YES, GRAFT IS A SIN

YES, GRAFT IS A SIN In a previous essay, I asked the question of whether graft and corruption are sins or not. I think I might have left my answer hanging, so I am going to give my answer here now. But before I do that, let me say again that graft and corruption are not one and the same. They do have a cause-and-effect relationship, and that is perhaps the reason why they are often confused with each other. Corruption is the cause of graft. Corruption is the temptation that causes someone to commit acts of graft. Legally, graft is a crime because there is a Philippine law that punishes it. However, there is also God’s law in the Ten Commandments that prohibits stealing, and so therefore, graft is also a sin. But is corruption also a crime? I am not sure about that, but I could say that whoever causes someone to steal could also be an accessory to that crime. It could be said that some people can commit graft on their own, without anyone corrupting them. But then, it could also be said that the lesser corruptors there are, the lesser grafters or thieves there will be. Having said all that, how do we reduce graft? Since we have already established that graft is a crime that is also a sin, we could reduce graft by leading people towards living a life away from sin. If they could decide to turn away from sin, they could also decide to turn away from stealing. IKE SENERES/06-01-2024

RICE SUPPLY SURPLUS, ANYONE?

RICE SUPPLY SURPLUS, ANYONE? In my own definition of food security, the Philippines should become a net exporter of surplus rice. In other words, our goal should not simply be rice sufficiency, but we must have more than enough, so much so that we could already afford to export what we could not consume locally. That status is what is being enjoyed by rice exporting countries such as Thailand. If they can do it, why can’t we? As it is now, we are measuring our food security in terms of the number of days that we have rice reserves in storage. That is a very sad reality, because we should really be measuring our rice reserves in terms of months, and not in terms of days. You might say that that is easier said than done, but if other countries have done it, why can’t we? The best way to start is to start counting the numbers. For example, if our goal is to have rice reserve for twelve months, how many hectares of irrigated farms do we need to maintain, based on how many harvests per year, for instance. We should start counting our hectarage of arable lands, before we can even start counting our projected harvest volumes. Assuming that there are not enough arable lands to use right now, then the government should study how some “developed” lands could be converted back into farmlands. Since this is also a matter of national security, we should act now. IKE SENERES/05-31-2024

LET’S STOP BEACH FRONT EROSION

LET’S STOP BEACH FRONT EROSION I find it ironic that while the whole country is focused on the loss of some of our territory to Communist China, very few people seem to care about losing much of our beach front territory to soil erosion on one hand, and to rising sea levels on the other hand. Yes, it is happening, and it is happening very fast, right under our noses. The good news is, there are dedicated scientists like Dr. Fernando Siringan and Dr. Jurgenne Honculada-Primavera who are keeping watch over this problem, and they have been warning everybody about how serious the problem is, and that we must do something about it. But the bad news is, very few people seem to listen, even those people from the government agencies that are tasked to do it. In theory, the DENR is supposed to have jurisdiction over the terrestrial portion of the beach front, while the BFAR has jurisdiction over the marine portion. Unfortunately, the lines between these two jurisdictions seem to be unclear, and that is why there appears to be a lot of finger-pointing between these two agencies. Meanwhile, there are many LGUs that are either unaware of their roles in preventing soil erosion or are simply turning their attention away from the violators, such as the illegal miners of black sand. The two scientists recommend the planting of mangroves and other vegetation such as beach forests. IKE SENERES/05-30-2024

IN SUPPORT OF CAREER EXECUTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS

IN SUPPORT OF CAREER EXECUTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS In many of the countries around us, the government is run by career undersecretaries who work under the Ministers who are members of the Cabinet. These Ministers are also members of Parliament who were appointed by the Prime Minister. In some countries, there are Permanent Secretaries in each of the ministries, but they are also subordinate to the Ministers. As far as I can recall, all undersecretaries of the Philippine government are supposed to be Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) or Career Service Executive Eligibles (CSEEs), even if they all serve under the Secretary who are all political appointees. The only exception to this rule are the undersecretaries of the DFA, but they are also career Foreign Service Officer (FSOs). Everyone all the way down to Bureau Directors are also supposed to be either CESOs or CSEEs, but over the years, many non-career undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors have been appointed to government positions, meaning that they are political appointees. If we shift back to appointing the career officials, we will have the advantage of having continuity in government programs, even if the Secretaries are replaced every six years, or shorter than that. Without career officials, there is no institutional memory in our governance. IKE SENERES/05-29-2024

HYPERLOCAL E-COMMERCE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

HYPERLOCAL E-COMMERCE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS The good news is, there are already many e-commerce platforms that are helping small business owners (SBOs) sell their products online, such as Amazon, Lazada, Shopee and Carousel. The bad news is it is still difficult for the smaller and poorer SBOs to join those platforms, because of prohibitive entry fees and punitive commission rates. Of course, it’s a free market out there, and the smaller and poorer SBOs are free to decide whether they will join the bigger online platforms or not, but they do not have much of a choice, because of affordability issues. Aside from that, the steep commission rates of the bigger platforms are not sustainable for them, because their margins are already very low. My solution to this problem is to create local e-commerce platforms that would be funded and subsidized by the Local Government Units (LGUs), so that the local SBOs, big or small, could easily sell their products online, meaning that they don’t have to pay prohibitive entry fees, and they need not pay for very high sales commissions either. I am calling it hyperlocal, because we could geotag the platform so that only local sellers could sell to local buyers. If any LGU is interested, my development team has already created the template for the platform, and we could now customize it for any Mayor or Governor who is interested. IKE SENERES/05-28-2024

CYBERSECURITY AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL

CYBERSECURITY AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL A key focus of my advocacy is to deliver accessible and cost-effective Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions to support Local Government Units (LGUs), particularly those facing budget constraints in their digital transformation efforts. Through strategic partnerships with leading firms like Securetec, I can provide tailored data security solutions that extend to the grassroots level, thus helping users like barangay halls, rural health units, and public markets within LGUs. By leveraging innovative pricing strategies, users can now procure these critical cybersecurity solutions through simplified shopping modes, streamlining the procurement process and eliminating the need for intricate bidding procedures. This accessibility empowers LGUs to fortify their digital infrastructure against a range of data security threats, including malware, ransomware, and sophisticated cyberattacks, enabling them to safeguard their sensitive information and vital systems effectively. By democratizing access to robust cybersecurity measures, my goal is to equip LGUs with the tools and resources necessary to proactively defend against cyber risks, ensuring the integrity and resilience of their digital assets in an increasingly interconnected and threat-prone environment. IKE SENERES/09088877282/05-27-2024

COOPERATIVE OWNED TOLL ROADS

COOPERATIVE OWNED TOLL ROADS Can you imagine how much of a nightmare the flow of traffic would have been, if not for the toll roads built by the private sector under the Build-Operate-Transfer (B-O-T) scheme? To be honest, I would have preferred not to have privately owned toll roads. I say that because if not for graft and corruption, the government would have more than enough funds to build roads without any need for private investors. To put it another way, it is as if we are being taxed again when we pay the toll fees, despite having paid our taxes already. When it comes to farm to market roads however, we have been waiting for too long already, and it is now time to try something new. Therefore, if the B-O-T scheme is the only way to build these local roads, then let it be. However, I would add the condition that the proponents should be local, so that the local economy would benefit, instead of the big conglomerates from Imperial Manila. On that note, the contracts should be given to the local cooperatives. There are new technologies now, such as a non-toxic soil stabilizer that is available Reynolds Soil Technologies. It could be used by local coops to build local toll roads that could last longer than cement and asphalt roads, and yet cost cheaper. As proof of concept, there are actual project sites that could already be visited. IKE SENERES/5-26-24

HELPING INDIGENOUS CULTURAL MINORITIES

HELPING INDIGENOUS CULTURAL MINORITIES The law requires municipalities, cities and provinces to appoint representatives of Indigenous Cultural Minorities (ICMs) to the municipal, city and provincial councils if there are enough of them who are living within their jurisdictions. This is a wonderful provision in the law, but it seems that its implementation is not uniformly or consistently done all over the country. At the outset, I would say that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are the agencies that should take the lead in implementing these laws, but it seems difficult to gather compliance data about which jurisdictions are abiding with the laws and which ones are not. Aside from the two NGAs and the three levels of LGUs, I believe that the role of NGOs in the overall implementation should also be recognized, including the many Churches Based Organizations (CBOs) that are helping the ICMs everywhere. Counting everyone, there should be a three-way cooperation in this overall process. Where can we get information about the status of implementation? And how can we find out about the progress of the cooperation? Can any of the NGAs, LGUs and CBOs bring out the information? Ideally, there should be an office for ICM affairs in the LGUs. IKE SENERES/5-25-24

MORE COOPERATIVE OWNED HEALTH CLINICS

MORE COOPERATIVE OWNED HEALTH CLINICS In theory, cooperatives could own and operate any business under the sun, provided that it is legal. Given that premise, it is therefore perfectly doable and allowable for a cooperative to own and operate a health clinic, even a hospital, for that matter. Since there are no legal impediments towards doing that, the coops should go towards that direction, and they should get help if they want to do that. It's no big secret that the existing Rural Health Units (RHUs) are almost always ill-equipped, short-funded and are lacking in doctors, nurses and other related health professionals. As a matter of fact, you will be lucky if you can find a doctor in an RHU, more so in the Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas (GIDAs), as defined by DOH. As part of my advocacy, I am now convincing some satellite based internet service providers (ISPs) to look for possible uses of their services that would have a social impact in remote areas, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. Also, as part of my advocacy, I have invited Dr. Luis Ramon Rodriguez, President of Philippine Medical Depot (PMD), to make his “Healthy Me” all-in-one kiosk innovation available to coops under affordable terms. Hopefully, with the combination of these ISPs and PMD, more coops could put up their own health clinics. IKE SENERES/5-24-24

CHEAPER AND SAFER FOODS FROM COOPERATIVES

CHEAPER AND SAFER FOODS FROM COOPERATIVES It is very difficult to expect commercial sources of food supplies to lower their prices, because they must cover their costs and make money as well. That is how it is in a money-making business, and there is no way about it. But if that is so? Is there still a way to buy foods that are not only cheaper, but are also safer? My answer to that is yes, if you buy from cooperatives that could produce it on their own or are sourcing it from other coops. On the production side, foods sourced from coops are cheaper because they are using their own labor, and they have certain duty-free privileges. On the marketing side, they could offer discounts and rebates to members. Aside from the discounts and rebates, coop members also receive cash dividends at the end of the year, and that also actually translates into savings on food expenses. In some cases, members could avail themselves of free food supplies whenever there are food surpluses on the production side. Food safety is a difficult challenge even for the big companies, but since the coops are owned by the members, they could all work together to ensure the safety of their food products. If you want to buy foods that are cheaper and safer, make sure to join a local coop because there is surely one that is near where you live. IKE SENERES/05-23-2024

LET’S SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL ON WHEELS

LET’S SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL ON WHEELS There is an expression that if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain. The expression is used when some people believe that they can approach something which cannot approach them. Perhaps that is the belief that inspired Dr. Jim Sanchez to organize the Hospital on Wheels (HOW) project, so that he could bring the hospital to patients in distant locations, meaning those patients who could not come to the hospital, because of one reason or another. Since it was launched in 2007, HOW has already dispatched 404 medical missions that are often coupled with surgical, dental and optical services as well. But unlike the usual stationary hospitals, all services of HOW are 100% FREE. To my surprise, Dr. Sanchez told me that their services are 100% PRIVATELY funded, with not a single centavo coming from government sources. Unlike other medical missions that provide medical services that do not completely heal the patients, the surgical patients of HOW are completely healed, without any need for follow up treatments. To add to that, the results of the surgeries conducted by HOW are mostly life changing, sometimes as if the patients are given a new leash in life. If you want to volunteer or donate to HOW, please contact me at 09088877282 or email me at iseneres@yahoo.com. IKE SENERES/05-22-2024

LET’S REQUIRE HUNGER MAPPING

LET’S REQUIRE HUNGER MAPPING Tax mapping using Geographic Information System (GIS) software is no longer rocket science, because anyone can do it now, and there are Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) versions that are available for this purpose. Aside from that, anyone with basic Management Information System (MIS) training can easily do it. Aside from tax mapping, the same GIS software can also be used for town planning, hazard mapping and traffic mapping, among other applications. And if there is already a GIS software license that is available to the user, no other expenses are needed, other than some minor software integration and customization expenses. What that also means is that the same GIS software could also be used for poverty mapping and hunger mapping. These two mapping projects are inter-related with each other, because those who are living in poverty are usually prone to experience involuntary hunger. National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) are supposed to have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that could measure their success or failure in whatever it is that they are supposed to do. The problem is, there is no regular reporting of these KPIs to the public, and there is no apparent use of GIS. It is time that GIS-based hunger mapping should be used. IKE SENERES/5-21-24

USING SUSTAINABLE CHARCOAL

USING SUSTAINABLE CHARCOAL We seem to be in a damn if you do, damn if you don’t situation when it comes to the question of whether we should use charcoal for cooking, or not, especially for barbecues. If we do, we could be contributing to the depletion of our forest cover. If we don’t, we could be depriving many forest dwellers and indigenous peoples of their means of livelihood. Over the years, slash and burn farmers (kaingeros) have become unpopular because of the destruction that they bring to our forests and mountains. Many people do not even consider them as “farmers”, because they do not really plant the trees that they cut down. Sad to say, many of them are simply just hunter-gatherers, just like their ancestors. All told, the bottom line here is their means of livelihood, more like their means of survival, really. If they continue with their destructive ways, the forest will die. If we stop them from what they are doing, they could possibly die, from hunger and disease. So, what should we do? My solution is very simple. Teach them how to make charcoal from sustainable tree species, including mangroves and bamboo. We could also teach them to make charcoal by using only the leaves and branches of any tree, without cutting them down of course. Aside from that, they could also add rice straws, sawdust and dried grasses. IKE SENERES/5-20-24

NATIONAL ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

NATIONAL ENERGY INDEPENDENCE The Netherlands and Bhutan are two countries that do not have oil deposits, and yet they are net exporters of energy. The Netherlands because of they tapped their natural gas deposits, and Bhutan because of their hydropower plants. Although I could only cite two examples, that is already sufficient proof that a country could become a net exporter of energy, even if it does not have oil deposits. But what about the Philippines? Could we possibly become a net exporter of energy? I would say that in theory, we could become one, but on the condition that we decrease our oil imports and increase our own local power generation. That might sound like a tall order, but we do have the assets that could make it happen. There are many countries that are now net exporters of energy, simply because they have oil deposits. By comparison, we do have oil deposits too, but the difference between these countries and the Philippines, is that they have tapped their deposits, and we have not. At least, not enough of it. Aside from oil deposits, we have rivers and waterfalls that could produce hydropower, and we also have natural gas deposits! And on top of all these, we also have geothermal energy sources! In others, we could really become an energy independent country! IKE SENERES/5-19-24

RIVER REHABILITATION

RIVER REHABILITATION Whenever there are proposals to rehabilitate rivers, it seems that the first thing that comes to the mind of the planners is to widen the river. That is not always the best idea because of zoning regulations, and because the lands beyond the river easements could already be privately owned, and there may be no funds available for expropriation. I therefore think that the more practical idea is to deepen the river, meaning to remove the silt and whatever other deposits that might have sunk into its bottoms. After hundreds of years without any desilting done, it’s probably the right time for a proper river cleanup. I am saying that, because the usual idea for a river cleanup is to clean the river surface, which is a rather limited and simplistic view. Even without artificial river widening, some rivers could become wider because of erosion, which could be a problem for private landowners beyond the river easements. I think that the LGUs have the duty to help these private owners so that their lands are not eroded needlessly. One sure way to prevent river erosion is to plant freshwater mangroves around the riverbanks. That way, the roots could stabilize the soil, and it would even bring back the fish into the waters, probably even the crabs. Mangroves are ideal to plant because they can adapt to high salinity just in case the water is still brackish. IKE SENERES/05-18-2024

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF WASTE TO ENERGY PROJECTS?

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF WASTE TO ENERGY PROJECTS? Who is in charge of waste-to-energy projects? Should it be the DENR, or should it be the DOE? Not unless it is very clear as to who is in charge, this could become a game of finger pointing at the start that could become a game of blame throwing at the end. And in the end, nothing might even happen at all. Somehow, someway, the DILG should also be involved, but right now, it is not even clear how the DILG is involved, if it is involved at all. In Metro Manila, the MMDA should also be involved, but it is also not clear how it is involved, again, if it is involved at all. In the provinces, the DA should also be involved with the collection of agricultural waste. Combustible waste is the material needed for waste-to-energy projects. Obviously, the DOE should have nothing to do with the collection of the combustible waste, because that should be the responsibility of either the DENR, the DILG, the DA or the MMDA, depending on where the project site is. If only the entire process of waste management could be done right, the first step should be waste segregation, so that the biodegradable materials could be separated from the non-biodegradable materials. Obviously, the combustible materials could be gathered from the latter, after the recyclable and marketable materials are removed. Can anyone tell me who is in charge? IKE SENERES/5-17-24

ADVOCATING FOR CHEAPER MEDICINES

ADVOCATING FOR CHEAPER MEDICINES Despite the passage of Republic Act 9502 (An Act Providing for Cheaper and Quality Medicines) in 2008, it seems that cheaper medicines are still not commonly used in the Philippines. No, I am not saying that cheaper medicines are not available, because they are. Take note however that the law requires medicines that are not just cheaper, they also must be of good quality. Are cheaper yet quality medicines possible? Or is that not an oxymoron? As for me, it is possible, and it is not an oxymoron. The problem I think is in the interpretation of what it means. Usually, the term cheaper medicine is interpreted to mean generic medicine, but that is really a very shallow and limited interpretation. In truth and in fact, even branded medicines could become cheaper as they are, without reducing their quality. The key to that is the packaging, and their method of delivery or distribution. For example, many medicines are delivered in individually packed aluminum wrappers, and that makes the medicines more expensive. There are generic medicines that are of good quality, but the customers do not know what they are, or which is which. The solution perhaps is to publish a list of these quality generic medicines. Better still, redesign the packaging of all medicines, to make them cheaper. IKE SENERES/05-16-24

FULLY FREE PUBLIC HOSPITALS

FULLY FREE PUBLIC HOSPITALS We all have our own beliefs, and we are all entitled to our own beliefs. As for me, I believe that all public hospitals should be fully free, wherein patients do not have to pay a single centavo if they are confined there, or if they go there for outpatient treatment. And what is the basis of my belief? It is really very simple, and there should be no argument about it. Since all public hospitals are owned by the government, there should be no problem appropriating funds for it, so that it could cover all its costs, as it provides medical services to everyone who goes to them. Common sense will tell us that private hospitals could never provide their services for free, because they are a business, and they must make money. But that is not the case with public hospitals, because they are not businesses and they do not have to make money. Of course, they need money to be able to sustain their operations, but the government could appropriate for those funds too. It is a poor argument that the government could not appropriate the funds, because it does not have the money. That is so, because the government will always have money. The government must appropriate for other needs also, but aside from defense and education, what could be a higher priority? May I know your feedback? IKE SENERES/05-15-24

RECOGNIZING THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

RECOGNIZING THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES What are the requirements for a certain population to be recognized as indigenous peoples (IPs)? Do they need to have ancestral lands? Is a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) needed to be classified as an IP community? Are these two legal frameworks interrelated? To cite an example, let us discuss the case of the Butuanon people. They are said to be descended from the ancient Lapaknon people of the old Butuan kingdom. The Lapaknon are known to be the “people of the marsh”, closely related to the Tausug people who are known to be the “people of the current”. By now, the old ancestral lands of the Lapaknon have all become private lands, and there is no more land left that could be issued a CADT. Howevert, their old language survived, now known as Binutuanon. Because of new laws allowing indigenous languages to be used as the medium of instruction in IP communities, Binutuanon could be used as a medium of instruction, except for the fact that the Butuanons are not classified as an indigenous people, and they have no CADT. What can be done to solve this problem? Is a new law needed? Or an Executive Order (EO) perhaps? Or a Department Order (DO) from the DEPED? Or maybe a City Ordinance (CO) would suffice? Share with me your ideas. IKE SENERES/05-14-2024

RECYCLING FOR CARBON CREDITS

RECYCLING FOR CARBON CREDITS Our waste recycling attempts have failed because there are not enough financial incentives for residential and industrial recyclers. It's as simple as “no money no honey”. There are no two ways around it, because not unless there is money to be made, individuals and companies will not recycle. Although it might appear to be negative thinking on my part, that is the simple truth about human nature. At the residential level, I believe that there is still a possibility of creating a market for recyclables, both for biodegradables and non-biodegradables. This is as simple as buying and selling. Individuals will collect and segregate recyclables, if there is someone who will buy these at a good price. At the industrial level, I also believe that there is also a possibility of creating a market for recycled finished products, such as construction materials and supplies. Not only can businessmen make money by buying and selling these products, but they can also make money through carbon credits. Government agencies such as DILG, DPWH and DHSUD could be the ready market for these construction materials. Even private developers could be required to buy these materials, but with carbon credits and tax rebates of course. There could be other ideas, but let’s start with this. IKE SENERES/05-13-2024

COOPERATIVE DEMOCRACY

COOPERATIVE DEMOCRACY According to the Revised Cooperative Code of the Philippines (R.A. 9520), every member of a cooperative can cast one vote, regardless of how many shares he owns. Conversely, even those who have many shares could also cast only one vote. This rule of “one man, one vote” ensures that democracy continues to be practiced in the cooperative movement. That democratic rule also ensures that every member of a cooperative has an opportunity to make money by way of the dividends that he could receive, again even if he only has one share. Not only that, he or she also has the opportunity to save money, becasue coop goods are generally cheaper because of some tax exemptions. Unlike the for-profit supermarkets and groceries, members of cooperatives could buy goods from their own stores, and not only that, but they could also have a say about what to buy and sell, and even what they want to produce on their own in their own farms. This empowers them to become part of their own “prosumer” economy, meaning that they could produce what they consume. Members could also choose to buy only goods that are locally produced, thus also contributing to the growth of “hyperlocal” economies. This new trend enables us to cut our carbon footprint by buying only goods that are not imported. IKE SENERES/05-12-2024

COLOR CODING OF GARBAGE TRUCKS

COLOR CODING OF GARBAGE TRUCKS For so many years now, many LGUs have been trying to implement waste recycling programs in their own localities, but very few seem to have succeeded. By the looks of it, many local officials seem resigned to the idea of doing the same thing repeatedly, and expecting different results, which is Einstein’s definition of insanity. Is it therefore the time now to try something different? So that we could have different results? Instead of just having one type of garbage truck picking up both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste materials, why not have two separate trucks to do that, with two separate schedules? That way, the biodegradable waste, which is mostly food waste, could be brought directly to a biodigester facility, where these could be composted and converted to organic fertilizer. Without the biodegradable waste, it would be easier to sort the non-biodegradable waste, which is mostly recyclables. Better still, we should make it compulsory to sort or segregate the non-biodegradable waste to paper, plastics, metals and others. All LGUs are supposed to have their own materials recovery facilities (MRFs) where they are supposed to sort these recyclables into saleable items. If only these materials are pre-sorted, it would be very easy to segregate them. will any LGU try it? IKE SENERES/05-11-24

TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY The best way to understand what a circular economy means is to first understand first what a linear economy is. In a linear economy, the products or the wastes of products that enter the market are not returned or recycled back into the production process. In a circular economy however, some of the products or the wastes of some products are returned or recycled back into the production process, thus creating a loop or a circular flow of materials. Used packaging, used water and food waste are among the most common resources that could be reused and recycled. Some environmentalists are now using the terms upcycled or repurposed, which boils down to the same thing. Many consumer packages could again be used for packaging and even for construction materials. Used water could even be reprocessed to make it potable again. Food waste could be converted to organic fertilizer. Perhaps the conversion of food waste into organic fertilizer is one of the best examples of a circular economy, because it enables farmers to again produce new food from waste food, thus paving the way for regenerative agriculture. Aside from that, it could contribute to soil repair, which could be one of the major solutions for climate change mitigation. It has been proven by science that organic fertilizers can work. So why not promote it? IKE SENERES/05-10-2024

OPEN GOVERNMENT APPROACH

OPEN GOVERNMENT APPROACH The Philippines is a member of Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international organization of 75 countries that is dedicated to transform how government serves its citizens. It is a partnership of government leaders and civil society advocates. It aims to combine the forces of these two sides to promote transparent, participatory, inclusive and accountable governance. OGP Philippines claims that “the country has remained steadfast in its commitment in energizing civic spaces and public participation, enhancing inclusive digital revolution, amplifying discourses on anti-corruption, and strengthening transparency and accountability reforms”. From the time that it was founded in 2011 however, it seems to be lagging in implementing its goals. My idea of “open governance” is inspired by the way that President Magsaysay opened Malacañang to all citizens, such that they could enter the Palace grounds even if they are just wearing slippers, shorts and undershirts. No need for appointments, protocols and dress codes. Fast forward to today, “open governance” should mean that anybody should be able to access the Palace using any available means such as voice calls, texts, emails, chats and social media, and be able to get an immediate response, and preferably not from a chatbot. IKE SENERES/05-09-2024

LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT It seems that what is normal now is to have a disaster, and what is not normal is not to have a disaster. Since that is now the new reality, the government agencies concerned should have a change of paradigm, such that these agencies should always be ready all the time, on the assumption that disasters could always happen all the time. In the case of natural and manmade disasters, it should be mandatory for all LGUs to have their own geographic information system (GIS) that could also be used as a hazard map. Although GIS software for tax mapping is flexible enough to also be used for hazard mapping, some agencies are not aware of this. Although the terms are somehow synonymous, “disaster management” is broader than “disaster coordination”. In general, however, most of “disaster management” is focused on “disaster coordination”. And that means coordinating not only the public sector, but also the private sector. If any LGU needs a local GIS-based hazard map, they can contact me via email at iseneres@yahoo.com. It is okay if they have no budget to procure a GIS license, because there are free and open-source versions that are available. What is important is that they have the political will. If they already have a system, we can upgrade. IKE SENERES/5-8-24

LOCAL ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

LOCAL ENERGY INDEPENDENCE Energy independence is a concept that has seemingly not achieved popularity in the Philippines. Most everyone is familiar with either political independence or economic independence or both, but not with energy independence. At the national level, only a few countries have achieved energy independence, meaning that they are no longer importing energy. As a matter of fact, a few countries are already net exporters of energy. I have not heard of examples of local or municipal energy independence, but there are already some pockets of success in the case of some farms or factories that are producing their own renewable energy from at least one source such as solar panels or biogas digesters. Is it possible for a city, municipality or province to achieve local energy independence? The answer is yes, and it is a big yes, based on technologies that are already available. And mind you, I am talking about simple sciences and not rocket sciences. But aside from solar panels and biogas digesters, there are many other affordable and sustainable technologies such as wind and pyrolysis. In the United States, one company has already produced energy by combining algae and biochar. Is it not about time for our local electric cooperatives to start planning for their own energy independence? IKE SENERES/05-07-2024

FOLKS WHO FARM

FOLKS WHO FARM I have created a new Facebook Messenger group for the purpose of bringing together all Filipinos who are either planning to go into farming or are already into farming but would like to share ideas and experiences with other farmers. What do I mean by “farmer”? Normally that would mean anyone who works on farmland for a living, either as a worker, as a tenant or as a farm owner. I would say that all three types are welcome to join the group, but I would also want to attract and invite the so-called “gentleman farmers” or those who are simply just enjoying farming as a hobby. To put it simply, the purpose of the group is to share information about farming in general, and about growing specific crops or animals in particular. Yes, we are not just talking about agricultural crops, but also poultry, livestock and even fish. That could even include beekeeping, to produce honey. Hopefully, some of our members will be able to conduct seminars and lectures so that we could be internally self-reliant, but of course we could also invite experts and other resource persons both from the government and the private sector to give us talks. Aside from training, we also hope to share ideas about financing and marketing. Email me at iseneres@yahoo.com. IKE SENERES/05-06-2024

DEMOCRACY AND CAPITALISM

DEMOCRACY AND CAPITALISM In communist countries, the political systems and the economic systems are combined into one system of government. In non-communist countries, the political systems and the economic systems are separate from each other. In monarchial countries, there is a semblance of democracy because the Prime Minister is the “head of government”, even if the monarch is still the “head of state”. At least in theory, the political system should prevail over the economic system, in such a way that the politicians hold the political power, while the businessmen hold the economic power. The politicians would tend to be the members of the political dynasties, while the businessmen would tend to be the economic oligarchs, at least generally speaking. While it is easy for communist countries to control the state-owned companies, it is not so easy in democratic countries, because the economic oligarchs have a lot of influence, even if the politicians have all the power. For a democratic country to prosper, the government must reign over runaway capitalism, so to speak. To make that possible, those who hold political power should not give way to those who hold economic influence. Not unless that is done, democracy would surely die. IKE SENERES/05-05-2024

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT FARMERS RICH

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT FARMERS RICH Making coconut farmers rich is a dream that has eluded us for many generations. What is ironic is that even if these farmers have enough coconut trees to make them rich, they are still poor after farming for so many years. It should be common sense to think that if they have so many coconut fruits to harvest, they should have so much money. But is it that that has not happened? That is because they have missed the other common sense of avoiding the usual practice of making copra. Making copra from coconuts is a bad habit that has become a way of life among our coconut farmers. As a way of life, it seems difficult for them to get out of the habit, but I think they could still do it, if they are convinced that more money can be made by avoiding the production of copra. They should realize that by making copra, they not only lose money by losing the oil content, but they also lose money by not being able to make more products from the coconuts. Aside from that, they also lose money from the aflatoxin like molds that grow in the copra meat. Not only can fresh vegetable oil be made from the white coconut meat, but vinegar can also be made from the fresh coconut water that is usually thrown out. Alternatively, flour can also be made from white coconut meat. The more products, the more money to make the farmers rich. IKE SENERES/05-04-2024

SAVING MORIBUND FILIPINO LANGUAGES

SAVING MORIBUND FILIPINO LANGUAGES The Merriam-Webster dictionary says that “moribund” is an adjective that being in a state of dying or being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence. Other dictionaries define it as “being in a state of death”, or “being in terminal decline”, or “lacking in vitality or vigor”. All told, the dictionaries all say that “moribund” does not necessarily mean dead, at least not yet. Going back to my days as a student of political science, I was taught that a “state” has four elements, namely territory, population, government and sovereignty. To that, I will now add culture, which of course includes language or languages. I think that a “state” that does not have its own culture has no backbone at all. There are about 120 to 195 languages in the Philippines, depending on who is counting, and what their criteria are. At any given time, no one really has any idea as to how many of these languages can already be considered as “moribund” or even extinct, which is the worst-case scenario. Among others, I am particularly concerned about “Butuanon”, the ancient language of my hometown that could either be considered as “threatened” or “moribund” as the case may be. Apart from a few passionate native speakers, very few seem to be seriously attending to its “recovery”, it being in the “emergency room” now. IKE SENERES/05-03-2024

REVISITING THE SACHET ECONOMY

REVISITING THE SACHET ECONOMY Some environmentalists are blaming the manufacturers of sachet products for exploiting the poor, by making these products available in the market in such a way that the poor people are “tempted” to buy these. I am still not sure which side to take on this issue, but I think that it could probably be a “cause and effect” situation, meaning that the low-income market was already there, and the manufacturers simply took advantage of it. Looking at this from another angle, perhaps the manufacturers just found themselves in a “damn if you do, damn if you don’t” situation, meaning that they will lose money if they do not cater to the “bottom of the pyramid”, but they could also be blamed for excessive plastic pollution if they come up with too many sachet products. One practical solution I think is to go back to the old “takal-takal” economy, wherein consumers would bring their own recyclable containers to buy cooking oil, soy sauce and vinegar, among others. If they are willing to do that, then they should also include shampoo, and even liquid soap, and why not? Take note that the operative word here is “recyclable”, meaning that the consumers should avoid one-way containers, otherwise that would defeat the purpose. I am calling on all LGUs nationwide to act on this matter as soon as possible. IKE SENERES/05-02-2024