximately one-sixteenth (1/16) of what people pay for owning and using a personal vehicle, according to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). This makes mass transit a vital instrument to alleviate social inequalities in urban...
NIGHT OWL In our society today, is it even possible to go car-free? For some, owning a car equates to higher social status; for others it is about comfort and convenience. Moreover, if we look into the state of our public transportation, it is less appealing as an option for daily commute. In...
NIGHT OWL The 15-minute city model is now gaining traction as a feasible urban planning concept that is anchored on sustainability, inclusivity and innovation. With this idea that citizens’ basic needs will be accessible within 15 minutes of travel, many cities are looking at it as a means to...
NIGHT OWL In many developed cities around the world, an efficient public transport system is an integral component of urban planning. It is essential to creating inclusive, sustainable, and nature-friendly communities. But when there is a choice between public transportation and personal vehicles,...
NIGHT OWL Governments around the world are seeking to build communities that are not only sustainable and resilient, but also inclusive. So when a sector continues to be left behind, then we have yet to realize the full potential of our communities, as there are citizens who still lack access to...
NIGHT OWL Passenger demand for public transport has been greatly affected by the pandemic. At the height of it, the fear of virus transmission was the main reason for the decline in ridership. Today, the remote setup of several companies, and even of some learning institutions, continues to have an...
NIGHT OWL Imagine having a hard day at work, then on your way home you get caught in heavy traffic. Suddenly, it starts to rain really hard. Heavier traffic. More rain. There’s no telling when you will arrive home, and you’re already calculating how much time you have left for rest before...
NIGHT OWL As I prepare for the remarkable journey from the Philippines to St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, I am filled with a profound sense of anticipation and gratitude. I often reflect on my childhood, when I was a three-year-old flipping through an Oxford dictionary, struggling to pronounce words...
NIGHT OWL Deputy Speaker Camille A. Villar is now serving her second term as the representative of the lone district of Las Piñas City. She is known for her advocacies on livelihood, health, women and children. She has always emphasized the importance of access to education for the youth, better...
NIGHT OWL In a multi-party system such as what we have in the Philippines, it is often challenging to introduce initiatives that will be supported by the majority. Such is the case in the House of Representatives, where more than 300 legislators are aligned with different parties. But there is one...
NIGHT OWL As nations stride toward equality, the global gender gap remains a poignant reminder of the uneven progress across different regions. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently highlighted a concerning trend: it could take up to 131 years to close the global gender gap. This projection...
