An Open Letter to the Congress of the Philippines

Honorable Members of Congress, I write as a private citizen who believes that democratic reform begins not with slogans, but with institutional discipline, accountability, and humility before the Constitution. First, I respectfully urge Congress to strengthen its oversight role over laws that remain unenforced because they lack Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs). A law without … Continue reading

Mining Our Past, Saving Our Future: Why the Philippines Needs Landfill Mining and Smart WtE

By Karl Garcia Beyond slogans, beyond moral fights, toward industrial-scale environmental solutions For decades, environmental debates in the Philippines have revolved around a single, tired binary: Zero Waste vs. Incineration. NGOs condemn burning. LGUs defend Waste-to-Energy (WtE). Corporations stay silent. And while the debate rages, rivers clog, mountains are mined, landfills overflow, and cities sprawl … Continue reading

Philippines at Sea: How the National Maritime Council and Blue Economy Bills Can Transform Our Oceans

By Karl Garcia The Philippines is a nation defined by its waters. As an archipelagic state with thousands of islands, our seas are more than just borders—they are the backbone of our economy, the source of livelihoods for millions of fishermen, and the arena where our sovereignty is tested. Yet, for all their importance, our … Continue reading

Philippine Agriculture: Between Policy Promise and Ground Reality

By Karl Garcia In the continuing debate on food security and agricultural reform, one question keeps returning: Are our institutions, policies, and leadership truly aligned with the needs of Filipino farmers? The discussion around rice self-sufficiency, farm modernization, and climate adaptation is not new — but the urgency has deepened as farms shrink, yields plateau, … Continue reading

BCDA, EDCA, and the Geography We Cannot Escape

By Karl Garcia When the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) was created in the 1990s, it was sold as a win-win proposition: convert old U.S. military bases into economic zones, attract investment, and channel proceeds into AFP modernization. Few argued with the vision. But three decades later, the promise and the reality have drifted … Continue reading