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WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A LIVABLE SHELTER? When we speak of a “livable shelter,” what do we really mean? Is it simply a roof that keeps the rain out? Or is it something more—a space that protects health, dignity, and safety? International humanitarian standards such as those promoted by UN-Habitat say that a person needs at least 3.5 square meters of covered living space, adequate ventilation, access to safe water, and sanitation. That is the survival minimum. But survival is not the same as living with dignity. Under our own National Building Code of the Philippines (PD 1096), the legal minimum for a socialized housing unit is about 18 to 22 square meters of floor area, usually on a 32 to 36 square meter lot for row houses. There must be proper exits, ventilation openings (generally at least 10% of floor area), and safe structural components. But here is the uncomfortable reality: millions of our countrymen live in shanties that do not meet these standards. Must we demol...

HOW COULD WE HAVE MORE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATORS? Let us begin with a simple question: Should we stop at 80? As of 2026, the Philippines has approximately 65 to 80 active Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) and accelerators. That already makes us one of the leaders in ASEAN, second only to Singapore, which reportedly has more than 220 incubation and acceleration entities under its Startup SG umbrella. But should being “second” be our ambition? Or should we aim higher? We often treat TBIs as if they were simply real estate projects—another building, another ribbon-cutting ceremony. That mindset is wrong. TBIs are not buildings. They are ecosystems. If we want more of them, we must move from infrastructure thinking to ecosystem thinking. The good news is that we already know how to do it. Through the Innovative Startup Act and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), more than 50 university-based TBIs have been established, especially within State Universities and Colleges...

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CITIZENS AND NATIONALS? In everyday conversation, we often use the terms “citizen” and “national” as if they mean the same thing. Legally, however, they are not always identical. In many countries—including the Philippines—the two concepts are treated as one and the same. But in others, such as the United States, the distinction is very real and has practical implications for millions of people. A citizen is a full legal member of a state who enjoys complete political rights, including the right to vote, run for office, and hold a passport. A national , on the other hand, is someone who owes permanent allegiance to a country and is entitled to its protection, but may not necessarily enjoy full political participation. In short, all citizens are nationals, but not all nationals are citizens. History offers a striking example. Before Philippine independence in 1946, Filipinos were considered U.S. nationals but not U.S. citizens. They owed allegiance to the...

THE REINTEGRATION OF RETURNING OVERSEAS WORKERS When an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) comes home for good, we often celebrate it as a happy ending. But in reality, the return is not the end of a journey. It is the beginning of another struggle. In government language, “reintegration” is a multidimensional process meant to ensure a productive and sustainable transition back into Philippine society. It has two pillars: economic and psychosocial. On paper, the structure looks impressive. Economic reintegration includes a ₱2-billion Reintegration Fund for business loans, the “ Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay !” (BPBH) livelihood grant of up to ₱20,000, skills retraining through TESDA, and even programs like “ Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir ” for returning teachers. There is also a push for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), so skilled workers abroad do not start from zero when they return. Psychosocial reintegration focuses on family counseling, stress debriefing, and OFW Family Circles to ...

  WHAT IS THE PHILIPPINE DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS? When we speak of “homelessness” in the Philippines, what do we really mean? A man sleeping under a bridge? A family living in a shanty along a creek? Or a salaried employee who cannot afford to buy even the cheapest condominium unit in the city? The answer depends on who is defining it. Under Republic Act 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, the government uses the term “Underprivileged and Homeless Citizens.” Legally, these are families whose income falls below the poverty threshold and who do not own housing facilities. This includes informal settlers—those living in makeshift dwellings without security of tenure. Statistically, however, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) uses a narrower lens. In census terms, the “roofless and homeless” are those literally living in parks, sidewalks, under bridges, or in other public spaces. Informal settlers are often counted separately. The Department of Social Welf...

  NAVIGATING THE ROAD TOWARDS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR HEALTHCARE By 2026, the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has moved far beyond theory. The real question is no longer whether AI can help medicine, but how we can integrate it responsibly without losing the human essence of patient care. This journey is clearly a balancing act—between technological promise and the realities of law, ethics, and accountability. Three major “lanes” have emerged along this road: clinical reasoning, operational efficiency, and ethical governance. AI systems today are already capable of assisting in clinical decision-making by analyzing patient histories, laboratory results, and global medical literature within seconds. Hospitals are also beginning to use AI to reduce paperwork, automate coding and billing, and assist in triage systems that help prioritize high-risk patients. These improvements could significantly reduce administrative waste and allow healthcare w...