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LET’S CONTINUE WITH THE TRADITION OF WELCOMING FOREIGN REFUGEES

LET’S CONTINUE WITH THE TRADITION OF WELCOMING FOREIGN REFUGEES Filipinos should be proud of one little-known part of our national history: we have a long tradition of welcoming refugees from other countries. At different points in history, the Philippines opened its doors to people fleeing persecution and war. In the 1920s, we hosted the so-called “White Russians” who escaped the Russian Revolution. During World War II, we accepted Jewish refugees who were fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, we welcomed more than 400,000 Vietnamese “boat people” who were escaping the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Those refugees were temporarily sheltered in places like the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Bataan before resettling in other countries. That humanitarian tradition is something we should never forget. Today, the world is facing another refugee crisis involving the Rohingya people from Rakhine State in Myanmar. Many of them have fled violence and persec...
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CAN WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS OPEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS?

CAN WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS OPEN TWENTY -FOUR HOURS? Many people are asking a simple but interesting question: can we have a government that is open twenty-four hours a day? In one sense, the answer is yes. In another sense, the answer is not yet. Traditionally, government offices operate like ordinary offices. They open in the morning and close in the afternoon. Recently, the government of the Philippines even experimented with a temporary four-day onsite work week in March 2026 in order to save on electricity and transportation costs. However, we are already living in an era where government services can theoretically operate 24 hours a day—not through physical offices, but through digital systems. Some government agencies already have call centers that operate around the clock. That is certainly a step forward. Unfortunately, there is still a limitation. Many call center agents eventually tell their callers to visit the nearest branch in person because the transaction requires ...
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WHAT IS DIGITAL EQUALITY?

WHAT IS DIGITAL EQUALITY? In simple terms, digital equality means that every person—rich or poor, urban or rural, able-bodied or disabled—should have the same opportunity to access and benefit from digital technology. It is closely related to what experts call the “digital divide,” which refers to the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not. If the digital divide is the problem, digital equality is the solution. But what does digital equality mean in practical terms, especially when it comes to internet access? To me, the internet should already be considered a public utility, just like water, electricity, telephony, and even public transport. These services are essential for modern life, but they are not free. We pay for electricity. We pay for water. We pay for transportation. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable that we also pay for internet access. The key principle for any public utility, however, is affordability. This raises an important question: I...
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HOW COULD THE PHILIPPINES PRODUCE MORE NURSING GRADUATES?

HOW COULD THE PHILIPPINES PRODUCE MORE NURSING GRADUATES? The Philippines has long been known as the world’s leading producer of nurses. Ironically, however, we are now facing a serious shortage of nurses within our own healthcare system. According to the Department of Health Philippines and the Second Congressional Commission on Education, the country is currently short of almost 200,000 nurses, and the gap could reach 250,000 by 2030 if current trends continue. At the same time, around 27,000 to 30,000 healthcare workers leave the country every year, many of them nurses seeking better pay and working conditions abroad. This situation may sound like a crisis, but I prefer to look at it as an opportunity. Filipino nurses are in global demand because they are well-trained, compassionate, and adaptable. The challenge is not the lack of demand. The challenge is how we can produce more nursing graduates and keep enough of them in the country. As of 2026, the Commission on Higher Education ...
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HOW CAN WE UPGRADE THE PHILIPPINE COOPERATIVE CODE?

HOW CAN WE UPGRADE THE PHILIPPINE COOPERATIVE CODE? Seventeen years have passed since the enactment of the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9520. Signed in 2009 by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the law was itself an upgrade of the earlier Cooperative Code of the Philippines (RA 6938) enacted in 1990 under Corazon Aquino. Today, many leaders in the cooperative movement believe that the time has come for another major upgrade. One of the voices calling for reform is cooperative leader Edwin Bustillos, who recently urged cooperatives nationwide to support the ongoing discussions in the Senate regarding Senate Bill 1431 Philippines. His appeal highlights three important principles that deserve attention. First, the preservation of the cooperative principle of “one coop, one vote.” This rule protects the democratic character of cooperatives. Unlike corporations, where voting power depends on how many shares an investor owns, cooperatives f...
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LET’S PRODUCE MORE NIPA ALCOHOL

LET’S PRODUCE MORE NIPA ALCOHOL Let me be clear. I am talking about bioethanol—specifically nipahol , the fuel-grade alcohol made from the sap of the nipa palm. And let me clarify something else: the nipa palm, scientifically known as Nypa fruticans , is not just an ordinary palm. It is a true mangrove species. It grows in the same brackish, tidal zones where mangroves thrive. In fact, it is the only palm adapted to live in the intertidal mangrove ecosystem. So why am I talking about mangroves in a discussion about fuel? Because the connection is direct and powerful. If we grow more mangrove forests, we can grow more nipa palm trees. If we grow more nipa palm trees, we can harvest more sap. If we harvest more sap, we can produce more nipahol. It is that simple. At a time when global oil prices are vulnerable to wars, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions, we should seriously ask: why are we not maximizing a resource that is literally growing in our coastal backyards? Stud...
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IS IT TIME TO SHIFT FROM OLD FARMERS TO NEW AGRIPRENEURS?

IS IT TIME TO SHIFT FROM OLD FARMERS TO NEW AGRIPRENEURS? Mr. Rei Marquez of Radar.ph has issued a warning that we cannot afford to ignore: “Our farmers are facing extinction, and the Philippine countryside is dying with them.” I agree with him 100 percent. He cites data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that national population growth has slowed to 0.80% from 2020 to 2024, down from 1.63% in the previous five years. Meanwhile, the farm populations of provinces such as Marinduque, Romblon and Mountain Province are shrinking as young people leave for the cities. The Commission on Population and Development has even sounded the alarm over rural depopulation. But here is the most disturbing statistic: the average Filipino farmer is now 57 to 59 years old. As Mr. Marquez wrote, “In less than 12 years, we won’t be debating food prices—we will be wondering who is left behind to till the soil at all.” That statement should send chills down our spine. The children of these farme...
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