Higher standards for professional drivers
SURELY, there are many contributors to road safety — road design, vehicle condition, traffic signs, enforcement of laws — but I am certain that...
Tapping the global chocolates market
IT IS AN old story that has been told repeatedly: Switzerland does not grow cacao, yet it is the leading manufacturer and exporter of...
Poverty alleviation vs poverty reduction
SINCE I could not find any documents that officially differentiate poverty alleviation from poverty reduction, please allow me to offer my own differentiation as...
Alternative tenurial lands for indigenous tribal peoples
THE INDIGENOUS People’s Republic Act (IPRA) stands as a landmark law, providing the legal foundation for Indigenous Tribal Peoples (ITPs) to claim ancestral lands...
Local victories in the war against poverty
POVERTY is a complex issue, and gathering reliable data to measure and address it remains a challenge.
Nationwide poverty data is best collected through...
Monitoring and controlling microplastics
SEVERAL government agencies in the Philippines are involved in monitoring and controlling the problem of microplastics. While each agency fulfills its respective mandate, there...
Towards an official definition of the homeless rate
HOW CAN we compute the homeless rate if we don't even have an official definition of what it means to be homeless? This fundamental...
Growing high-value groupers in brackish ponds
OF COURSE, it makes sense to grow tilapia in fishponds, considering they sell for about ₱43 to ₱271 per kilo.
But why grow tilapia...
Pros and cons of rubberized asphalt roads
RUBBERIZED asphalt roads (RARs) are increasingly gaining attention as an innovative and sustainable solution for road construction. By incorporating recycled tire powders into asphalt...
Revival of the abaca industry
THE DECLINE of the abaca industry in the Philippines is a matter of national concern.
Despite the country remaining the world’s leading producer, supplying...