Category: Columns

YELLOW PAD By Filomeno Sta. Ana III Oil prices are soaring. The explanation boils down to supply and demand. Supply is tight, and demand is climbing in the wake of a nascent global recovery. But the hardship and impoverishment...

YELLOW PAD By Kenneth Isaiah Ibasco Abante We studied COVID-19 government contracts worth P20 billion. We found more red flags and systemic risks that the Commission on Audit (CoA) and the Senate should investigate. In the time...

YELLOW PAD By Jose Maria M. Mendoza The Philippines once again finds itself at a crossroads in a defining election season. Merely choosing between contending ideologies or programs of government has always been a luxury for...

The name Leni and word “line” happen to be anagrams. But what do I mean exactly by the “Leni line?” Leni, of course, is the nickname of our Vice-President, Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo. The explanation for “line” is more complex,...

YELLOW PAD By Francis Gentoral The new mantra of local governments units (LGUs) is to promote the strategic use of information for effective decision making as they focus to improve the delivery of economic and social services....

YELLOW PAD By Laurence Go When people talk about Philippine politics, the issue of political dynasties is — and will always be — at the forefront of discussions. Now that we are approaching an election year, the seemingly...

YELLOW PAD By Jay Carizo It is easy to make a plan but difficult to develop one that addresses a specific concern that is not based on accurate data or information. A case in point is a local government unit (LGU) from Mindanao,...

YELLOW PAD By Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III Today is the sixth death anniversary of my wife Mae.  The time since then may have alleviated the pain of losing her. But the pain, doubtless, won’t go away. In fact, the pain takes new...

YELLOW PAD By Laurence Go This is the year of data. Every year, the World Bank releases its World Development Report, which discusses the most pressing development issues in the world. This year is no exception as the whole...

YELLOW PAD By Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III Action for Economic Reforms (AER) will soon commemorate its 25th year. It was incorporated as a non-stock, non-profit organization in November 1996. Since the pandemic will not go away...

YELLOW PAD By Emmanuella Iellamo The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the everyday lives of children. Being on lockdown and having to stay home while attending synchronous and asynchronous schooling will have distressing...