I was supposed to run this op-ed piece on October 8 as an analysis of what former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog was planning to after he files his certificate of candidacy. But oligarchic and traditional politics virtually dismantled the plans of Mabilog and Rep. Julienne Baronda, forcing them
October 9, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic unraveled many of the economic and social gains women had achieved in the labor market, particularly for those with school-age children. In the Philippines, extended school closures—lasting up to 75 weeks—significantly burdened working mothers, forcing many to leave their jobs or reduce their working hours to meet
September 24, 2024
A leading legal expert on water rights has called for urgent reforms to the Philippines’ water laws to address the nation’s increasing water conservation needs. The Philippines has been experiencing water stress since 2007, with current water availability ranging between 1,000 to 1,700 cubic meters per capita, according to the
September 13, 2024
The value of a college education in the Philippines has significantly diminished over the past two decades, according to a new study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). Between 2005 and 2022, returns to education for salaried graduates saw a sharp decline, particularly for those with college degrees,
September 5, 2024
The proposal by Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. to take over the Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Project has raised significant concerns among local stakeholders, particularly regarding the potential financial burdens and risks it could impose on the province and its residents. At the heart of the issue is whether the deal, as
August 31, 2024
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the debate over how to regulate this powerful technology intensifies. Governments worldwide are grappling with the challenge of crafting regulations that safeguard public interests without stifling innovation. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a prominent voice in the tech
August 17, 2024
National security is a complex landscape that we either study them or just ignore them. But the recent conflicting reports from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army regarding alleged rebel recruitment in educational institutions in Panay raise significant concerns that we flout anymore. On one side, the
August 15, 2024
The recent cyberattack on the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has spotlighted critical vulnerabilities within Philippine government agencies. The breach, which resulted in the loss of 2 terabytes of sensitive data, has significantly impacted ongoing research projects and highlighted the need for robust cybersecurity measures. In an interview, Nathan
July 16, 2024
On Wednesday last week, Julian Assange walked free. After 12 years of confinement, the WikiLeaks founder accepted a deal to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U.S. national defense information. As analyzed by Katherine Viner, editor-in-chief of the UK-based newspaper The Guardian, the outcome,
July 1, 2024
The Global South narrative has become a defining aspect of Southeast Asia’s engagement in international discourse, shaping how nations within the region articulate their positions on key global issues. This identity, while rooted in a shared history of post-colonial development and underdevelopment, is often employed strategically rather than ideologically, reflecting
June 18, 2024
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) appears to be more focused on placating government officials than on genuinely protecting journalists. This recent incident involving Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is a glaring example of the task force’s “misguided” priorities. The task force’s decision to solely seek the mayor’s
June 17, 2024