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TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLHOUSE DESIGN We often assume that schools are just places of learning—four walls, a chalkboard (or digital board nowadays), and desks. But what if we rethink the entire structure? What if we reimagine a school not just as a learning space, but also as a living space? This brings us to the idea of the "schoolhouse" —a sustainable, resilient building that combines both functions of a school and a house . The concept is quite simple, yet revolutionary. Picture a building with a maximum of four stories , designed to accommodate students, faculty members, and non-academic staff alike—not only during school hours but throughout the day and night. This schoolhouse isn't just an educational facility. It’s a home. Why do we need this? Because we have always taken it for granted that those who go to or work in schools have places to stay. But many students walk for hours or take long commutes. Some teachers rent faraway rooms. Non-teaching staff s...

FROM CACAO TO CABINET: FORMING A CLUSTER FOR THE PHILIPPINE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY Is our chocolate export industry important enough to warrant the creation of a new Cabinet Cluster? Some might scoff at the idea. But let’s frame the question differently: What if our chocolate—made from a rare, heirloom variety of cacao—is worth its weight in gold? Thanks to visionary farmer-entrepreneurs like Chris Fadriga and advocates like Ramon Uy, Sr. , the Philippines is now rediscovering and promoting the legendary Criollo cacao —a variety so rare it has become almost extinct in its country of origin, Mexico. Brought over during the Galleon Trade and surviving quietly for centuries in our soil, the Criollo strain is now being revived with passion and precision in farms across Negros and other parts of the country. If we are sitting on agricultural gold, shouldn’t we treat it as such? Consider this: Switzerland , famous for its chocolate, does not grow cacao. Yet it dominates the global ma...

GUNS, CARS, AND ANGER: IT'S TIME FOR A NEW CABINET CLUSTER There’s a dangerous intersection where guns, cars, and human emotion collide—and it’s paved with road rage. We see the headlines more frequently now: a minor traffic altercation escalates into a violent confrontation, often involving firearms. This isn’t just random bad behavior—it’s a policy gap crying out for attention. Studies have long shown that having access to a weapon increases a person’s likelihood of acting on aggressive impulses. The psychology is simple: the presence of a gun doesn’t just make someone capable of violence—it often makes them feel entitled to exercise it. In traffic, where tempers run high and egos are fragile, that entitlement becomes explosive. Of course, not every act of road rage involves a gun. A steering wheel-lock, a tire iron, or even a baseball bat can be weaponized in the heat of the moment. Many of these are carried “just in case” or under the pretext of sports or utility. But a...

WHY WE NEED A CABINET CLUSTER FOR TRADE, CLIMATE & COMPETITIVENESS When former U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs on a wide range of imports, the world reacted with both alarm and curiosity. Was it protectionism? Was it leverage? Or was it just politics? Whatever the intent, the result was clear: a disruption in global trade . For countries like the Philippines, it became a double-edged sword. On one side, we risked losing markets for our exports. On the other, we found an opening—an opportunity to step in where others faltered. But to seize this opportunity, we need more than wishful thinking—we need coordinated strategy at the highest level . This is why I now propose the creation of a Cabinet Cluster for Trade, Climate, and Competitiveness —a permanent, high-level body that can assess global trade shocks, climate risks, and technology-driven opportunities, then convert them into national advantage. From TWG to Cabinet Cluster: Why the Upgrade? Prev...

TOWARDS A CABINET CLUSTER FOR GREEN HOUSING AND BIO-HOMES What if we could solve three major problems in one move—affordable housing, plastic and glass waste, and sustainable living? The answer may lie in a game-changing idea: Bio-Homes , housing units made with recycled and renewable materials, designed for energy and food efficiency, and built with the climate in mind. Forty years ago, the development buzzword was "appropriate technologies." Today, the more fitting term is "sustainable technologies" —which, to me, is not just a trend but a survival strategy. What’s the use of building something appropriate for now if it can’t last for the future? Why Bio-Homes? Bio-Homes are not just about construction—they represent a whole new way of living . These homes are made with materials like bamboo, recycled plastic, used tires, and glass bottles. They can include solar panels, biogas digesters, aquaponics systems, and even vertical gardens. They bring together ...

A CABINET CLUSTER FOR RICE SECURITY Rice security and rice sufficiency are two sides of the same coin—but are we seeing the whole coin? Is anyone in government truly thinking in terms of a wholistic, integrated approach to rice security , beyond production targets, subsidies, or importation stopgaps? Let me put it plainly: we cannot claim rice security if we are not rice sufficient , and we cannot be rice sufficient if our only solution is to keep importing more rice. And certainly, food security is not equal to rice security alone. What good is rice without vegetables, protein, and other essential nutrients? The Numbers Behind the Illusion Let’s look at the figures. The Philippines produced about 19.96 million metric tons of palay in 2021. At first glance, that seems to exceed our estimated annual demand of 15.14 million metric tons of rice. But here’s where things get real. Only about 70% of palay becomes milled rice . That reduces our usable yield to just 13.97 million m...