Commentary

Winds of democracy in the Philippines
November 30, 2020
Features/ Commentary | On a historical scale, there’s no doubt that the world is changing for the better. There’s too much creativity, energy and bravery committed to that for it to be otherwise.

IMF sees Vietnam overtaking PH: It’s not because of COVID
October 15, 2020
COMMENTARY
Our economic managers would do well to stop being blinded by their neoliberal dogma and start taking a more strategic view of national development. Without radical changes in our economic policies the Philippines will just keep getting left further behind.

Telltale signs that health care in the Philippines is not universal
October 5, 2020
COMMENTARY BY CASEY SALAMANCA
By hyping UHC, government pays lip service to the Filipino people’s right to health. The right to health pertains to a person’s overall well-being.

Ombudsman’s efforts hide admin corruption
September 23, 2020
COMMENTARY BY SONNY AFRICA
With the government’s infrastructure budget bloating and the pork-filled 2021 budget being railroaded through Congress, every check on corrupt government officials is more urgent than ever.

Why make the poor pay for COVID-19 response?
May 24, 2020
COMMENTARY
There’s more than enough money for all the COVID-19 response we need – the Duterte administration just has to take the side of the people and stop being so scared of the rich.

Financial strength, development weakness
May 14, 2020
COMMENTARY
In this kind of situation, you don’t obsess about fuel-efficient driving or not red-lining the tachometer or limiting the car’s mileage – you step on the gas. Glorifying ‘financial strength’ is stepping on the brakes.

“Just follow” won’t beat COVID-19
March 16, 2020
COMMENTARY
BY SONNY AFRICA
The coronavirus threat is real and it’s critical for the government to respond quickly and decisively. But what if government’s response is muddled and, worse, ill-conceived?

Counterproductive Counterinsurgency
November 17, 2019
BY SONNY AFRICA
Development policymaking is hard enough as it is – the Philippines after so many decades of so many development plans is a case in point. Now the military wants to take that over as well?

Strengthen Filipino, Panitikan, and Constitution instruction in basic and tertiary education
June 24, 2019
BY JOHN PAUL ANDAQUIG
Panitikan provides students with an understanding of the literary traditions of the Filipino people. Minimizing the teaching of Filipino, Panitikan and Constitution thus robs young learners of their soul as citizens and future leaders.