Ensure energy security; boost renewable power generation now

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Mar 18, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 17, 2026 06:11 pm

Everyone is feeling the pinch of the oil price shock.

Each escalation of conflict in the Middle East sends this familiar shock through the Philippine economy. Oil prices surge, fuel costs rise, and the consequences cascade quickly—from increased prices of basic goods and higher cost of transport to mounting inflation. These disruptions occur because the Philippines remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuel. Every geopolitical tremor in oil-producing regions reverberates in the daily lives of Filipino consumers.

This recurring vulnerability should compel policymakers to reassess how the nation approaches energy policy. Renewable energy must no longer be treated simply as environmental compliance or as a regulatory requirement under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. It must be recognized for what it truly is: a pillar of national economic security.

Countries that invested early in renewable energy have demonstrated how strategic foresight can reduce exposure to global oil shocks. Nations such as Denmark, Germany, and Iceland have built energy systems that rely heavily on wind, solar, and other renewable resources. Their economies are not immune to global energy fluctuations, but they are far less vulnerable because a significant share of their power is produced domestically from inexhaustible sources.

The Philippines possesses similar advantages. With its tropical climate and long coastlines, the country has vast potential for solar and wind energy. Sunlight is abundant around the archipelago, while strong wind corridors—from Northern Luzon to the Visayas and offshore waters—could support large-scale wind generation. In practical terms, the country has the natural resources required to reduce its reliance on imported fossil oil. What remains lacking is decisive policy momentum.

The executive branch must begin by elevating renewable energy development to a central national priority. Energy independence should be pursued with the same seriousness given to food security or fiscal stability. Clear and ambitious national targets for renewable generation would send a powerful signal to investors that the government is committed to a long-term transformation of the energy sector.

Equally urgent is the removal of regulatory barriers that slow investment. Renewable energy projects often face prolonged permitting processes, overlapping approvals, and bureaucratic uncertainty. A streamlined, single-window system for permits would dramatically speed up project timelines and reduce the financial risks that discourage investors.

Legislators also have a critical responsibility. Congress must strengthen the country’s policy framework by expanding fiscal incentives that encourage investment in renewable infrastructure. Tax holidays, duty-free importation of renewable energy equipment, and accelerated depreciation schemes can significantly reduce the cost of entry for developers. At the same time, lawmakers must support the modernization of the national grid so that electricity generated from remote wind and solar facilities can be efficiently transmitted to urban and industrial centers.

The private sector, for its part, should recognize that renewable energy is not merely a corporate social responsibility initiative. It is an economic opportunity. Large corporations can accelerate the transition by investing in rooftop solar installations, entering long-term renewable power purchase agreements, and supporting the financing of renewable projects. Such commitments create stable demand, which in turn encourages further investment and technological innovation.

Financial institutions likewise play an indispensable role. By expanding green financing and prioritizing capital for renewable ventures, banks and investment funds can help mobilize the resources necessary for large-scale energy transformation.

The lesson from today’s oil price volatility is unmistakable. Dependence on imported fossil fuel exposes the Philippine economy to risks it cannot control. Renewable energy offers not only environmental benefits but also strategic resilience.

The Philippines cannot control global oil prices or geopolitical tensions. But it can control its energy future—whether it continues to remain vulnerable to them, or it builds an energy system strong enough to withstand them.

Why a 'third place' matters in promoting reading

As it celebrates its fourth year, the Philippine Book Festival aims to turn reading into a shared habit

By John Legaspi

Published Mar 14, 2026 09:15 am

What do Filipinos like to do in their free time? Finding the answer to that question can be a daunting task and will likely produce a lot of different results. To simplify it, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the country’s agency in charge of developing and supporting the Philippine book publishing industry, asked 300 librarians and learning area coordinators. Their response, according to NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade, is somewhat reflective of many Filipinos today.

At the top of the list is social media. Second and third are bonding with family and watching movies or shows. Reading comes in fourth, while going to the mall rounds out the top five.

“We all know that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Charisse said. “We all know that kids will be similar to us, and there’s a high chance that children will be this way.”

As the country’s publishing authority, the NBDB is tasked with promoting the growth of Filipino books and reading culture. Based on the data they have collected, the challenge today is to move family bonding to the top of the list, with reading coming in second as a family’s way of spending time together.

That is something they hope to address through the annual Philippine Book Festival (PBF). Now in its fourth year, the festival is the biggest gathering of Filipino-authored books. But it is not just about showcasing Filipino voices, nor is it merely a marketplace for publishing companies. For the 2026 edition of the festival, the NBDB is once again highlighting the importance of a “third place”—a space with no entry requirement other than showing up, where people mix across usual boundaries and stay because something about the place earns their loyalty.

“A Filipino reader who has never thought of themselves as a reader is more likely to become one in a space that feels alive, that feels like it was made with care and imagination, than in one that simply stocks titles,” Charisse explained during the opening of the fourth PBF on March 12, 2026. “The argument the PBF keeps making, year after year, is that Filipino creative work deserves exactly that kind of space. Not a corner. Not a footnote. A room of its own, for a few days at a time, for as long as it takes for that to stop being something we have to fight for.”

This year, the PBF plays with the theme “Gubat ng Karunungan,” or “Rainforest of Knowledge.” Together with artist and designer Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza, the organizers have transformed the vast venue into a forest filled with Filipino books, reading areas, and cozy nooks where readers can meet their literary heroes.

The festival features its signature areas. Aral Aklat highlights books as tools for learning and discovery, featuring textbooks and teaching guides. Booktopia invites visitors to explore the breadth of Filipino fiction and nonfiction. Kid Lit nurtures early readers through interactive, child-friendly experiences. Komiks celebrates the visual richness of Filipino comics and graphic storytelling.

To elevate the experience this year, the PBF also introduces five new activations. Lugar Lagdaan is the go-to spot for book signings, where readers can meet the people behind the stories they love. Bahay Ilustrador is where illustrators, comic artists, and graphic storytellers demonstrate how images can speak louder than words. Gubat ng Karunungan offers workshops, masterclasses, and learning sessions for curious minds of all ages. Fiesta Stage serves as the main stage—the heartbeat of PBF—where grand performances and panel discussions unfold. Umpukan is the chill zone for intimate talks and idea-sharing sessions where conversations flow freely.

All these efforts aim to ensure that the festival’s mission of creating a third space achieves its goals: to make reading a habit for every member of the family, to bring Filipino literature closer to the masses, and to help the local publishing industry thrive.

“The Philippine Book Festival is positioned not only as a literary event but also as a third place that connects key players in the publishing and education sectors,” Charisse said. “By convening publishers, institutional buyers, educators, and readers in a single venue, the festival supports broader efforts to improve access to quality Philippine books and sustain the local publishing industry.”

The 2026 Philippine Book Festival runs until March 15, 2026, at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

How does one self-improve?

When you're running on empty, so is everyone around you

By Dr. Kaycee Reyes

Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous small improvement, became less of a business concept and more of a personal permission slip.

Let me be honest with you: I didn’t fully understand self-regulation until I sat in Teacher Ana Quijano’s self-regulation workshop and experienced Kaizen in Leadership Excellence Achievement Program (LEAP) innov8 this weekend.

I thought I did. I’m a physician. I know the science. But knowing something in your head and actually living it are two very different thing—and Teacher Ana and LEAP have a way of making that gap impossible to ignore. I attended her workshop on self-regulation and co-regulation for parents and teachers as part of my personal goal for LEAP, the leadership program I’m doing with innov8. I went in thinking I’d pick up a few frameworks. I came out rethinking how I show up at home, at work, in every room I walk into.

And then the LEAP Second Intensive happened.

One of the most memorable shifts for me during that experience was learning to kaizen that s**t, to take the messy, uncomfortable, imperfect parts of how I operate and, instead of judging them, just improve them by changing my mindset. One percent at a time. Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous small improvement, became less of a business concept and more of a personal permission slip. You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. You just have to be willing to look at it honestly and move, even just slightly, in a better direction. That experiential program cracked something open in me. The mindset shift wasn’t dramatic. It was quiet, and it was real.

Which brings me back to what Teacher Ana taught us: We cannot give what we don’t have.

In medicine, we talk about homeostasis, the body’s ability to return to balance. Self-regulation is essentially that, but for your whole self. It’s your capacity to manage three states simultaneously: physical, emotional, and mental. Not one. Not two. All three. And when any one of those is running on fumes, the others collapse too. Your teenager says the wrong thing at dinner, and suddenly it’s World War III. But was it really about the teenager? Or were you already depleted from a full day of decisions, emails, and just… holding it together?

This is where triggers come in. A trigger isn’t just what made you snap. It’s the thing that cracked open something deeper: exhaustion, an old wound, a fear you haven’t named yet. The parent who loses it over a messy room might actually be drowning in guilt for not being around enough. The executive who can’t stop snapping at her kids after work isn’t really angry at her kids, she gave everything to the office and had nothing left when she walked through the door.

The brain, brilliantly and inconveniently, cannot tell the difference between a real threat and an imagined one. A worry spiraling at 2 a.m. feels as physiologically real as an actual crisis. That’s not weakness, that’s neuroscience. Which means we have to stop being so hard on ourselves when we get deregulated. The question isn’t why am I like this, the real question is what’s underneath this?

Co-regulation reframed everything for me. Young children don’t come into the world knowing how to self-regulate. They learn it through us. Their nervous systems are literally reading ours. When you are calm and grounded, they feel it. When you are anxious and unraveling, they absorb that, too, not because you said anything, but because the body broadcasts before the mouth does.

This is why the most important parenting intervention isn’t a new technique for the child, it’s working on yourself first. A deregulated adult cannot regulate a child. Full stop.

What does that look like practically? It starts with attunement, becoming aware of what is happening inside you, without judgment. Not that I’m a terrible person for feeling this way, but simply: I notice my chest is tight. I notice I’m already at a six out of 10 before anyone has said a word to me. That pause between the trigger and the reaction is where everything changes.

For parents especially, the shift I find most healing—and one Teacher Ana kept coming back to—is moving from what’s wrong with my child? What’s hard for my child right now? Because children don’t misbehave to give us a hard time. They misbehave because they’re having a hard time, and they don’t yet have the skills to tell us differently.

Neither do we, sometimes. And that’s okay. That’s the kaizen. That’s the work.

So here’s a small invitation this week: sit down with your coffee and write out your triggers. Not to analyze them to death, but to bring them into the light. What really sets you off? What might be underneath it?

You deserve to understand yourself that well. And the people who love you, especially the small ones, deserve the version of you that does.

Enjoying a Filipino Sunday

 

By Sonny Coloma

Published Mar 15, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 14, 2026 03:59 pm

ENDEAVOR

In a world that seems perpetually on fast-forward, Sunday remains our quiet invitation to slow down. For many Filipinos, it is still the one day of the week when life regains its proper rhythm—less hurried and harassed, more human and humane.

Growing up, Sunday had its own unmistakable cadence. The morning’s main feature was hearing Mass. Mama and her Catholic Women’s League (CWL) friends wore their navy blue uniforms on first Sundays. I became a sacristan, or altar boy, and we would hang out at a room at the foot of the belfry while waiting for the start of the Mass. This was in the sixties, at the San Ildefonso church, along Arnaiz Street, past the South Superhighway toward the Makati-Pasay boundary.

By the time, I got to college, a new Don Bosco Parish had been formed; our school chapel was transformed into a parish church where a metal-and-wood crucifix designed by National Artist Eduardo Castrillo rivets the faithful’s attention to the altar.

Sunday Mass is never just a religious obligation; it is a social ritual as well. Familiar faces appeared week after week: neighbors, relatives, old classmates, and occasionally someone visiting from afar. A simple exchange of smiles or pleasantries—“Kumusta kayo?”—strengthens the quiet bonds that hold communities together.

Filipino Sunday begins with gratitude. Mass offers a moment of reflection amid the noise of everyday life. The family gathering that follows nourishes the heart.

In many homes, Sunday lunch is an event unto itself. The dining table becomes the stage for laughter, storytelling, and the occasional friendly debate. The menu may vary from household to household: perhaps adobo simmered to perfection, sinigang with its comforting sourness, or a platter of freshly grilled fish. But the essence is always the same: shared food, shared stories, shared time.

Family reunions also make Sundays extra special. Cousins arrive with children in tow. Grandparents preside like gentle monarchs over the proceedings. Pot-luck creates excitement over possibly novel entrees or desserts.

The conversations flow easily. One uncle recounts a humorous episode from his working days. A cousin shares news about a new job. The younger generation compares notes about school or the latest digital trends, sometimes to the amused bewilderment of their elders. Toddlers and young kids run around tirelessly while yayas try to keep apace. Their laughter fills the air, reminding everyone that family life is ultimately about continuity—the passing of stories, traditions, and values from one generation to the next.

Of course, no Filipino Sunday would be complete without a bit of leisure. After the hearty meal, some retreat to comfortable chairs for an afternoon nap—our beloved siesta. Others gather in the sala for coffee and light conversation. The more energetic members of the clan might head outdoors for a walk, a game of basketball, or perhaps a leisurely round of golf.

Even the simple act of reading the Sunday newspaper could be part of the ritual. One could spend an hour or two browsing the opinion pages, lifestyle features, and human-interest stories, pausing occasionally to share an amusing headline with those nearby. Yet, this is a fading scene. In our quieter past, the printed page invited reflection. Today, rapid scrolling of gadget screens has become the norm.

To be sure, modern life has altered some of these traditions. Traffic, work schedules, and the ever-present smartphone sometimes intrude upon our weekends. Yet the spirit of the Filipino Sunday endures.

The weekly pause allows families to reconnect, to exchange stories, and to remember that life’s most meaningful moments often occur not in grand ceremonies but in ordinary gatherings around a familiar table.

Perhaps that is why Sundays remain so special. They remind us that amid the turbulence of world affairs and the noise of daily concerns, there is still a place where time slows down—a place filled with prayer, laughter, and the comforting presence of those we hold dear.

And if we are fortunate enough to spend such a day with family, good food, and grateful hearts, then we continually rediscover and rekindle the true joy of a Filipino Sunday.

Comments may be sent to sonnycoloma@gmail.com

Shared sacrifice crucial in time of crisis

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Mar 13, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 12, 2026 05:50 pm

The assurance from transport groups that they will refrain from seeking a fare increase—at least for now—deserves both recognition and reflection. It comes at a time when every peso counts and the price of fuel threatens to ripple across the entire economy,

The commitment made by Samahang Manibela, Mananakay at Nagkakaisang Terminal ng Transportation (Manibela) and the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators (LTOP) not to push for higher jeepney fares, provided the government delivers meaningful support, is a welcome development in an otherwise troubling economic moment. It is a gesture that reveals both restraint and responsibility from a sector that itself is struggling to stay afloat.

Jeepney drivers are not insulated from the relentless surge in fuel prices. In fact, they are among the most vulnerable to it. As Manibela president Mar Valbuena pointed out, many drivers are already losing at least ₱400 from their average ₱800 daily earnings due to soaring diesel costs. That is a stark portrait of livelihoods slowly eroding under the weight of circumstances beyond their control.

Under such conditions, asking for a fare hike would have been understandable. Yet transport leaders have chosen to treat it as a last resort rather than an immediate demand. Their message is clear. If the government steps in with support—through fuel subsidies and the suspension or reduction of excise taxes—drivers are willing to hold the line on fares.

This posture reflects an important principle often forgotten during economic strain: shared sacrifice.

The government, for its part, appears to be moving in the right direction. The planned ₱5,000 fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle and tricycle drivers offers immediate relief, even if temporary. Meanwhile, the proposed suspension or reduction of excise taxes on fuel products—already approved on second reading in the House of Representatives—could significantly lower pump prices by as much as ₱6 per liter for diesel and ₱10 for gasoline.

These measures, if implemented swiftly and efficiently, would not only ease the burden on transport workers but also help protect commuters from additional financial strain.

But the responsibility of cushioning the impact of the oil crisis should not fall solely on the government and the transport sector.

Other sectors must also recognize the moment and act with the same spirit of restraint and solidarity. Businesses dealing with electricity generation, food distribution, and other essential goods and services should resist the reflex to immediately pass rising operational costs to consumers. While economic realities cannot be ignored, timing and moderation matter, especially when millions of households are already stretching thin their budgets just to meet daily needs.

The oil crisis, after all, triggers widespread ripple effects. When fuel prices climb, transportation costs increase, electricity prices feel pressure, and the cost of delivering food and basic commodities rises. Without coordinated efforts, the result is a chain reaction of price hikes that ultimately punishes the most vulnerable members of society.

That is why the example set by the transport groups is worth amplifying. Their willingness to delay a fare increase—despite the hardship they face—demonstrates a recognition that economic crises demand cooperation rather than unilateral action.

Now is the moment for the government and the private sector to deepen that cooperation. Policymakers must ensure that assistance programs are delivered quickly and transparently. Businesses must show prudence and social responsibility. And regulators must remain vigilant in preventing opportunistic price increases.

Economic storms test the character of institutions and industries alike. The decision of jeepney drivers and operators to hold off on fare hikes, while seeking fair support, shows that compassion and practicality can coexist.

If other sectors follow that example, the burden of the oil crisis will not disappear—but it will be shared more fairly by all.

Women's hybrid trade fair kicks off in Davao City

 

By Ivy Tejano

Published Mar 12, 2026 09:27 pm

WOMEN entrepreneurs gathered at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City as the Women’s Business Council Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and SM Supermalls, kicked off the Women’s Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair on Thursday, March 12. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

DAVAO CITY – Women entrepreneurs gathered at SM Lanang Premier here as the Women’s Business Council Philippines opened the Women’s Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair, the first in the Davao region, on Thursday, March 12.

The three-day trade fair, organized by WomenBizPH with the Department of Trade and Industry and SM Supermalls, showcases women-led small businesses and offers opportunities for promotion, learning, and networking.

Rhoda Castro-Caliwara, chairwoman of WomenBizPH, said the Women’s Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair marks a significant milestone for the initiative that began four years ago in Metro Manila.

Caliwara said the event expanded to Mindanao in its fifth year and the timing is meaningful as it coincides with the celebration of Women’s Month and the 89th Araw ng Dabaw.

“It took time and effort to bring this trade fair here in Mindanao, but with the encouragement of our partners, especially the Department of Trade and Industry, we made it happen,” Caliwara said.

She added that the event aims to celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs while encouraging collaboration and mutual support among them. “When women support women, great things happen.”

Mary Ann Montemayor, focal person of WomenBizPH, described the Davao staging as a milestone event and part of their flagship initiative series, which serves as a marketplace and a venue showcasing the creativity and resilience of Filipina entrepreneurs.

She highlighted the role of the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines in advancing women’s economic participation and promoting initiatives aligned with regional economic cooperation.

Founded in 1997, Montemayor said the organization has advocated for women’s participation in business and served as a private sector partner of the government in promoting women’s economic empowerment through regional platforms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“The Davao event expands the initiative’s reach to Mindanao and strengthens regional economic participation,” Montamayor said. “This marks an important landmark as WomenBiz expands its reach to Mindanao.”

Montemayor said that the Women’s Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair is here to expand market access, strengthen business resilience, foster collaboration, and advance women’s economic empowerment.

Department of Trade and Industry-11 Regional Director Romeo Castañaga said the DTI supports the initiative, citing their role in promoting inclusive economic growth. He said the trade fair brings together women-led MSMEs under one platform.

“This initiative reflects the growing strength and influence of women entrepreneurs in our region and nationwide,” Castañaga said, adding that the event provides market opportunities for MSMEs, builds networks, and strengthens business capacities.

Castañaga said that the trade fair is a platform for empowerment, innovation, and inclusive growth, ensuring that women entrepreneurs are not only participants in development but also leaders of development.

The trade fair will be held from March 12 to 14, featuring product exhibits, learning sessions, and talks to help entrepreneurs gain new skills and expand their businesses. Outstanding participants will receive a laptop at the end of the event.

Retirement

 

By Pinky Concha-Colmenares

Published Mar 12, 2026 12:03 am | Updated Mar 11, 2026 04:25 pm

DRIVING THOUGHTS

Retirement is a strange word for me. I’ve been working even before I finished college. After graduation, I dove into journalism. For about half a century — 44 years with Manila Bulletin and many years as editor of a provincial daily— journalism was not just my profession, it was my clock, my compass, my daily contact with the world. Deadlines measured my days. Everything else– my children’s birthday celebrations, vacations, school events – revolved around these.

And now, I am stepping away.

In truth, I feel like separating from an identity. I have spent more waking hours in the Manila Bulletin newsroom than in my own house. I know the rhythm of editorial meetings better than the rhythm of my neighborhood. I remember special days commemorating a health, political or education issue, yet forget my children’s Parents’ Day, Holy Retreat, or School Fair.

And so there is anxiety. Not over the contents of my pages, but over my relevance. Journalism is a profession that feeds on relevance. Every day asks: What matters now? Who needs to know? Why should anyone care? For decades, I lived inside those questions. My byline was proof of presence. The sections I edited, the latest was the opinion-editorial section, documented how people were absorbing and reacting to the news.

Retirement, by contrast, threatens my days with silence. No more daily deadline. No more expectation that my take will appear in print or online. The world will spin without waiting for my story, the edited versions of stories, or the decision on what’s ethical or prudent.

I now feel a different form of anxiety. It is not about deadlines or accuracy, it is about becoming a spectator in a society I once helped interpret. It is about going to sleep with the thought that I had not done something that documented history.

I also feel a personal kind of quiet. My children — who did not question my excuses on why I have to cut short a conversation or celebration — now have full lives of their own. They now have their own deadlines. The house that once felt like a terminal between assignments has been quiet for a long time now. Now that quiet will also come from my phone where my email inbox and Viber messages will stop its once constant beeps.

Thankfully, my long years in journalism gave me a wake-up call. It reminded me that every ending is also a beginning; and a story always has another angle. For 50 years, I chased success as scoops, well-written stories, and page view numbers – all these giving the subtle pride of influence. With retirement, I will now seek my identity through relevance.

There will be many venues for that. Relevance can mean mentoring students or young reporters who enter a media landscape far more challenging than the one I joined. It can mean volunteering in community organizations that need experienced voices. It can mean writing not for headlines, but for depth — columns, essays, memoir, even that book friends have encouraged me to attempt.

I have spent decades telling the stories of other people. Perhaps it is time to tell my own –the stories behind the stories, the decisions before giving the final order to “down” a page, the people I’ve met.

The newsroom taught me urgency. Retirement will teach me patience. I will learn that importance is not synonymous with being busy. And I will hope that the relationships built over decades do not evaporate. But if it will fade because of my lack of influence, I will be on another path where I will be judged according to relevance – not influence.

So I step away with mixed emotions — gratitude, pride and apprehension. I am very grateful to Manila Bulletin Chairman Basilio Yap and President Emil C. Yap III who believed in me. I carry much pride that I had been part of the 126-year history of Manila Bulletin, and have trained most of its senior reporters. I am grateful for having experienced being a reporter covering various beats — from the police to arts and culture, motoring, agriculture, education, science, health, travel, housing and real estate, and special assignments—and then being assigned editor of various sections.

But I also feel some apprehension on entering a new chapter which I have yet to structure. I will miss the noise and the news leads. I will miss the stressful minutes before the decision to send a page down. And I will miss the steady presence of Business Development Head Jordan Tan who carries the idealism of youth, and the openness to new experiences.

For 50 years, I belonged to the story of a newsroom — from the days when a reporter dictated a story by phone to a deskman, to sending it through fax, then through email, and today, posting it online almost in real time.

Now, I have the chance to write a different chapter — one that comes from reflection and quiet relevance as a volunteer, teacher, and still a journalist writing bits of history at my own pace.

I hope that will matter just as much as being executive editor of Manila Bulletin. (Email: pinkycolmenares@yahoo.com)

Davao City dad proposes measures to ease impact of sky-high prices

By Ivy Tejano

Published Mar 11, 2026 11:04 pm

A Davao City councilor proposed on Tuesday, March 10, a combination of national and local legislative actions to cushion consumers and key sectors from rising fuel and commodity costs.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairman of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, made the call during the regular session of the 21st Davao City Council at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Dayanghirang said a fuel price increase leads to higher costs in transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, and food distribution, affecting households, transport operators, farmers, and small businesses.

He attributed current inflationary pressures to global fuel price volatility, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and the existing tax regime under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Dayanghirang said that these inflationary pressures impose excise taxes of around P10 per liter on gasoline, P6 on diesel, and P5 on kerosene, in addition to a 12 percent Value-Added Tax on petroleum products.

In his policy paper titled “Legislative Mitigating Measures to Address the Economic Impact of Rising Fuel and Commodity Prices in the Philippines,” he proposed temporarily reducing fuel excise taxes when prices rise high.

Dayanghirang suggested mechanisms such as progressive taxation tied to fuel price thresholds, which could lower pump prices by P3 to P10 per liter, easing transportation and logistics costs.

The proposal recommended targeted fuel subsidies for vulnerable sectors, including Public Utility Vehicle drivers, farmers, fishermen, and logistics operators.

He proposed a strategic fuel rationing program during emergencies, prioritizing public transport, food supply, and government fleets to prevent hoarding and price spikes.

Dayanghirang highlighted stricter price monitoring and anti-profiteering efforts, including regular inspection of fuel stations and coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Energy.

On the local level, Dayanghirang suggested programs to stabilize public transport, such as fuel vouchers for jeepney drivers, fare stabilization initiatives, and support for transport cooperatives.

The councilor cited Davao City’s past measures during fuel spikes, including consultations with transport groups and support programs for farmers and fisherfolk, as best practices.

He encouraged local renewable energy projects, urban agriculture and food security initiatives, and improvements to logistics and supply chain efficiency, including farm-to-market roads and cold storage facilities.

“The rising cost of fuel and commodities requires coordinated action,” Dayanghirang said, urging proactive legislative measures to protect consumers and stabilize local economies.

Speaking at the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos on Tuesday, Councilor J. Melchor Quitain Jr., chairman of the Committee on City-Owned Real Properties, noted that the city is feeling the impact of rising global prices.

“The situation will likely continue while the conflict between the US and Iran persists,” Quitain said. “I’m just hoping that the situation will soon be under control and that there will be no escalation of the conflict.”

While the national and local governments are closely monitoring the situation, the councilor encouraged everyone to keep the faith, trust in the Lord, and pray that everything goes well.

Quitain assured that the city is implementing programs and preparing measures to ensure supply, prevent hoarding, and conserve energy, including evaluating reduced work schedules to offset fuel consumption.

Councilor Radge Ibuyan, chairman of the Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization, added that the city is tracking the availability of basic goods in public markets.

Ibuyan said he has received information on recent prices at the city’s public markets, noting that the price of chicken might reach nearly P180 per kilo from P165 per kilo.

He said the city could strengthen its collaboration with vendors and market administrators to help manage any possible price increases, expressing hope that prices would remain stable.

“If necessary, we will coordinate with the City Economic Enterprises Office, and if they suggest any relevant resolution, we will study it carefully and take the appropriate action,” Ibuyan said.

Davao City Information Officer Harvey Lanticse said that gasoline stations are under strict supervision to prevent premature price hikes, hoarding, and overpricing.

Lanticse said the Business Bureau has been tasked with regular inspections, while residents are encouraged to report irregularities through the Davao City Reports platform.

City officials assured that the city government remains committed to protecting consumers, maintaining service delivery, and ensuring transparency in pricing amid ongoing global volatility.

Let's unite and rise above the oil crisis

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Mar 12, 2026 12:01 am | Updated Mar 11, 2026 04:18 pm

The warning could not have been clearer. As Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told lawmakers this week, escalating tensions among the United States, Israel, and Iran are tightening global oil supplies. And the ripple effects are already knocking at the country’s door. If crude oil prices surge to $100 per barrel, inflation could climb to 5.1 percent—well beyond the government’s two to four percent target. If the worst-case scenario of $140 per barrel materializes, inflation could soar to 7.5 percent, squeezing Filipino households and slowing economic growth.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin captured this uncertainty bluntly: the worst may not yet have arrived.

But beyond the numbers and forecasts lies a deeper challenge. This oil shock is not just a problem for economists and energy officials. It is a test of the Filipino capacity for unity.

And this is precisely the moment when unity matters most.

For too long, national discourse has been consumed by political bickering—between parties, factions, and personalities. Social media amplifies every disagreement, turning governance into a constant battlefield of narratives. Yet an energy crisis does not care about political colors, campaign slogans, or partisan loyalties. When fuel prices surge, every Filipino pays the price—from jeepney drivers and factory workers to small entrepreneurs and farmers.

In times like this, the country cannot afford the luxury of division.

The government must lead with clarity, coordination, and courage.

The executive branch must move decisively to cushion the most vulnerable sectors. Targeted fuel subsidies for transport workers, strengthened energy conservation campaigns, and accelerated investment in renewable energy sources should be urgent priorities. Energy security requires both immediate relief and long-term transformation.

Congress, for its part, must rise above political theatrics. Lawmakers should focus on swift legislative measures that stabilize fuel supply, incentivize energy diversification, and strengthen consumer protection. This includes expediting the measure that gives the President power to cut fuel taxes in times of crisis.

The judiciary also plays a critical role. Legal clarity and swift resolution of energy-related disputes—whether involving infrastructure projects, regulatory decisions, or investment contracts—can help ensure that vital energy initiatives are not stalled by prolonged litigation. Efficiency within the justice system becomes an economic safeguard.

The private sector, meanwhile, must recognize that resilience is also its responsibility. Businesses, especially those in energy, transportation, and manufacturing, must invest in efficiency, innovation, and alternative energy solutions. Companies that reduce energy waste, shift to cleaner technologies, and stabilize supply chains are not only protecting their bottom lines—they are helping stabilize the nation.

Corporate leadership, in times like these, must be measured not only by profit margins but by public responsibility.

And then there is the role of every Filipino.

Energy crises are not solved solely in Cabinet meetings or boardrooms. They are also shaped by daily decisions—how we use fuel, how we conserve electricity, how communities adapt. Simple actions such as reducing unnecessary travel, conserving power, supporting public transport, and embracing energy-saving habits collectively make a difference.

A crisis can expose a nation’s fractures, but it can also reveal its strength.

The country has weathered many storms: financial crises, natural disasters, and global disruptions. Each time, what carried the nation forward was not perfect leadership or flawless policies, but the enduring spirit of bayanihan—the instinct to stand together when the road grows difficult.

Today’s looming oil shock calls for that same spirit.

This is not the hour for political grandstanding or ideological skirmishes. It is the hour for shared responsibility. The government must govern with urgency. Businesses must innovate with conscience. Citizens must act with discipline and solidarity.

When global turbulence threatens to shake our economy, the most powerful stabilizing force we possess is unity—the country’s most valuable national resource in times of crisis.

A salute to the Filipina

 

By Dr. Jun Ynares

Published Mar 11, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 10, 2026 05:30 pm

THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

Last Sunday, the 8th of March, the Nation and the rest of the world marked the annual celebration of National Women’s Day. In our country, the 8th of March is also International Women’s Rights Day and International Peace Day. The rest of March marks the Philippines’ celebration of the Month of Women’s Role in History.

Recent incidents of apparent “disrespect” toward prominent women, widely discussed on social media during this month’s women-focused celebrations, prompt us to reflect as a nation on the true value of “respect” — particularly for women, and especially for the Filipina.

We must recognize that our past was marked by what sociologists call “sexual objectification.” This is the act of treating a person — female or male — only as a commodity. Such acts see a woman or man as an object, disregarding their dignity.

Many societies have worked to rid themselves of this mentality. For instance, laws and ordinances in several parts of our country penalize words and actions with sexual overtones directed at women. Likewise, slapstick comedies with sexual innuendoes about women are now out of style. Furthermore, “bastos” jokes against women rarely elicit laughter, and whistling and ogling at women are no longer acceptable.

While sexual objectification of women persists, it is no longer the societal norm. Women are no longer labeled as “the weaker sex.” Society now gives them the respect they fought hard to earn.

Today, the Filipina has more than proven that they must be held in high regard. Not only do they occupy key positions in business, but they are also successfully steering their respective companies — making a name for themselves and earning the esteem of their male counterparts in the boardroom.

Marquee names in the corporate world today include Tessie Sy-Coson, vice chairman of SM Investments Group and chairman of the largest Unibank; Martha Sazon, the first woman CEO of a financial technology company; and Robina Gokongwei-Pe, chairman of one of the country's largest retail store chains.

This group also includes Lorelei Quiambao Osial, the first woman president of the Philippine arm of a major petroleum company; Anna Margarita Dy, CEO of the country’s largest real estate developer; Lynette Ortiz, president of Land Bank of the Philippines; Cosette Canilao, president of a top infrastructure firm; and Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president of a leading property developer.

The list is by no means complete. Many women are now in key leadership positions in the corporate world. They have made an impact and brought their own unique brand of visionary leadership to the business sector.

As we honor the present women leaders in business, we must also remember Mercedes Gotianun, the first Filipina to ever sit at the president’s desk of a large banking institution.

Together with Helen Yuchengco-Dee, chairman of a major holding company, and Evelyn Singson, former executive vice president of a respected bank, current hotel president, and first woman president of the Management Association of the Philippines, Mrs. Gotianun paved the way for women leaders in a field once dominated by men.

In saluting the Filipina, the list must include Alexandra “Alex” Eala. She is the first Filipino to break into the top 50 of the World Tennis Association. She earned this honor by defeating champions and capturing the admiration of the international tennis community.

Before there was an Alex Eala, there were Filipinas held in high esteem in the international athletic community. That list includes the likes of Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz; the late Lydia de Vega, a multiple Asian Games gold medalist; long jump queen Elma Muros; and sprinter Mona Sulaiman, dubbed the fastest woman in Asia in the 1960s.

The Filipina shines and continues to shine in other spheres of our nation’s life: Government, the civic sector, the military, and nongovernmental organizations. In recognition of their remarkable contributions, we salute them this month, set aside to honor them.

They are the worthy daughters of Filipinas who pioneered the courageous display of grit, intellect, and giftedness among Filipino women. To clarify, this list includes the icons of our history: Melchora Aquino, Gabriela Silang, Princess Tarhata Kiram, Teresa Magbanua, Trinidad Tecson, Josefa Llanes Escoda, and Nieves Fernandez. Furthermore, it also recognizes pioneering Filipina political leaders such as Carmen Planas, Elisa Ochoa, Geronima Pecson, Tecla San Andres Ziga, Eva Estrada Kalaw, Maria Kalaw Katigbak, Magnolia Antonino, and Antipoleña Corazon Aquino.

These women cannot be objectified. Any man who tried to shame or dehumanize them would fail. In many ways, they achieved what men did not.

By remembering these names, we reaffirm the sterling character and intellect of the Filipina, who deserve the full respect of our nation.

(The author is a Doctor of Medicine, an entrepreneur and the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, and DENR assistant secretary, LLDA general manager. Email: antipolocitygov@gmail.com)

A woman's work is never done

 

By Senator Risa Hontiveros

Published Mar 9, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 8, 2026 04:11 pm

Senator Risa Hontiveros

Anne Curtis is, in many ways, a woman whom our society has long admired and celebrated. But during a recent hearing, Anne became someone whom Filipinas know too well: a woman subject to the crude imagination of a man who has forgotten the basic respect for others.

I felt disappointment. But I also felt recognition.

In moments like these, her name does not even matter. She could be any of our daughters or our sisters. Any of us, really!

Because abusers think that any visible woman, just her existence, gives them permission to speak about us in lewd ways. This behavior is not new. But it has never been acceptable.

That is exactly why I fought for the Safe Spaces Act, better known as the Bawal Bastos Law, which protects people from unwanted sexual remarks, gestures, and harassment in public spaces, workplaces, and online.

I am proud of this law, because it affirms that dignity is a right.

When disrespect like against Anne is laughed off, it becomes easier for the next person to repeat it.

That’s why catcalling is not harmless and offensive comments are not simple “compliments” that women should learn to ignore.

The hard truth is that the fight for women’s dignity has never been about just one law. Or one incident. Or one woman in the headlines.

The everyday realities that Filipino women carry quietly are not separate struggles. They overlap and spill into one another—a connection that has shaped my work in public service since the beginning.

Whether through the Safe Spaces Act, the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, the Healthy Nanay and Bulilit Act, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Act, the goal has always been the same: that women’s problems be addressed with urgency, compassion, and respect.

What does that mean in everyday life? It is a woman protected from harassment. A mother given the time to heal and care for her newborn. A solo parent recognized not as an afterthought, but as someone carrying an enormous burden with quiet courage each day. It looks like children protected from abuse online. That’s a country where women and our quiet courage are recognized and supported.

Just recently, I turned 60. Among friends, we’ve joked that I am now a dual citizen: citizen of the Philippines and a citizen of the senior lane.

Even so, I don’t feel like I am finished with the work I have been called to do. On the contrary, it made me feel even more certain about the work that still needs to be done.

A dear colleague of mine, Senate President Tito Sotto, once told our session that growing old is not something to fear. It is something to aspire to.

And he is right. It is not a burden, but a privilege. I am grateful to still be in the fight.

Like many seniors, this season of life also makes me think more deeply about the people who make all the work matter.

For me, they have always been my children.

Much of what we do, all the long days, late nights, and hard battles are for them.

I tend to think about the kind of country they will grow up in, the kind of world they will inherit, and whether we adults have done enough.

Are our laws fairer? Have we made them more humane? Have we built a culture of respect for both men and women? Or are we still raising girls to be careful, while men continue to believe that a woman’s discomfort is a small price to pay for some cruel amusement?

Because the real measure of a society is not only about putting women on a pedestal, but how consistently it protects us in ordinary places and everyday life. Whether we are famous or simply going about our day, we deserve to feel protected at work, online, on the street, at home, in school, in public.

So to Anne Curtis, and to every woman who has endured the same indignity: we see you. Know that this fight is for all of us.

There is still so much work before us. And I, for one, am not done.