Whether it is urban or rural, upland or coastal, the rule we follow in land use is suitability, the optimal utilization that will yield the most income, the most jobs, the greatest economic value per square meter with the least social and environmental cost. There are lands best

Newly-appointed Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra should be given the “men and material” the Department of Justice needs as the “changing of the guards alone will not automatically lead” to improvements in an agency that is an important pillar of the justice system. This was

As there seems to be an unli-rice-loving gene in our DNA, we Pinoys consume an average 108 kilos each yearly. While producing rice is a problem, producing babies is not. Our population grows by 1.66 million a year. By 2028, our population would have increased by 16.43 million

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto backs a Department of Budget and Management-led rehabilitation and privatization plan for the Pasig River ferry “as it is the best chance to rescue the service from the inaction of the Department of Transportation.” “I have always said

Government should attach a “performance target” to the six-month closure of Boracay “so there will be measurable outcome” of the island’s mandatory shutdown, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said today. “What are the countable outputs after 6 months? Ilang kilometro ng

Manila should recognize the “Maranao’s culture and resilience as the strongest building blocks” in the reconstruction of Marawi City, and treat them “as active partners and not mere passive receivers” of rebuilding plans. This was stressed by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph

President Duterte should whip his “compartmentalized rice team” to get their act together because “rice is a volatile political commodity” in which the “slightest perception of shortage” could shoot prices up and hurt the poor most, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto sai

Speech Endorsing the Confirmation of Atty. Manuel Antonio Javier Teehankee as Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto If diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for

Mr. President: The intention of this bill is to make undernourished children healthy, without further burdening our overworked teachers. The idea is to serve our children healthy meals, without turning their underpaid teachers into an army of unpaid cooks. I just have to state

Mr. President: First, allow me to congratulate the main sponsors, Senators Ping and Frank, for writing the specs of a national ID card which is so valuable and virtuous that people won’t be leaving home without it. As I register my affirmative vote, let me reiterate the points