STUNTING AND MALNUTRITION

STUNTING AND MALNUTRITION Obviously, there is a symbiotic relationship between stunting and malnutrition. To be clear, malnutrition does not necessarily result in stunting. In theory, stunting affects only infants and younger children who are malnourished, or are extremely malnourished, in other words. Also in theory, juveniles and adults are no longer prone to stunting. It is important to know the difference between stunting and malnutrition, and to know the difference between infants and adults, so that we can isolate what the problem really is. When the problem could be isolated, then the government would know how much money to allocate, to provide nutrition, that is the only solution to stunting. How can life be fair if the growth of children is stunted starting from their infancy? How can these children even compete with other children in the schools, when they have a serious handicap in the first place? Since we know that most of these children are born out of poverty, we could almost be sure that they have no other way to go but down to even deeper poverty. As soon as possible, the government should create a database of stunted children, so that we will know who they are, where they are, and how many there are. Right away, the LGUs should be mobilized to solve this problem right away at the local level. IKE SENERES/04-26-2024

SOLID LINES AND TRAFFIC RULES

SOLID LINES AND TRAFFIC RULES What could be the reason why drivers do not obey traffic rules? Is it because they are ignorant of these rules? Or is it because they simply choose to ignore these rules? As far as I am concerned, it could be a combination of these two reasons. But first, let me take you back to where the process of issuing driver’s licenses should start. As of now, the present process starts with a written exam that would supposedly test the applicant’s knowledge of the traffic rules. However, we all know that these exams are not entirely secure, such that anyone could pass these if they get a little help from some fixers. I think that the correct beginning of the process should be driver education, such that the applicants will be taught first about traffic rules, before they could take the tests that will measure how much they have learned about the lessons that were taught to them. Among these lessons should be staying in their lanes, and not crossing the solid yellow lines that are in the middle of the street. We should include basic lessons such as what a stop sign is, and what is the importance of reading and understanding the traffic signs. These lessons are all good, but I think the best way for these errant drivers to learn is to cancel their licenses if necessary. IKE SENERES/04-25-2024

HAZARD MAPPING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

HAZARD MAPPING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS Many local government units (LGUs) already have geographic information systems (GIS) installed, but it seems that most of them are not maximizing the potential of these software assets. For example, most of them are using GIS to support their real property tax systems, (RPTS), but other than that, they are not using GIS for anything else. It does not require a genius to realize that at the very least, GIS could be used for preparing their comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs), a requirement that they must comply with. Technically, CLUPs are supposed to be part of the LGU’s local development plans (LDPs), but it seems that many of them do not see the direct connection between the two. Additionally, all LGUs are required to prepare their own disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) plans, which could very well use GIS, but the systems integration almost always does not happen. To put it simply, GIS could be used not only for tax mapping, but also for hazard mapping. If only the LGUs could learn to use GIS for hazard mapping, then it would be easy for them to produce electronic three-dimensional topographic maps, instead of their ancient analog flat maps. Since I have a lot of experience with this technology, I can help any LGU that needs it. IKE SENERES/04-24-2024

THE ROOTS OF CORRUPTION

THE ROOTS OF CORRUPTION It is generally known that about one third of the national budget is eaten up by graft and corruption, and that does not even include the local budgets of LGUs. What are the causes of graft and corruption and how do we prevent it? Or probably just reduce it if we could? It seems that we have already passed all the laws and have already created all the government agencies that we could, to prevent or reduce graft and corruption, but it persists, and has become so pervasive that it now affects every aspect of our life. For example, it is graft and corruption that is the cause of our very high poverty rate. I always say that corruption is the cause of graft, but what is the cause of corruption? Without any doubt, I say that the cause of corruption is sin, or the propensity to commit sin, because corruption is simply just stealing, and stealing is a sin. But who are the thieves? Are they not the civil servants who probably belong to a church? And who are supposedly opposed to sin? I think that the real problem here is that these “church goers” have created a wall between their “faith”, and their thievery. This wall allows them to dichotomize what they do inside their churches and inside their public offices, thinking perhaps that these two worlds are not connected, thinking as well that stealing is not a sin, and that they could get away with it. The only way that they could save their souls is to break down these walls and ask forgiveness from God. IKE SENERES/04-23-24

INCENTIVES FOR HERITAGE RESTORATION

INCENTIVES FOR HERITAGE RESTORATION Construction and project development is a business, and no one will invest any money in it unless there is an assured return of investment. It is as simple as that, and there is no way around it. Of course, there could be other factors to consider such as the love of arts and culture or even a profound love for our country, but the project proponents would still have to make money, otherwise it’s a no go. That is precisely the dilemma of developers who are planning to restore, preserve or rehabilitate some historic or cultural sites that are located all over the country. Because of their love for arts and culture, it becomes a “damn if you do, damn if you don’t” situation for them. Damn if they do, because they could possibly lose money, but also damn if they don’t, because these national treasures could be lost forever. It would not be realistic to depend on the government to fund these projects, because there are too many sites to save, and there is usually very little money to spend. The solution therefore is a public and private partnership (PPP) approach, perhaps in the form of a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme. I have always liked the idea of a BOT scheme because it is a win-win situation wherein both the private proponent and the government partner could make money. Other than the funding, what is needed is an adaptive use approach, wherein the project still becomes commercially viable, even if the architectural design is kept intact. IKE SENERES/ 04-22-24

OVERKILL CONSUMER PACKAGING

OVERKILL CONSUMER PACKAGING Who has the jurisdiction over the use of non-biodegradable materials in consumer packaging? Is it the DENR, or is it the DTI? Or is it neither? I know that there is no such thing as a “packaging police”, but in the absence of that, who is watching over all manufacturers as they use too much pollutant materials in their packaging, such as plastics? While some might say that common sense is no longer common nowadays, I think that most of us could tell with just one look that many consumer products are overpackaged, with overkill plastics, so to speak. It really does not make sense, because the manufacturers could actually save money by decreasing the packaging overload, but why are they still doing it? While there is possibly still a gray area as to who has the real jurisdiction between the DTI and the DENR, there is a chance that it could be a shared responsibility between the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) under the DTI, and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR. It seems that the BPS can approve the products before these are released to the market, and the EMB can check for violations. There is really nothing wrong with overkill packaging, for as long as the materials used are biodegradable. However, there is a caveat to that, because the more overkill, the more the carbon footprint is created. Eventually, the consumers will decide what products they will buy. IKE SENERES/03-21-24

NATIONAL MANGROVE MAP

NATIONAL MANGROVE MAP Why in the world would Indonesia create a National Mangrove Map (NMM) and why in the world is the Philippines not creating its own? The Indonesian NMM was created by their Ministry of the Environment which gives us a clue that it should be our own Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that should be creating it too. Not that we wish to be known as copycats, but what is wrong with that, if it is for the good of Mother Earth and for the good of the environment? And if you know what good mangrove forests could do, you will be convinced that it is also for the common good, not only for our country, but also for the whole world. If you could take the time to check online about what is going on around the world, you will find out that most countries around us already have one form of mangrove restoration and conservation here and there. In fairness, there are some NGOs that are planting mangroves here and there, but it is not clear what the DENR is doing anywhere. So why does Indonesia even bother to create an NMM? Do they know something that we don’t? Surely, it’s no top secret that mangroves are not only good for disaster risk reduction, it is also good for food production, because mangroves bring back the planktons that attract not only fish, but also crabs and shrimps. To be clear, I am not just talking about planting a few mangrove trees. I am talking about mangrove forests. IKE SENERES/03-20-2024