So how do we get from our estimate of 6% to government’s 7-8% growth target? I would describe 7-8% as aspirational, considering especially the current global trade environment that has dampened export growth. Although we said Build, Build, Build will add to domestic demand growth, there is high import leakage (40-60% per IMF). An example is cement where imports have grown by a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% in the last three years. Also, as we said, all the building activity will aggravate strains on traffic, logistics, and power supply, not to mention that manufacturing plants have been operating at over 80% capacity for some time now.

The “holistic approach” to child development was the reason for this jack-in-the-box treat for school children: House Bill (HB) No. 3611 filed by House Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero proposes to remove homework as a requirement for Kinder to Grade 12 students and prohibit students from taking textbooks home in order to “lighten their physical burden” and to do academic activities solely within school premises; and HB No. 3883 filed by Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas, which seeks to “promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth” and prohibits elementary and high school teachers from assigning take-home assignments to students for the weekend. Senator Grace Poe filed Senate Bill No. 966 to establish a no-homework policy for all primary and secondary schools in the country, according to a GMA News report on Aug. 30.

A NEW, massive study suggests five genes are weakly associated with self-reported same sex encounters. But the results, released last week by a group that included the Broad Institute and 23andMe, are underwhelming. The genes predicted less than 1% of people’s behavior. The researchers struggled at a press conference to tell reporters what the take home message was. We can assume that 23andMe won’t be offering a “gay gene” test any time soon.

Instead of the extrajudicial killings and human rights violations that have surged in unprecedented numbers during their troubling watch, the minions of the Duterte regime are condemning activism as if it were a heinous crime whose perpetrators deserve the death penalty they so eagerly want to restore.

On March 11, 1995, Filipinos young and old, heralded and applauded the decision of then Pasig City Judge Harriet Demetriou for issuing a GUILTY verdict against former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, for the crime of rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez. It was a national catharsis of sorts, where all the anger, frustration, and pent up emotions of millions of people exploded. Not only was it about the crime committed but it was also about the triumph against the abuses of those wielding power. Sanchez was the epitome of how NOT to govern -- goons, gold, guns, and obviously greed.

The problem with all the discussions surrounding the sexual orientation and gender identity legislative proposals are many. But it’s on the fundamental grounds that the flaws are truly significant.

IT DID not take me long to think about the answer when I was asked the question, “What is that one, most important thing about succeeding at public speaking?”

SOME SCIENTISTS are trying to name our current geologic epoch after us -- calling it the Anthropocene. That’s no brag, because most of the changes we’re making to our planet are embarrassing.

About two weeks ago, I had lunch at a culinary school in Makati City. I was seated somewhere between the main door and the buffet table. From where I sat, I could clearly see the main bar and the staff behind it -- as well as the school computer, which was, the whole time I was there for lunch, logged on to the social media application Facebook.

The Duterte government’s fiscal and expenditure program can be briefly summarized and characterized as one of over-spending and over-borrowings. Four proofs in three tables below will show why.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been planning to disallow provincial buses from entering Metro Manila supposedly to lessen traffic and congestion in the metropolis -- especially in EDSA which most of the provincial buses eventually use to drop off passengers and enter their respective bus terminals. The MMDA’s plan is to have common terminals north and south of Metro Manila where the buses will drop off their hapless passengers. Since most of them will not have these points as their final destinations, they will have to take other means of transport (city buses, taxis, jeepneys, among others), to reach their final point which are mostly their places of work and business.

AMONG the tens of thousands of Brazilians who descended on the Amazonian goldmine of Serra Pelada in the 1980s was Percy Geraldo Bolsonaro, father of the current president, Jair Bolsonaro.